Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (2024)

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  • Vegetarian Soups

By

Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.

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Updated on 07/22/21

Tested by

Diana Andrews

Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (1)

Tested byDiana Andrews

Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

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Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (2)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 40 mins

Servings: 4to 6 servings

Yield: 8 cups

84 ratings

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Chinese hot and sour soup is a light meal or accompaniment that can be enjoyed at any time of day.

This soup recipe combines mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, soy sauce, hot sauce, vinegar, garlic, green onions,and chili oil, resulting in an authentic dish that vegans and vegetarians (or anyone else for that matter) can enjoy. It's warm, nourishing, and oh-so-delicious.

Make a batch the next time you want to warm up with something hot on a cold day. It's especially welcome if you've got a head cold, as it can really help open your sinuses.

If you order hot and sour soup at a restaurant, it will often be made with meat stock and may contain shredded or minced pork or chicken. Vegan vegetable broth or stock is a great substitution, and the soup has plenty of flavor without meat. If you want to boost the protein or simply make the soup more hearty, add somefried tofuor seitan.

"This delicious, comforting soup comes together quickly and easily with the benefit of being not only vegetarian, but also vegan. You won’t miss the meat since the hearty mushrooms effortlessly replace it. The soup is well-balanced, and you can control the heat level by adding hot sauce and chili oil to your taste." —Diana Andrews

Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (3)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 6 cups vegetable broth

  • 2 cups sliced mushrooms, such as Chinese wood ear mushrooms or shiitake

  • 1 (8-ounce) can sliced bamboo shoots, rinsed and drained

  • 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and drained

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free), more to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce, more to taste

  • 2 tablespoons vinegar, more to taste

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions, more for garnish

  • 1 teaspoon chili oil, more to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (4)

  2. In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth to a simmer and add the mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, soy sauce, pepper, hot sauce, vinegar, and garlic. Allow to simmer for at least 20 minutes.

    Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (5)

  3. Add the scallions to the pot and simmer for about 5 more minutes.

    Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (6)

  4. Stir in the chili oil.

    Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (7)

  5. Add additional soy sauce, hot sauce, vinegar, and chili oil to taste. Serve garnished with scallions, if desired.

    Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (8)

Tip

Any mushrooms will do in this recipe, but Chinese wood ear mushrooms or shiitake work best. While shiitake mushrooms are readily available fresh in almost any grocery store, Chinese wood ear mushrooms may take a little more effort to procure. Also called Auricularia black fungus mushrooms, these mushrooms can be purchased dried from many online retailers. Just be sure to give the mushrooms time to soak if you are going to buy them dried.

Recipe Variation

  • Thicker Hot and Sour Soup: This recipe makes a thinner broth soup. If you prefer a thicker consistency, combine 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water. Mix well and add to the soup after it has cooked for 20 minutes. Simmer the soup for 5 minutes, stirring as it thickens. Once thickened, add the green onions and simmer 5 more minutes.
  • Add in more veggies, such as carrots, broccoli, or peas, if you desire.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Refrigerate any leftover soup once it has cooled and leave at room temperature for no more than 2 hours. It will last in the fridge for up to three days.
  • You can freeze individual servings of the soup to keep on hand when needed.
  • Simply microwave or reheat any leftovers or frozen soup in a saucepan over medium heat and enjoy it hot.

Six Chinese Restaurant-Style Soup Recipes

  • Soups
  • Chinese Food
  • Vegetable Recipes
  • Mushroom Recipes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
87Calories
1g Fat
17g Carbs
4g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories87
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 0g1%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 970mg42%
Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
Dietary Fiber 3g11%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 7mg36%
Calcium 29mg2%
Iron 1mg8%
Potassium 540mg11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Mushroom
  • appetizer
  • chinese
  • back to school

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Try This Warming Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the broth made of in hot and sour soup? ›

The soup broth

Chinese Hot and Sour soup broth is made with chicken stock which is flavoured with typical Asian ingredients such as soy sauce, sugar, pepper and ginger. The soup is thickened slightly using cornstarch/cornflour – I love how the glossy broth coats the ingredients when you scoop it up!

What is veg hot and sour soup made of? ›

Vegan Hot and Sour Soup Ingredients

Bamboo shoot – fresh or in a can or chili oil. Water – Yes, you only need water, but feel free to use vegetable stock that is usually lighter than broth and has less celery taste. Seasoning – vinegar, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, mushrooms seasoning, or vegetable bouillon.

