Hot and Sour Soup

2013-02-12
  • Yield : About 10 cups
  • Servings : 10
  • Prep Time : 20m
  • Cook Time : 25m
  • Ready In : 45m
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Nutritional Info

This information is per serving.

  • Calories

    80
  • Calories from Fat

    25
  • Total Fat

    3g
  • Saturated Fat

    1g
  • Trans Fat

    0g
  • Cholesterol

    20mg
  • Sodium

    300mg
  • Carbohydrates

    7g
  • Dietary Fiber

    2g
  • Sugar

    3g
  • Protein

    6g
  • Serving Size:

    About 12 oz. (360 ml)

Chinese soups can be light and mild like Egg Drop soup or a hearty, spicy mixture of meat and vegetables like Hot and Sour soup.

Chinese Hot and Sour soup has more body and flavor than egg drop and other light oriental soups. It can also be very spicy (hot). Every Chinese-American restaurant has their own version of Hot and Sour and level of heat. I’ve been served Hot and Sour soup that was so hot it was almost uneatable. Even a “mild” hot and sour soup can be too hot for some people.

The heat in Hot and Sour soup comes from Chinese chili sauce. The sour from rice vinegar.

You can increase or decrease both the level of heat and sour to your taste.

While this soup has a long list of ingredients, a one cup serving (8 oz, 240 ml, 235 g) has about 80 calories and 6 grams of protein. Most of the protein comes from the bean curd (tofu), broth, egg, and peas.

Substitution

  • If you are allergic to or do not like tofu (bean curd), omit it or add an additional 4 ounce of mushrooms. Omitting the tofu cuts about 30 calories and 4 grams of protein per serving.
  • For vegetarian soup use vegetable broth.
  • Beef broth can be substituted for all or part of the chicken broth.
  • Water or broth can be used instead of white wine.

Nutrition Information

Sodium levels are based on using low sodium broth. Low sodium broths have 140 mg or less of sodium per cup (240 ml).

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. (225 g) fresh mushrooms
  • 1 small (130 g) red bell pepper
  • 1 bunch green onions, cleaned and finely sliced
  • 1 can (225 g) sliced water chestnuts
  • 1 cup (130 g) green peas
  • 8 oz. (225 g) bean curd (tofu)
  • 8 cups. (2 liters) low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) Chinese chili sauce (sambel olek or equivalent)
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) cornstarch
  • 5 tablespoons (75 ml) cold water
  • 1/4 cup (110 ml) rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sesame oil
  • 1 large egg (optional)

Method of Preparation

Step 1

Cut bell pepper in half and remove stem and seeds. Slice each half in half length-wise and thinly slice.

Step 2

Drain bean curd and cut into 3/8 to 1/2 inch cubes.

Step 3

Cut water chestnuts into thin slices.

Step 4

In a 5-6 qt/L pot or dutch oven, combine stock, soy sauce and chili sauce. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 5 minutes.

Step 5

Blend cornstarch with 4 tablespoons of water and slowly stir into the soup. Cook, stirring occasionally until soup comes to a boil.

Step 6

Add mushrooms, bell pepper, peas and water chestnuts. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered 5 minutes.

Step 7

Stir vinegar and oil into soup.

Step 8

Beat egg with remaining tablespoon of water. Slowly drizzle the egg int the soup will stirring vigorously.

Step 9

Add bean curd. Cook 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 10

Add green onion and serve. Garnish with sliced green onion if desired.