Hot and Sour Soup

Directions

  1. 1Soak 1/4 cup of dried wood ear mushrooms in hot water for about 15 minutes or until they are quadruple in size.
  2. 2Once rehydrated, cut off any hard parts from the wood ear mushrooms and thinly slice them.
  3. 3Drain and rinse canned bamboo shoots, then thinly slice them lengthwise.
  4. 4Drain 8 oz of medium firm tofu and thinly slice it.
  5. 5Make a slurry with cornstarch and water.
  6. 6Whisk two large eggs with a splash of water until fairly smooth.
  7. 7Bring 8 cups of low sodium chicken broth to a boil.
  8. 8Add the chopped wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and tofu to the boiling broth to warm them through.
  9. 9Add Chinkiang vinegar, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, crushed red pepper flakes, sugar, white pepper, and salt to the soup.
  10. 10Stir the soup to break up any clumps and heat everything through.
  11. 11Whisk the cornstarch slurry again and then drizzle it into the soup while stirring until the soup is slightly thickened and glossy.
  12. 12Ensure the hot and sour soup is boiling, then slowly stir in the whisked egg mixture to create egg ribbons.
  13. 13Serve once the egg is fully cooked.
  14. 14Top with fresh scallions.

Ingredients

  • 0.25 cup dried wood ear mushrooms
  • canned bamboo shoots, drained and rinsed
  • 8 oz medium firm tofu, drained
  • cornstarch
  • water
  • 2 large eggs
  • 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • Chinkiang vinegar
  • light soy sauce
  • dark soy sauce
  • toasted sesame oil
  • crushed red pepper flakes
  • sugar
  • white pepper
  • salt
  • fresh scallions

Equipment

spatula

Tips

  • Thinly slice rehydrated wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots for nice long strips.
  • Use medium firm tofu to prevent disintegration in the soup.
  • Always whisk cornstarch slurry again before use.
  • The soup needs to be boiling when slowly stirring in the egg mixture to create egg ribbons.