I'm making a batch of Hot and Sour Soup because we're about to get a blast of winter here in

[catbyte]

Michigan--3-5" of snow, winds gusting to 40 mph, and temperatures plunging from the current 34F to 15F with wind chills below zero. I've frozen some chive dumplings and they will be awesome with it.

Yum!

[TreasonousBastard]

1. One of my favorites. Right now, though, I'm playing with chicken corn chowder.

[MontanaMama]

2. I've never made hot and sour soup.

It is one of my favorite things to eat out when it is done well. Do you put all the exotic mushrooms and things in there? Are those hard to source?

[fierywoman]

5. Here. She talks about substitutions.

[MuseRider]

11. Oooh thank you for that!

I do not know why I have never tried to cook this. We LOVE it. I think perhaps it is because we have one of the best Chinese restaurants fairly close by. My sons were with us when we went there when they were newborns. The owner asks me about them every time we go in now. I think every one in town with children have that same story, you mention the place or her name and we all start talking our stories.

Anyway, I have done Indian a lot for my son while he is here during the pandemic and I think this would make him really happy! Me too.

[fierywoman]

12. She's really easy to cook from. Try her other recipes too.

[MuseRider]

14. I certainly will.

I liked her presentation a lot.

[catbyte]

7. I use dried Shiitake mushrooms and baby Bella mushrooms. I use the fungus when I have it, but

today I don't, so I just used those two. I bought the dried mushrooms at my local grocery store. You can get the fungus at Asian grocery stores or online, but I don't find them necessary with the other mushrooms. I put bamboo shoots, julienned carrots, fresh ginger, finely chopped green onions, a couple of beaten eggs in the vegetable stock. I also use black Chinese vinegar which is mellower than rice vinegar. White pepper & then sesame oil to finish are must-haves. I know a lot of people put thinly sliced pork in it, but I don't eat it. I just put a few more mushrooms and silken tofu in to bulk it up a little bit. It's incredibly easy to make, and it comes together fast after soaking the Shiitakes.

[MontanaMama]

10. That sounds lovely catbyte.

I think I'd use tofu too.

[fierywoman]

13. Yeah!

[Irish_Dem]

3. Fabulous. The chive dumplings are perfect with the soup.

You are going to be warm and cozy.

[Retrograde]

15. Leftover cheese tortellini are surprisingly good with hot and sour soup

Earlier this pandemic I was making a hot and sour soup and decided it needed some more body to it. I had a few leftover tortellini - not enough for a meal - but enough to add to the soup. It's something I picked up at a local Korean restaurant that serves a soondobu (a Korean spicy tofu soup) with cheese, something Koreans started doing with American cheese during the Korean war. The dairy takes some of the edge of the hotness, and it blends nicely with the other ingredients.

[Irish_Dem]

17. What a good idea. The cheese would smooth out the soup and take down the heat a notch or two.

I am going to try it the next time I order take out H and S soup.
Add some dairy to it.

Very interesting about the history of the Korea changing traditional Korean dishes during the Korean War.

[safeinOhio]

4. I'm tossing another dog

on the bed tonight.

[mitch96]

16. A "Three dog nite"? nt

[magicarpet]

6. Just filled the Dutch oven sauce pan,...

Ground beef,
Sausage,
Onion,
Tons garlic,
Hot peppers,
Chili powder
Red kidney beans
Black beans
Pea beans

Large bowl of chili,.. shredded Mozzarella and crushed Cheez Its as a topping.

Cold spell coming Monday,.... we are going to be warm. This stuff makes you sweat.

[wendyb-NC]

8. Yum. I love Hot and Sour Soup

Is it hard to make? (Can you make it Vegetarian or Vegan?) What is your recipe, if you don't mind sharing it? Sorry, for so many questions. Thank you, catbyte.

Sounds like your in for some winter weather, and you've planned well. Stay safe, warm, and very comfortable as the snows fly.

