Jeff Misenti
February 20, 2026
Difficulty Level: easy
10 min Prep
20 min Cook
30 min Total
4 Servings
Whether down in the dumps, unwell, or simply cold, soup is a go-to food. Everyone has their favorites, but until you’ve tried this hot and sour soup recipe, don’t laminate that list.
The dish includes rice vinegar, which brings a delicious tang to its taste. Combined with white pepper for heat, and tofu and mushrooms for earthiness, it gives it a fantastic warming feel. Think of it like tangy comfort food.
What’s amazing is that it comes together incredibly quickly once the veggies and proteins are ready. Another great thing is that this soup can be made once and reheated for days after. Perfect for cold (or lazy) nights.
If the idea of a tangy, warming soup sounds good, check out the ingredients and cooking steps below.
Hot and Sour Soup Ingredients
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 1/4 cup of rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 1/4 cup of water
- 8 oz of firm tofu, cut into small cubes
- 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 1 can (8 oz) of bamboo shoots, drained
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon of ground white pepper
- 2 teaspoons of chili paste or Sriracha
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- Salt to taste
Hot and Sour Soup Instructions
- Make sure everything is prepared first (veggies chopped).
- In a large pot over medium heat, add chicken broth, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Bring it to a gentle boil.
- Whisk cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Add tofu, mushrooms, and carrot to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the carrots soften.
- Stir in the bamboo shoots.
- Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring steadily so the soup thickens evenly.
- Keep the soup moving in a slow motion, then drizzle in the beaten eggs. Thin ribbons will form as you stir.
- Add vegetable oil, white pepper, chili paste, and green onions. Stir well, then bring it back to a light boil.
- Turn off the heat and stir in sesame oil.
- Taste, then add salt to taste.
- Serve hot, with extra finely sliced green onions.
Nutrition
Calories: 150cal
Carbohydrate: 12g
Protein: 8g
Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: – -mg
Sodium: – -mg