Hot and Sour Soup
I like to use a chicken stock from previous meals. I hack up my chicken like a viking with a cleaver and simmer for at least 8 hours before it's ready to use.
But, for the quick meal, bouillon or store bought chicken stock is fine, the other ingredients are strong enough to make up for any taste difference.
3 cups chicken stock or 2 bullion cubes to 4 cups water ( I love salt more than is healthy )
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
A thumb length of fresh ginger, pealed with the edge of a spoon and finely chopped ( thumb size may vary, mine are small but if you have big thumbs maybe you need the extra ginger?)
2 eggs, beaten (not to a pulp, just enough to be frothy with bubbles)
Mushrooms, 5 will suffice when diced, it's not a mushroom soup.
2 "sprigs" of chives, chop them thin, too much onion in one bite can spoil it. Or not... If you like onion a lot.
6 ounces vinegar ( I use white vinegar most of the time but apple cider or rice wine vinegar are nice and when I have them on hand I'll usually use the rice wine vinegar)
1 Tablespoon chili pepper paste, there's a thai one I like I just know it when I see it ( I like the the one with the seeds in it for the heat)
http://www.actionwrx.com/wp-content/uploads/chili+garlic+sauce1.jpg
1 can bamboo shoots
Cilantro to Garnish ( don't be stingy this makes the whole thing come together!)
Olive or vegetable oil (three to five shakes...?) (sorry I just look at it, I don't measure, you should see beads of oil on the top of your soup, not an amount to deep fry with)
1 Teaspoon sesame oil (optional but delicious)
The thing I don't like about restaurant hot and sour soup is the "gloopiness". Most recipes ask for cornstarch to thicken the recipe. I'm just not a fan of my soup feeling a bit like snot (and I'm sorry if the analogy ruined it for anyone who likes it that way)
To give it a good consistency I instead use the oil ( like vinegar and oil in salad dressing).
Put garlic, onion, mushroom, bamboo shoots, chili paste and ginger in the pot with a little bit of oil, simmer for 5 mins (low heat)
Add chicken stock, vinegar and oil and drizzle in the egg, bring to a boil and simmer for 4 mins. (Stir frequently)
Add sesame oil.
Salt to taste if you didn't use bullion.
Take off heat and let cool (2 mins tops or just go for it if you're hungry, tongue blisters be damned)
Garnish with cilantro and chives and serve!
Click to expand...