Hot and Sour Soup (The Easiest Recipe Ever) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Hot and Sour Soup - BEST and EASIEST Chinese hot and sour soup recipe ever! Simple ingredients, takes 15 mins and a zillion times better than takeout.

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You Asked for It – Hot and Sour Soup!

Many readers have emailed me and requested for Chinese hot and sour soup for the longest time, so I am really excited to be sharing this super easy hot and sour soup recipe that anyone can make at home.

This recipe takes only 15 minutes fromprep to finish and you’ll have a pot of warm, hearty and utterly delicious soup that tastes like it’s straight from your favorite Chinese restaurants.

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For those wondering, “What is hot and sour soup?” You might be wondering what is it made of and what ingredients are in hot and sour soup that actually makes it hot and sour.

Is hot and sour soup health? Yes, absolutely. Try my recipe, it’s only 99 calories!

Other Recipes You Might Like

  • Egg Drop Soup
  • Wonton Soup
  • Miso Soup

Main Ingredients

My recipe is very easy and quick. It calls for a few simple ingredients:

  • Chicken or vegetable stock.
  • Tofu.
  • Eggs.
  • mushrooms.
  • There are two seasonings to bring out the iconic flavors of hot and sour soup: soy sauce and vinegar.
  • If you like it spicy, you can add some dried chili flakes or chili oil into the soup.
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Tips on How to Cook Hot and Sour Soup?

I like Panda Express Hot and Sour Soup so here are the secrets techniques and tips that yield Chinese restaurant’s results:

  • DO NOT USE WHISK. This is the biggest mistake when it comes to making Chinese soups. We do not whisk beaten eggs in the soup. The eggs should form into nice, beautiful and silky pieces. The key is to cook the eggs after the heat is turned off.
  • Gently swirl the beaten eggs into the soup, stir a few times with a pair of chopsticks.
  • Corn starch thickens the soup but do not use too much of it. You want a soup that has a slightly sticky consistency but still runny.
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How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 114 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

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Hot and Sour Soup

Hot and Sour Soup - BEST and EASIEST Chinese hot and sour soup recipe ever! Simple ingredients, takes 15 mins and a zillion times better than takeout!

4.58 from 158 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 4 people

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Total 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 can chicken broth (preferred) or vegetable broth
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 8 oz (230g) soft tofu, cut into strips
  • 6 oz (230g) white button mushroom, stems trimmed and caps quartered
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons Chinese vinegar (apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar)
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce (for coloring purpose)
  • 3 dashes ground white pepper or black pepper
  • 1 egg (beaten)
  • 1 teaspoon chili oil (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped scallion (optional)

Instructions

  • Add the corn starch and water together, stir to combine well. Set aside.

  • Add the chicken or vegetable broth and water to a medium-sized soup pot on medium heat. Bring it to boil. Add the tofu and white button mushrooms, cook for 2 minutes.

  • Add the soy sauce, vinegar, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. Stir to combine well. Add in the cornstarch mixture, stir continuously to thicken the soup. Turn off the heat.

  • Swirl the beaten eggs into the soup, count to 10, and then use a pair of chopsticks to stir in a clockwise direction, for 3 times. This will form the silken egg threads in the soup that look very pretty. Add the chili oil and chopped scallions, if using.

  • Dish out and serve immediately.

Notes

If you want to add some heat to the soup, you may add some chili oil or a few pinches of dried red chili flakes.

Course: Chinese Recipes

Cuisine: Chinese

Keywords: Hot and Sour Soup

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Hot and Sour Soup

Amount Per Serving (4 people)

Calories 114Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 41mg14%

Sodium 1138mg49%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 10g20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Hot and Sour Soup (The Easiest Recipe Ever) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What is the broth made of in hot and sour soup? ›

The soup broth

Chinese Hot and Sour soup broth is made with chicken stock which is flavoured with typical Asian ingredients such as soy sauce, sugar, pepper and ginger. The soup is thickened slightly using cornstarch/cornflour – I love how the glossy broth coats the ingredients when you scoop it up!