Is Chinese hot and sour soup healthy? ›

Hot And Sour Soup Is Packed With Micronutrients

This nutrient helps in bone development. Also, it helps in boosting the metabolic rate of the body. The soup also has many other essential nutrients like vitamin B-6, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium.

What are the benefits of hot and sour soup vegetarian? ›

Key Takeaways:
  • 01Low in Calories.
  • 02High in Protein.
  • 03Rich in Vitamin C.
  • 04Good Source of Fiber.
  • 05Contains Essential Minerals.
  • 06Low in Fat.
  • 07Helps with Digestion.
  • 08Contains Antioxidants.

What is the clear jelly in hot and sour soup? ›

Chinese cloud ears are a fungi that is also pre soaked and finely shredded to add oomph to hot and sour soup. They have a chewy, jelly-like texture and compliments the other ingredients.

What are the main ingredients in hot and sour soup? ›

Ingredients
  • 8 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth.
  • 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms (or baby bella mushrooms), thinly-sliced with stems discarded.
  • 1 (8-ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained (optional)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar, or more to taste.
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce.
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger.
  • 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce.
Jan 9, 2017

What is the black stuff in hot and sour soup? ›

What are the dark things in hot and sour soup? The dark things you may find in hot and sour soup is black fungus, also known as wood ear mushrooms. These mushrooms have a dark and black appearance. It's crunchy in texture and adds a unique earthy flavor to the soup.

What is the brown stuff in hot and sour soup? ›

Mushrooms – The most common mushrooms used in hot and sour soup are dried sh*take and Wood ear mushrooms rehydrated in boiling water, drained, then sliced thinly. sh*take mushrooms are those large capped mushrooms that are dark in color.

Is US hot and sour soup healthy? ›

Is hot and sour chicken soup healthy? Yes, homemade hot & sour chicken soup can be very healthy as you control the ingredients. Optimize nutrition by minimizing added starch, using lean protein, and avoiding adding sugar.

Can diabetics eat hot and sour soup? ›

It is highly recommended that this recipe be relished by diabetics only occasionally and in small quantities. This is just a mere 'treat' and does not qualify for a regular diabetic menu.

What is the healthiest Chinese takeout soup? ›

Best: Soups

Wonton, egg drop, or hot and sour? Take your pick. Each typically has fewer than 100 calories per cup. Plus, the broth helps fill you up, so you won't eat as much of the heavier dishes.

What is served with hot and sour soup? ›

The best side dishes to serve with hot and sour soup are fried rice, beef and broccoli, buttered noodles, cashew chicken, potstickers, spring rolls, char siu, bok choy, crispy tofu, steamed dumplings, sautéed green beans, garlic spinach, Asian cucumber salad, and sesame noodles.

Which soup is better hot and sour or manchow? ›

If you've enjoyed hot and sour soup (another Chinese restaurant favorite), you'll definitely relish this manchow soup. While both soups employ similar elements, manchow contains more of stir-fried vegetables and is less sour.

Is hot and sour soup good for your liver? ›

Hot and sour soup supports healthy Liver function. The taste of sour resonates directly with the Liver and helps promote flow. Once you learn how to make the base of the soup, try using different ingredients.

Is hot and sour soup good for inflammation? ›

Some ingredients commonly found in hot and sour soup, such as ginger and garlic, possess anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may help in reducing inflammation in the body, for better overall health.

What makes a broth soup? ›

Broth is traditionally made by simmering meat in water, often with vegetables and herbs. This flavored liquid is then used for a variety of culinary purposes. In the past, the term “broth” was only used to refer to meat-based liquids. Today, however, vegetable broth has become very common.

What are the stringy things in hot and sour soup? ›

Beaten eggs – One or two beaten eggs are added at the very end of cooking. The eggs are poured very slowly into the soup while quickly whisking clockwise. This will create tiny ribbons of cooked egg in the soup.

What is the difference between broth and bouillon soup? ›

Let's start with the simplest of the trio to distinguish: bouillon and broth. 'Bouillon,' which is the French word for 'broth,' is used to describe broth that has been dehydrated into a powder or cube.

What is bone broth soup? ›

Bone broth is a clear soup made from bones (from any animal) with connective tissue and some meat, which are naturally high in collagen, the protein gelatin is derived from. The longer bones are simmered, the greater the concentration of collagen in the broth.

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