Hot & Sour Soup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried cloud ears
- 1/2 cup lily buds optional
- 16 ounces firm tofu
- 8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms
- 1/2 cup canned shredded bamboo shoots
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 4 to 6 scallions
- 4 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons Chinkiang
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- juice of 1 lime
- 12 cups chicken stock
- 4 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce or to taste
Instructions
Mis en Place
- Soak 1/2 cup dried cloud ears in 1 cup cold water for 30 minutes to soften.
- Soak 1/2 cup lily buds in 1 cup cold water for 30 minutes to soften.
- Rinse 16 ounces firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and set aside.
- Rinse 8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms. Remove and discard the mushrooms stems.
- Thinly slice the mushrooms caps and set aside.
- Rinse 1/2 cup bamboo shoots and set aside.
- Shred 1 tablespoon ginger and set aside.
- Finely mince 4 to 6 tablespoons scallions and set aside.
- Beat 4 large eggs and set aside.
- Drain the cloud ears after they have softened, remove any hard spots, cut them in half and set aside.
- Drain the lily buds after they have softened, remove the hard ends, tie them into knots and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons cornstarch, 4 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar and 4 tablespoons soy sauce until cornstarch is dissolved.
- Set aside 1 lime (or squeeze it and set the juice aside).
- Set aside (or measure out) 4 teaspoons sesame oil.
- Set aside (or measure out) 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Set aside (or measure out) 1 teaspoon white pepper.
- Set aside (or measure out) 4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce.
Preparation
- In a 2-quart saucepan, bring 12 cups of chicken broth to a boil over high heat.
- While stirring the soup in one direction, slowly pour in the beaten eggs in a thin stream.
- Add the cloud ears, lily buds, tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and ginger; and return to a boil.
- When soup returns to a rolling boil, stir in the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly until thickened (about 1 to 2 minutes).
- Add 4 teaspoons sesame oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Add 1 teaspoon white pepper.
- Add 4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce, or to taste
- Taste, and adjust the vinegar and pepper if desired.
- Add the scallions.
- Serve immediately.