How to make sour soup taste better? ›

A little bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to reduce the sourness or. add a little sugar to balance the acid in the tomato. Add a little lemon juice, vinegar or hot sauce and just go with a sour stew.

Why does hot and sour soup make you feel better? ›

Consuming hot and sour soup helps in preventing the movement of the white blood cells which are responsible for inflammation. This further helps in providing relief from common health issues like cold, cough, mucus among others.

What country is hot and sour soup from? ›

Hot and sour soup is a popular example of Chinese cuisine. Although it is said to be originated in Sichuan, this is actually a variant of hulatang or "pepper hot soup" (胡辣汤) with added vinegar to enhance the sourness.

What is the black stuff in hot and sour soup? ›

Dried black fungi. Chinese cloud ears are a fungi that is also pre soaked and finely shredded to add oomph to hot and sour soup. They have a chewy, jelly-like texture and compliments the other ingredients.

What is the jelly in hot and sour soup? ›

The ingredient that makes it gelatinous is cornstarch (aka corn flour).

How do you reduce the spice in hot and sour soup? ›

You can add dairy: heavy cream, yogurt, cheese, etc. You can add something sweet: coconut milk, sugar, syrup, etc. You can introduce an acid: lemon juice, a little vinegar, tomato paste, etc. You could simply add more of the other ingredients that went before the spice, so the proportions are more in line.

What reduces bitterness in soup? ›

2> Balancing flavors: Counteract the bitterness with other flavors. Sweetness can help balance bitterness, so consider adding ingredients like carrots, onions, or a small amount of sugar or honey. Acidic ingredients like tomatoes or a splash of vinegar can also help balance flavors.

How do you make soup taste deeper? ›

Brown or Sear the Meat

If you are adding meat to a soup, sear or brown it in a sauté pan before you add it to the soup. This adds a deeper savory flavor to the whole soup. This trick is especially useful for things like chicken and sausage, which can sometimes get bland and rubbery while floating in a brothy soup.

Is Chinese hot & sour soup healthy? ›

Is hot and sour chicken soup healthy? Yes, homemade hot & sour chicken soup can be very healthy as you control the ingredients. Optimize nutrition by minimizing added starch, using lean protein, and avoiding adding sugar.

Which Chinese soup is the healthiest? ›

Egg Drop Soup

Of the soups commonly found on Chinese restaurant menus, egg drop is the healthiest. Totally starving when you walk into a Chinese restaurant? Order soup as an appetizer, and egg drop is tops. "It's really made with eggs, so it does offer quite a bit of protein," says London.

Is hot and sour soup good for your liver? ›

Hot and sour soup supports healthy Liver function. The taste of sour resonates directly with the Liver and helps promote flow. Once you learn how to make the base of the soup, try using different ingredients.

Why is hot and sour soup thick? ›

Hot, Sour, and Thick

In certain Chinese traditions, hot and sour soup is thickened with blood from either a chicken or a pig. Not only is blood not easy to come by in the US, it's also not high on most folks' lists of "things I love to eat," including mine.

What are the stringy things in Hot and Sour Soup? ›

3 eggs – Eggs make the beautiful silky egg ribbons that is a signature of Hot and Sour Soup!

What is Thai Hot and Sour Soup made of? ›

Traditionally, Tom Yum (or Tom Yam) soup is studded with lemongrass, galangal, bird's eye chili, fish sauce, and a protein like shrimp. It has an amazing balance of spicy, sour, sweet, and umami notes.

What makes a broth soup? ›

Broth is traditionally made by simmering meat in water, often with vegetables and herbs. This flavored liquid is then used for a variety of culinary purposes. In the past, the term “broth” was only used to refer to meat-based liquids. Today, however, vegetable broth has become very common.

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