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, it’s 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.
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.
Hot and Sour Soup Ingredients
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.
1. Add veggies. 2. Water Chestnuts and bamboo shoots. 3. Add Soy Sauce. 4. Rice Vinegar.
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.
5. Hot sauce. 6. Sugar. 7. Chicken Stock. 8. Black Mushrooms rehydrating in stock.
Hot and Sour Soup is a spicy comfort food
We’ve mentioned this a time or twenty — we like spicy and hot!!
9. Dice extra firm tofu. 10. Shred chicken and slice rehydrated black mushrooms. 11. Add mushrooms to soup. 12. Add shredded chicken to soup.
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.
13. Make a slurry. 14. Add noodles to soup. 15. Add extra-firm tofu to soup. 16. Mix well.
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??
Mangiare è un’avventura — Eating is an adventure.
17. Add slurry to soup and simmer a few minutes. 18. Plate and serve the hot and sour soup.
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.
Here’s a step by step video on Hot And Sour Soup
YOU MAY NEED…
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Hot and Sour Soup Happiness in a Bowl
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.
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
- 3/4 Tablespoon sugar may use honey
- 8 dried black mushrooms -- more if you like. Slice once they have been softened.
- 4 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup bamboo shoots
- 1/2 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 1/2 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 1/2 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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Swathi says
I like this hot and sour soup, this makes perfect weeknights dinner. Mushroom gives out earthy flavor I need to try this recipe .
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
I love to order hot and sour soup when we order Chinese take-out. It is the best accompaniment to my meal and I love the contrasting flavors!
Jenni LeBaron says
This looks like the perfect soup to warm up with while winter lingers on a bit longer. I also think it would be superb to make when you’ve got the sniffles because it has a lovely broth and a kick of spice from the chili sauce. Great recipe, Marisa!
Susie says
This looks like a dish my family will enjoy…..We love Asian food. Plan to add ingredients to my grocery list….Thanks, Marisa
giancarlo cenciarini says
Grande MARISA come sempre la tua(la nostra) passione la esprimi al meglio…..Thanks…Keep them coming.
deb says
I like it spicy too! What a delicious meal, I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
Tammy says
Hot and sour is a such a great soup and one that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. I don’t get to order it too often but I love that I can now make it at home. Homemade is better anyway 😉
Marisa Franca says
Homemade is better, Tammy, and the hot and sour soup is excellent.
swathi says
You made a perfect hot and sour soup, I like the addition of sambal oleak . it is staple in my house, I like to add to most of the recipes. The tofu in the soup makes it filling one.
Alexis says
My husband loves hot and sour soup! Thank you for this simple yet delicious recipe.
Karyn says
I have never had a hot and sour spicy soup like this before. This looks so tasty and easy to make. I think my kids would love this. They love spicy food. You always come up with lovely recipes
Melissa says
This is my hubby’s favourite soup to order from our local Chinese take-out. It will be perfect for the cooler weather days ahead, and give me bonus points for being a good wife!
Jyothi (Jo) says
I love hot and sour soup. Love the flavors you have in this recipe. Sounds like a perfect comfort soup.
Nicolas Hortense says
It’s winter where I am from so a big bowl of this looks perfect!! And I love a good chilli broth too. Something that makes you sweat a bit is exciting (:
Natalie says
This is one delicious looking soup Marisa. It’s so healthy too. I love the Asian flavors and my hubby is a fan too. Can’t wait to try this.
Veena Azmanov says
I love hot and sour soup. My mom often made it and we loved it as kids. My kids, unfortunately, do not fancy it. I must try this recipe. Love the flavors you have in this recipe. Sounds like a perfect comfort soup.
Noel Lizotte says
This soup always draws my eye when we’re out to eat … I never considered making it at home. Why Not?! Thanks for sharing a recipe that I can use to satisfy some cravings.
Claudia Lamascolo says
Thats amazing this soup is always been a favorite and I have never tried to make it. I sure will have to put this on my list of must makes of your recipes!
Padmajha Sureshbabu says
My elder one and husband love this kind of hot and sour soup and I can really do with a big bowlful right now. I usually don’t add noodles but now you have given me the idea to do so!
Gloria says
I have never tried hot and sour soup before. I see in on menus all the time, but know I think I really need to give this a try. With comfort food season next in line…this would be the perfect time to experiment with this.
Valerie says
That sounds flavorful. I have a friend who’s really getting into tofu that might like to try this.
Kelly Hutchinson says
Hot and Sour soup is my favorite soup of all time. I could seriously eat it by the bucket full!
Donna says
I love hot and sour soup, my husband isn’t much of a spicy fan, but if it’s cold outside, he will give anything hot a go 🙂 Looks delicious!
Marisa Franca says
All the males in our family love this soup. It is light but so good and it warms you from the inside out. Hope your hubby likes it 🙂
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy says
This soup looks very comforting and delicious! Perfect for this cold and rainy weather!
Marisa Franca says
I heartily agree! We simply love soups– they make such good lunches or dinners with a delicious panini.I’m getting hungry writing about it. Thank you for commenting.
Platter Talk says
We love hot and sour soup but have yet to make it; thanks so much for this wonderful recipes!
Marisa Franca says
You’re very welcome! I may be Italian but I love all types of soup. They are so comforting, don’t you think?
Brandy M. says
This is on of my mom’s favorite soups. Thanks for the recipe so that I can make it when she comes to town over the holidays.
Marisa Franca says
We really make this soup often. Our oldest son loves it!! Let us know how your mom likes it??
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
I adore Asian food, spicy food, and comfort food — your recipe hits all three for me! This is a lovely dish to enjoy on a cold night!
Marisa Franca says
Thank you Patricia! It is light but it does spice up your taste buds. Hope you try it.
Chris @ SimpleFood365 says
What a wonderful, light and easy soup! It looks great!
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
I do love this sort of Asian soup, warming without being heavy, and very refreshing and adaptable. I am currently brewing a cold so am craving a bowl right now.
Marisa Franca says
I certainly hope you feel better soon. If your head is stuffy this soup would be just the thing — the spice in it does wonders.
Toni | 2 Aussie Travellers says
I love hot and sour soup but I’ve not made it myself yet, going to have to give it a try now I have a recipe base
Marisa Franca says
We make this soup all the time — we are simply soup lovers and this is loaded with taste but light.
Diane P says
Yum!! We LOVE soups, and this soup recipe was posted just in time! Our weather here in NW Indiana has been in the “minus” columns the last day or two. We need soup, especially spicy hot soup, to warm us up! Thanks, Marisa! This will be my project for tomorrow!
Marisa Franca says
This will certainly warm you up.
Jovina Coughlin says
This is a great soup and one you can make at home. It is our favorite Chinese soup to order but we do not have good Chinese restaurants in our area. I have made this soup a few times and your post reminds me it is time to make it again. This time I will use your recipe.
Marisa Franca says
I think you’ll like this recipe — just suit to your heat tolerance.
Rosemary @anitalianinmykitchen says
Hi Marisa, how I love soup too and Asian food is amazing. Pinning if I can find all these ingredients (I’m sure I will!) I will be giving it a try. Looks and sounds delicious. Have a great weekend.
Marisa Franca says
From the last time we were in Italy we saw a lot of Orientals there — perhaps you’ll find the ingredients.