Hot Sour Soup
Hot Sour Soup — a classic chinese dish made simple at home.
Hot Sour Soup is a classic vegetarian Chinese recipe built around a handful of pantry staples. It serves 4 and comes together in roughly 60 minutes from prep to plate. It is an approachable, beginner-friendly dish — the kind of recipe you can put on the table in about 60 minutes without much fuss. The method is straightforward, with each step doing one clear job so the finished dish tastes balanced rather than busy.
The headline ingredients here are carrot, chili and garlic. Spend a little time choosing well: fresher, more carefully-sourced versions of these will lift the whole plate, while every other element is mostly there to support them.
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425
kcal
11g
Protein
24g
Carbs
17g
Fat
Ingredients
- carrot1 tsp
- chili200 g
- garlic1 medium
- mushroom100 ml
- soy sauce2
- bok choy2 tbsp
- star anise3 tbsp
- saltstaple
- pepperstaple
Method
- 1Step 1 ~12 min
Prep all ingredients for hot sour soup and measure them out.
- 2Step 2 ~12 min
Heat oil in a pan and sauté aromatics until fragrant.
- 3Step 3 ~12 min
Add main ingredients and cook until just done.
- 4Step 4 ~12 min
Season with salt, pepper and finish with fresh herbs.
- 5Step 5 ~12 min
Plate and serve hot.
Per-step times are approximate and based on the total cook time of 60 minutes.
Pro tips & common mistakes
- This is a longer cook, so taste as you go and adjust salt in small increments. It is much easier to season up at the end than to rescue a dish that has been over-salted early.
- Taste a small spoonful just before serving and adjust salt, acid (lemon or vinegar) and heat — that final balance check is what separates a good home cook from a great one.
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Frequently asked questions
- How long does Hot Sour Soup take to cook?
- From prep to plate, Hot Sour Soup takes about 60 minutes and yields 4 servings. About a third of that is hands-on; the rest is the cooking itself.
- Is Hot Sour Soup vegetarian?
- Yes — this version of Hot Sour Soup is fully vegetarian. If you want to make it vegan, swap any dairy or eggs for a plant-based equivalent of the same texture.
- What are the key ingredients in Hot Sour Soup?
- The headline ingredients are carrot, chili, garlic. The rest of the list is supporting cast — spices, aromatics and pantry staples — that round out the flavour rather than carry it.
- Can I scale this recipe up or down?
- Yes. The ingredient quantities scale linearly: halve for 2 servings or double for 8. Cooking times stay roughly the same, except for anything that depends on pan surface area — if you double a stir-fry, cook it in two batches rather than crowding the pan.
- How should I store the leftovers?
- Let leftovers cool to room temperature, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently — low heat on the stove with a splash of water, or short bursts in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel so it does not dry out.
- Can I freeze Hot Sour Soup?
- Yes. Cool fully, portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat gently; you may need a splash of water or stock to bring the sauce back to its original consistency.
- What should I serve with Hot Sour Soup?
- Hot Sour Soup pairs naturally with classic chinese sides — a simple grain, a fresh salad, or a light pickle to cut through richness. Aim for something that contrasts the main dish in texture or temperature rather than echoing it.
- What if I do not have one of the main ingredients?
- Most ingredients in this recipe have sensible swaps. Match like-for-like by texture and cooking time and you will land somewhere close to the original.