Hot and Sour Soup Recipe

Soup is a very popular starter and appetizer, which is generally served before meals. It consists of a combination of various ingredients such as vegetables and meat. These ingredients are added in hot or boiling water to form a broth. Hot and sour soup is one of the popular types of soups, and is an important part of Asian culinary tradition and is made with the help of unique ingredients that make this soup spicy and sour.

The Chinese hot and sour soup can be vegetarian or meat-based. The vegetarian soup is prepared by using the ingredients such as sesame oil, bamboo shoots, daylily buds, chili oil, wood ear and button mushrooms and small slices of tofu skin. White peppers or red peppers are added to make it hot and spicy, while vinegar is added to make it sour.

In some countries, this soup is flavored with chilis, lemon, lemongrass, galangal, tamarind, shrimp or prawns. You can make different variations by adding different ingredients of your choice. So, why don't you try these truly mouth-watering recipes? You can also add more vegetables to increase its nutritional value and health benefits.

Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup

Ingredients
3 Tbsp sliced canned mushrooms
1 Seasoning cube (veg.)
7 Baby corns, cut diagonally
7 Cloves of garlic
¼ Cup chopped coriander
5 Stalks lemon grass, tied
1 Tsp lemon juice
3 Green chilies, slit
2-inch (50 mm) piece ginger, cut into thin strips

For the garnishing
2 Tbsp carrots, cut into thin strips
2 Tbsp chopped coriander
2 Tbsp spring onion, finely cut

Preparation
Tie together coriander and grass stalks, using some lemon grass. In a pan, boil 5 cups of water. Then add ginger, garlic, seasoning cube, coriander and lemon grass (tied together). Cover the pan and simmer for about 15 minutes. When you will notice that aroma is releasing from the mixture, remove ginger, garlic, coriander and lemon grass bunch from the mixture. Then add mushrooms, chilies, baby corn and salt to the mixture. Allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes in the covered pan. When the broth becomes thick, add lemon juice just before serving. Garnish the soup with carrot, coriander and spring onion and serve hot.

Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Ingredients
3 Cups chicken broth
3 Tbsp bamboo shoots, sliced in thin strips
2 Cups boiling water
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Egg
3 Tbsp diced ham
4 Tbsp dried mushrooms, soaked and sliced in thin strips
3 Tbsp shrimp
½ Cup pork, sliced in thin strips
¼ Tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp wine vinegar
2½ Tbsp cornstarch
½ Tsp salt
4 Tbsp water

Preparation
In a pan, add mushrooms, ham, pork and bamboo shoots to the boiling water. Allow it to boil for about 3 minutes. Remove any impurities and continue to simmer it for about half hour. Then add chicken broth, soy sauce and shrimp to the mixture and simmer it again for 10 minutes. Then add vinegar, pepper and salt. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 4 tablespoons of water and mix it well. Add this cornstarch mixture to the soup mixture. In a small cup, beat the egg for about 10 seconds. Then add it to the soup mixture. Keep it for few seconds, until the beaten egg becomes hard. Then stir the soup and serve it hot.

Hot and Sour soups are extremely delicious, and packed with nutritional benefits. You can always substitute your dinner for them if you're aiming at weight loss.