Is This the Easiest Hot and Sour Soup Recipe Ever?

Skip the takeout menu and discover how homemade easy hot and sour soup naturally delivers better flavor in your own kitchen. This complete guide reveals streamlined techniques that cut cooking time to just 25 minutes while maintaining authentic taste. You’ll learn ingredient shortcuts, customization tricks, and common pitfalls to avoid, ensuring your first attempt tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant.

Is this really the easiest hot and sour soup recipe?

Yes, this easy hot and sour soup recipe truly lives up to its name. You can create restaurant-quality soup in just 20 to 25 minutes using simple ingredients and basic cooking techniques. The beauty lies in its straightforward approach – no complex preparation or hard-to-find ingredients required.

Many people think making authentic hot and sour soup at home requires advanced cooking skills. That’s simply not true. This recipe breaks down into manageable steps that even beginners can master.

The key is understanding that simplicity doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor. With the right balance of ingredients and proper technique, you’ll have steaming bowls of delicious soup faster than ordering takeout.

Easy hot and sour soup: why this could be the simplest version

Traditional hot and sour soup recipes can be made in under 30 minutes, and this version streamlines the process even further. We’ve eliminated unnecessary steps while keeping all the authentic flavors you crave.

The magic happens with smart ingredient choices. Instead of making everything from scratch, we use quality store-bought stock as our foundation. This cuts prep time significantly without compromising taste.

What makes this version special is the efficient cooking method. You’ll build layers of flavor quickly by adding ingredients in the right order. The cornstarch slurry creates that perfect silky texture, while the egg ribbons add protein and visual appeal.

Food blogs and social media platforms like TikTok showcase similar streamlined recipes that prove restaurant-quality soup doesn’t require professional training. Simple techniques with minimal ingredients can produce amazing results.

Recipe components: ingredients, broth, and add-ins

The foundation starts with good-quality chicken or vegetable stock. We recommend using low-sodium or no-sodium varieties so you can control the salt content precisely. This prevents the soup from becoming overly salty when you add soy sauce.

Mushrooms provide the earthy umami flavor that makes this soup special. Shiitake mushrooms offer the most authentic taste, but regular button mushrooms work perfectly fine. Slice them thin for quicker cooking and better distribution throughout the soup.

The « hot » comes from white pepper and chili garlic sauce, while rice vinegar creates the signature sour taste. These two elements must be balanced carefully – too much heat overwhelms the sourness, and too much vinegar makes it unpleasantly tart.

Tofu adds protein and texture, though you can easily substitute cooked chicken, pork, or beef. Eggs create those beautiful ribbons that make the soup visually appealing and add richness. Green onions provide a fresh finish that brightens every spoonful.

Recipe at a glance

Ingredients

• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock (low-sodium)
• 4 oz shiitake or button mushrooms, sliced thin
• 6 oz firm tofu, cut into strips
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 3 green onions, chopped

Step-by-step

• Bring stock to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot
• Add mushrooms, soy sauce, and rice vinegar
• Simmer for 3 minutes until mushrooms soften
• Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until soup thickens
• Slowly pour beaten eggs while stirring to create ribbons
• Add tofu strips and white pepper
• Taste and adjust seasonings with more vinegar or chili sauce
• Garnish with green onions and serve immediately

This easy hot and sour soup comes together in about 25 minutes from start to finish. The active cooking time is even shorter since most steps involve simply adding ingredients and stirring.

Customization and variations

The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. You can easily adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the chili garlic sauce. Start with less and add more to taste – you can always make it spicier, but you can’t tone it down once it’s too hot.

Protein swaps work wonderfully here. Leftover cooked chicken, pork, or beef can replace the tofu completely. Add these proteins during the last few minutes of cooking since they just need to heat through.

Vegetable additions make the soup heartier and more nutritious. Bamboo shoots, baby corn, or snow peas all work well. Add firmer vegetables earlier in the cooking process and tender ones near the end.

For extra richness, some cooks add a splash of sesame oil just before serving. A few drops of dark soy sauce can deepen the color and add complexity to the flavor profile.

Tips for fast prep and common mistakes

Quick prep tips

We advise preparing all your stir-in ingredients before you start cooking. Beat the eggs, slice the mushrooms, and mix your cornstarch slurry ahead of time. Once the soup starts cooking, everything happens quickly.

Using a heavy-bottomed stockpot or Dutch oven ensures even heat distribution. This prevents hot spots that can scramble your eggs or burn ingredients. The thick bottom also helps maintain consistent temperature when you add cold ingredients.

Make crispy wonton strips ahead of time if you want that classic garnish. Cook them in small batches to prevent overcrowding, which leads to soggy results. Store them in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is overcooking the eggs. Pour them in a thin stream while constantly stirring the soup in a circular motion. If you dump them in all at once or don’t stir, you’ll end up with scrambled eggs instead of silky ribbons.

Don’t skip tasting and adjusting the seasonings at the end. The balance between hot and sour should suit your personal preference. Some people like it more vinegary, while others prefer extra heat.

Using high-sodium stock and regular soy sauce together often creates an overly salty soup. This mistake is easily avoided by choosing reduced-sodium versions of both ingredients and adding salt only if needed at the end.

Adding too many ingredients at once can lower the soup’s temperature dramatically, affecting cooking times and texture. Add ingredients gradually and let the soup return to a simmer between additions.

FAQ

What ingredients are in hot and sour soup?

Hot and sour soup typically includes chicken or beef broth, mushrooms (shiitake or button), tofu, bamboo shoots, soy sauce, vinegar (rice wine or white), cornstarch for thickening, eggs, chili sauce or chili flakes, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and green onions.

What’s the secret to a thick hot and sour soup?

The secret to a thick hot and sour soup is the use of cornstarch mixed with water to create a slurry. Adding this slurry during cooking allows the soup to thicken and achieve that delightful silky texture. Adjusting the amount of slurry can affect the thickness as per your preference.

Is Chinese hot & sour soup healthy?

Chinese hot and sour soup can be considered healthy as it includes nutritious ingredients like mushrooms and tofu, which are low in calories yet high in protein and fiber. Additionally, using low-sodium broth and controlling the amount of soy sauce can enhance its health benefits.

What do Chinese restaurants use to thicken hot and sour soup?

Chinese restaurants typically use cornstarch to thicken hot and sour soup. The cornstarch is mixed with water to form a slurry, which is then stirred into the soup during cooking, resulting in a smooth, thick consistency that enhances the overall texture of the dish.

How long does it take to prepare easy hot and sour soup at home?

Preparing easy hot and sour soup at home takes about 20 to 25 minutes. The recipe is designed for quick cooking, and most of the active time involves simply adding and stirring the ingredients, making it a convenient option for a delicious meal.

Can you customize the heat level in hot and sour soup?

You can customize the heat level in hot and sour soup by adjusting the amount of chili garlic sauce or chili flakes added. Start with a small amount and increase until you reach the desired spiciness, as it’s easier to add more heat than to tone it down once it’s too spicy.