Hot and Sour Soup

This Asian hot and sour soup is fresh mushrooms, tofu, egg, bamboo shoots and green onions, all in a savory broth. A remake of the restaurant favorite that’s so easy to make at home.

I love to make my own Chinese take out at home – some of my all time best copy cat recipes include beef and broccoli and egg rolls. Hot and sour soup has been my favorite soup for many years, and it’s simple to whip up at a moment’s notice with ingredients you can easily find at your grocery store.

Whenever I eat at a Chinese restaurant, I have to order the hot and sour soup. It’s my all time favorite soup, I prefer it over chicken noodle or any of the other classics. Hot and sour soup tastes exotic, and it happens to be quite easy to make.

How do you make hot and sour soup?

This soup starts with chicken broth, or you can use vegetable broth if you’re looking to make a vegetarian soup. Sliced mushrooms, ginger and bamboo shoots go into the broth. The soup is thickened with corn starch, as well as eggs which are slowly poured in to create those pretty egg ribbons. The finishing touch is some tofu and green onions, then you’re ready to eat.

Tips for hot and sour soup

• I use fresh shiitake mushrooms for the most authentic flavor. If you can’t find this variety, white button mushrooms will also work fine.
• Bamboo shoots come in a can in the ethnic foods aisle of most grocery stores. Simply drain the can, slice the bamboo shoots, then add them to the soup.
• Be sure to use extra firm tofu so that it doesn’t disintegrate into the soup.
• Corn starch acts as a thickening agent to give the soup more body. If you don’t have corn starch, you can omit it, although your soup will be thinner.
• To make the egg ribbons, slowly pour beaten eggs into the hot broth while gently stirring the broth in a circular motion.

I find that this soup is best served as soon as it’s made. If you’re looking to prepare ahead of time, you can slice up your mushrooms, tofu and bamboo shoots up to 2 days before you plan to make the soup.

Hot and Sour soup variations

I’ve ordered hot and sour soup at dozens of restaurants, and everyone has their own version with a little twist. This is a basic recipe, but you can alter it to your tastes by adding any of the following.

• Pork: Add thinly sliced pork tenderloin while the soup simmers.
• Spinach: Stir in fresh spinach leaves at the end of the cook time.
• Spice: Add a few teaspoons of chili sauce or sriracha.
• Shrimp: Add 1/2 pound raw shrimp while the soup simmers.

Hot and sour soup can be served as an appetizer, or as a light main course. I typically serve it as part of a meal alongside our other Chinese food favorites and some steamed or fried rice. However you serve it, you’re sure to get rave reviews!

More Asian food favorites

• Cream Cheese Wontons
• Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
• Chicken Chow Mein
• Veggie Fried Rice
• Mongolian Beef