Vegetarian Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Vegetarian Chinese Hot and Sour Soup is a delicious, meat-free alternative to a takeout favorite.
Shiitake mushrooms, tofu and vegetables are bathed in a delicious vegetable broth flavored with soy sauce, rice vinegar and chili sauce for perfectly balanced flavors.
Chinese hot and sour soup is always a favorite recipe when I want a hot and comforting Chinese soup. Typically made with pork, this soup has no meat.
I added carrots to this soup which not traditional in hot and sour soup, but I love the added vegetable and look of the orange in the soup.
Adding eggs to hot and sour soup
Per the review below, the soup is just as good without the egg, in-fact it is “lip smacking”.
Is hot and sour soup healthy?
In addition to being low in calories (this recipe there are 59 calories per cup) I would say it is pretty healthy. It is also low fat, has healthy vegetables, and tofu is a good source of meat-free protein.
Is Hot and Sour Soup gluten free?
There is soy sauce in the soup, but now that gluten-free soy is available so I can say yes, you can make it gluten free.
What is in hot and sour soup?
Hot and sour soup is usually meat based with pork, but this version is vegetarian with tofu, mushrooms, carrots, green onions and vegetable stock.
How hot is the soup?
Don’t be scared by the ‘hot and sour’ name. It is neither too much of any of those, just perfectly balanced flavors. This soup is also great when you have a cold because you can make it spicy and it will help clear the sinuses.
I like to serve a small appetizer like spring rolls with my Trio of Asian Dipping sauces or Baked Honey Soy Drumsticks. It is also a nice appetizer before a meal of Grilled Lemongrass Skewers, or Lemongrass Vegetable Noodle Salad.
Vegetarian Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Tofu and vegetables are bathed in a delicious vegetable broth flavored with soy sauce, rice vinegar and chili sauce for perfectly balanced flavors.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili garlic sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- Small pinch of salt
- 4 cups (944 ml) vegetable stock
- 4 ounces (62 grams) shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup (227 grams) can of bamboo shoots
- 5 ounces (140 grams) firm tofu, drained, cut into cubes
- 3/4 cup (27 grams) carrots, cut into thin strips (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 large egg, beaten (optional)
- 2 green onion/spring onion, sliced thin
Instructions
- To a small bowl add the soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and salt.
- To a large soup pan add the vegetable stock, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tofu, carrots ginger. Stir in the soy sauce mix and bring to a simmer.
- Mix the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water and stir into the soup. Simmer until thickened. While stirring, drizzle in the egg until incorporated (if using)
- Serve garnished with green onions/spring onions.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1 cupAmount Per Serving Calories 59Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 23mgSodium 584mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 4g
17 Comments on “Vegetarian Chinese Hot and Sour Soup”
It was yummmyy but I didn’t put eggs 😋
I sometimes omit the eggs too.
Just so you know, the egg yolk doesn’t contain animal cells either. It’s what makes up the feed sac the baby chicken would eat in the egg
This is good to know, thank you for sharing.
You are both incorrect. An whole unfertilized egg is a single cell. There is no part of an egg that is vegetarioan. Also saying that eating animal parts, whether whole cells or otherwise is vegetarian, is seriously missing the point of a vegetarian or vegan diet.
If you are vegetarian or vegan, don’t add the egg yolks or whites. I bet the soup is still delicious. I’ll let you know. Getting ready to go to the kitchen and give it a try.
Thank you so much for info on adding egg to the soup, this is very helpful. Please come back to the recipe and leave a comment on how the soup turned out for you.
I made the soup per the recipe, but without any egg. It is lip smacking. Thank you.
The best compliment! Thank you 🙂
Made this today for lunch. It was easy to make and tastes delish! I will be making this often!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup. Thank you for the feedback. It’s been too long since I’ve had this, you’ve inspired me to make it this weekend 🙂
This looks great! I love these kinds of egg drop soups, and they are so good for you!
Thank you Tammy, come back and let me know how you like it.
I love hot & sour soup. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Nice Pictures! You do take great pictures with your camera. Your picture makes this soup look so tantalizing!!
Thank you!
I love this gorgeous golden soup, studded with all those health-giving things. Just the thing for recovering from the over-indulging season, I mean the festive season.
Thank you Jennifer. That should be it’s new name 🙂