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Hot and Sour Soup

Authentic Hot and Sour Soup with tips to make it stronger and hotter
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course: Main Course, Soup

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large dried or fresh black mushrooms (shitakes)
  • 7 tree ear mushrooms. Dried fungi. Available in Asian markets or from Amazon
  • 8 ounce white mushrooms-sliced
  • 5 Dried tiger lily stems. Available in Asian markets or from Amazon
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup Julienne sliced pork (I like to add more)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded bamboo shoots
  • 5 cups chicken stock
  • 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with four tablespoons of cold water
  • 1 1/2 pads firm, fresh white bean curd. Slice into thin strips
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp white ground pepper
  • 2 tbsp chopped scallion
  • Chopped cilantro  

Equipment

  • 1 Wok
  • 1 stock pot
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 cutting board
  • 2 mixing bowls

Method
 

  1. Place the tree ear, black mushrooms, and tiger lily stems in a bowl and cover it with hot or boiling water. Let sit for 30 minutes or until tender
  2. Rinse and squeeze out excess water from the mushrooms, fungi, and tiger lily stems. Cut off stems and any rigid portions. Slice the mushrooms into thin slices. Shred the tiger lily stems by finger and cut them into lengths of no more than 2 inches.
  3.  Wash the white mushrooms, cut off the stems, and slice them into 1/8-inch pieces.
  4. Add oil to the wok and add the shredded pork. Stir fry pork until it begins to turn white. Add the white mushrooms and continue to stir fry. Cook until tender, and add the soy sauce. Add the black and tree ear mushrooms, the tiger lily stems, and the bamboo shoots.  Cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth. Add the red wine vinegar and dark soy sauce.
  5. Mix the cornstarch and cold water, stirring well. Add to the broth. When thickened, add the bean curd and bring to a boil. Turn off once boiling and let sit for a minute. Add the eggs in a thin stream while stirring constantly. The eggs should blend into the broth and not become lumpy.
  6. Add the sesame oil and the white pepper. Stir well so the white pepper dissolves. White pepper is more intense than black pepper and must be fully dissolved. Stir carefully so as to not break up the bean curd.   
  7. Add the soup to individual bowls and garnish with the green onion and cilantro. Serve immediately