[catbyte]

21. No, it's very easy. I used a mashup of these two recipes:

I don't eat pork, so I just substitute more mushrooms for the pork. And the fungus is difficult to find unless you have an Asian market handy or buy it online. I find it doesn't add all that much to the flavor of the soup. You can also substitute finely sliced chicken for the pork.

Edited to add: I use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock so either is really good. You can make it vegan by omitting the eggs, but I just love the texture that the eggs bring to the soup. It's very easy and oh so comforting when the snow is blasting away outside! Also, try to find the black Chinese vinegar if you can--I buy it online. I love it and makes for a mellower soup.

[wendyb-NC]

22. Thank you, ever so much, catbyte

Great, I do that with recipes, too, combine different versions. Thank you, for the brilliant idea to sub more mushrooms for the meat. I keep a supply of vegetable stock, on hand,I use it quite a bit, in my recipes. I do use eggs in my cooking and baking. I try to find local, or free range , organic, humane certified ones.
I will probably check online, for the dried fungus and the black Chinese Vinegar. Living in a semi arid , not quite a food desert, southern, small town, there are no Asian markets within 50 miles. Covid-19 numbers here are up in the deep red zone, so I pretty much stay home, and that's okay. The 3 cats are the best company, so I only go out when I need supplies.

Take care, be well and blessings to you always.

[catbyte]

23. If you shop on Amazon, it's available there, but if you don't, I buy it on ebay, too. I usually go

to Snuk Foods online store, but it's currently out of stock. They sell dried Shiitake mushrooms, too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/402497744609

https://smile.amazon.com/Gold-Plum-Chinkiang-Vinegar-18-6/dp/B00BUIKGU0/

https://snukfoods.com/

Have a great weekend!

[Callalily]

9. I love hot and sour soup.

Made some a couple weeks ago.

Just finished making some coconut curry broccoli soup. First time I ever made it and it's super yummy. Will add to my soup rotation menu.

[wackadoo wabbit]

18. That sounds delicious, too!

Would you mind sharing the recipe?

[Callalily]

20. Yes, definately..

The soup is delicious. The added jalapeño adds just enough zing! I make my own veggie stock which is super flavorful and adds to the deliciousness of the soup.

Broccoli Soup

prep time 10 MINUTES cook time 30 MINUTES total time 40 MINUTES

Coconut Curry Broccoli Soup is an easy vegan broccoli soup recipe to make any night of the week. This soup has an incredible combo of exotic flavors and it's loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties!

Ingredients

2 large bunches of broccoli, peel stems and chop all
3 tablespoons coconut oil (extra-virgin olive oil works as well)
1 large onion, chopped
1 Jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
2 heaping tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and minced
4 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 15-ounce can coconut milk (full fat)

Instructions

Heat the oil in your soup pot.

Add the onions and jalapeño. Sauté until the onions are golden.

Stir in the garlic and ginger and sauté for another minute or two.

Add the broccoli and vegetable broth.

Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer.

Stir in the curry powder, curry paste, coriander, turmeric and cumin.


Place lid on the soup and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

Remove from heat.

Using a stick blender, blend half of the broccoli mixture (leaving nice chunks of broccoli).
Pour in the coconut milk and reheat soup.

Garnish with cilantro

[wackadoo wabbit]

24. Thanks so much!

It sounds absolutely delicious. I'm definitely going to make it this coming week.

By the way, the addition of the jalapeño is absolute genius!

[Warpy]

19. We're getting a glancing blow

so it will drop from 60 to a more seasonable 40 or so.

I'm planning a blistering chicken Vindaloo tomorrow. I want it so hot my eyelids sweat. And it's all for me, over several days. My stuff tends to be on the hot side even here in NM.

[leighbythesea2]

25. Yum!

I have never made, but would like to try.
I happened to be up for that extravaganza. Tried some yellow curry chicken, and tiki masala. With instapot, it came out nicely, so that was a relief.
(Am back at the other place where snow is one inch---stay warm up there!!!)