Although Hot and Sour Soup is not an Italian recipe -- it's a great soup to make during this cold weather. Not only is it good for when we feel under the weather, but it's also a bowl of cheer any time of year. Its warmth comforts while the broth's peppery spice heats you from the inside out. Hot and sour soup is on practically every Chinese takeout menu and buffet. But this recipe is a million times better than what you get from a restaurant. Take a sip, instant gratification.
This recipe has been updated from the original February 2015 version in order to provide a better experience for our readers. Last update March 2019.
For this recipe you'll need: chicken breasts, chicken stock, celery, green onions, Chinese chili sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, dried black mushrooms, rice vinegar, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, Chinese egg noodles, cornstarch, eggs (optional).
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Hot and Sour Soup is light in taste
The chicken broth makes our Hot and Sour Soup a very light soup, and it's the Asian chili sauce (sambal oelek) that gives it a spicy punch.
We enjoy this soup often throughout the year. We certainly don't wait for just cold weather.
Minestra - soup was a staple in our household, and today both my Honey and I still derive a great deal of satisfaction from making and eating soup.
Whoever makes soup knows that it is practically impossible to make a small batch. By the time you put a little of this and a little of that into it, you've got a pot-full.
Inexpensive ingredients make up the soup
You don't need a lot of fancy expensive ingredients for this soup. Most of the items you can purchase in the grocery store.
If you have an Asian market nearby, you can find the ingredients even cheaper there.
As you can see we prepare the ingredients ahead of time -- it's so much easier because you don't have to measure, dice or search for an ingredient.
Hot and Sour Soup is a spicy comfort food
We've mentioned this a time or twenty -- we like spicy and hot!!
This soup is a little deceptive when you take your first sip. The kick of the heat hits after you swallow. You may have to mop your brow a bit, but it is oh so good you won't want to stop eating.
You can add less of the Asian chili sauce. It all depends on your heat tolerance. 🙂 This is a great recipe to make your way. We love trying new and different dishes -- do you??
And next time you want a quick Asian dish, check out our Classic Chinese Chop Suey. It's a family recipe that is decades old. And here are two more variations: Chicken Chop Suey and for the seafood lover, Shrimp Chop Suey.
Mangiare è un'avventura -- Eating is an adventure.
If you enjoy this soup you'll like these recipes
Chop Suey Like Mom Used To Make
Stracciatella Italian Egg Drop Soup
These recipes are classics at our house.
Tutti a tavola è pronto!
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
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Hot And Sour Soup: Spicy Bowl Of Comfort
Just take one whiff of this soup and it will immediately make you feel warm and happy. It has a light chicken broth as its base and it's so easy to make. You may adapt this recipe to your liking and you may just want to make a double batch to have on hand. You can freeze it, just follow the recipe notes. There may be no miracle cures for what ails us but this soup sure comes close.
And if you love trying new Asian dishes, you've got to sample our amazing Chinese Shrimp Chop Suey. It takes less than 30 minutes to make and it tastes better than what you order in restaurants.
📖 Recipe
Hot and Sour Soup - All Our Way
Ingredients
- 2 boneless chicken breasts or use rotisserie chicken breasts shredded
- 2 quarts + 3 cups chicken stock
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 5 green onions sliced including the green diced
- 2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce like sambal oelek
- 2 Tablespoons dark sesame oil
- 6 Tablespoons soy sauce divided
- 4 pinches white pepper
- ¾ Tablespoon sugar may use honey
- 8 dried black mushrooms -- more if you like. Slice once they have been softened.
- 4 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- ½ cup bamboo shoots
- ½ cup sliced water chestnuts
- 1 nest Asian egg noodles
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 8 oz. Tofu cubed extra firm
- 2 eggs optional
Instructions
- Cook the 2 chicken breasts in 2 cups of chicken broth letting the breasts gently simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through. Let cool then shred with fork. Save the chicken broth to add to the soup. If you use rotisserie chicken breasts, shred them and add the 2 cups of broth to the overall liquid.
- Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, set aside.
- Soak black mushrooms for 20 minutes in 1 cup of chicken stock. I use a French press to keep the mushroom submerged in the liquid.
- In a Dutch oven or deep pot sauté the diced celery in the 1 ½ tablespoons sesame oil until soft. Add the green onions and sauté for 15 seconds. Add the bamboo shoots and water chestnuts.
- Add 4 Tablespoons soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, chili paste, and sugar. Stir together. Now pour in the chicken stock and reserved liquids into the pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes.
- Add the sliced black mushrooms, shredded chicken and let the soup come to a simmer again. Simmer about 5 minutes. Add the tofu. Stir in the cornstarch soy sauce mixture along with the Asian egg noodles nest. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- If you want eggs beat them with 1 ½ teaspoon sesame oil. Whisking with fork, pour into the simmering soup in a fine stream. Garnish with a little green onion when serving.
Notes
- We like our soup spicy but you can increase or decrease the seasonings to your taste.
Nutrition
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