Hot and sour soup (酸辣汤) is one of the most popular soups from Chinese restaurants, along with egg drop soup and wonton soup. It tastes savory, tangy, a little spice and is loaded with tofu, bamboo shoots, mushrooms like white button and wood ear mushrooms, and completed with swirls of egg drop flowers. It's the perfect soup for cold weathers or as an everyday light meal that can be made in 15 minutes!
2stalksgreen onionthinly sliced (and more for garnish if you want)
Instructions
In a medium pot over medium heat, add 1 teaspoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the crushed pepper flakes and stir fry for about 10 to 15 seconds.
Immediately add the chicken stock, followed by the vinegar, both soy sauces, sugar, chicken bouillon powder, salt, and white pepper. Bring the soup to a boil.
Once the soup is boiling, add the tofu, bamboo shoot, and both mushrooms. Bring the soup back to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.
While stirring the soup, slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry until all has been added. Let the soup simmer until thickened, about 30 seconds.
When the soup has thickened, slowly drizzle in the beaten eggs around the pot in a circular motion. Stir up the soup and add the sesame oil and sliced green onions.For thin egg drops: Stir the soup while pouring in the eggs or wait for a second or two between stirring the soup. The sooner and more you stir the soup, the thinner and wispier the egg drops will be. This may give your soup a cloudier appearance.For thick egg drops: Let the soup sit for a few seconds before stirring. The longer you wait, the thicker ribbon the egg drops will be.
Top the soup with more green onions if you'd like and enjoy! The soup will be super hot, so you may want to wait a moment before serving.
Notes
Please refer to the post above for step by step photo references, tips, and FAQs!
Vegetarian option - You can substitute the chickens stock for water or vegetable stock. This mushroom powder is a great vegetarian/vegan substitute for the chicken bouillon powder.
Add-on ingredients - Feel free to use as many or as few of these ingredients, but we do recommend at least the tofu, mushrooms, and eggs.
How to rehydrate wood ear mushrooms - To rehydrate dry wood ear mushrooms, place them in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let them sit for about 5 to 10 minutes or until they are fully rehydrated.
Vinegar, white pepper, and chili flakes - Feel free to adjust the amount used to your taste. Do note that the vinegar does mellow out after adding all the ingredients.