Low Sodium Hot Sour Soup Recipes

LOW SODIUM HOT & SOUR SOUP

Steps:

• Cut chicken breast into uniform, thin strips. Pan cook until the bottom changes color from pink to pale tan color, then flip the pieces over. When there is no sign of pink color, remove from pan and set aside. IMPORTANT: don't cook as much as you'd cook a chicken breast you might eat by itself: heating the soup will continue to cook the chicken, resulting in tough, overcooked chicken in your soup.
• Dissolve tamarind paste by heating with an ounce of the chicken stock. (microwave is a good way to do this). Remove any seeds from melted paste, since they're inedible.
• Bring stock to boil. Add tamarind/stock mixture, Chinkiang vinegar, pepper, chili pepper, fenugreek, cardamom, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and spinach; SAVE LIQUID FROM BAMBOO SHOOTS. Stir. Let cook for 3 minutes.
• While cooking, in separate bowl combine cornstarch or flour and liquid from the previous step to make a slurry. Add slurry a little at a time and stir until thick (all slurry may not be necessary, so add as much as necessary for desired thickness).
• Add eggs while stirring and cook for 30 seconds or until eggs are done. Add green onions and chicken.
• Cut tofu into strips that are about 1/4" x 1/4" x however thick the tofu brick is.
• Remove from heat. Add rice vinegar and tofu and blend thoroughly.
• Serve with crispy fried won tons if desired.

HOT AND SOUR SOUP

Steps:

• Freeze the pork tenderloin until firm, about 30 minutes; slice it into very thin slices, then into narrow strips. Refrigerate the pork. Put the tree ear mushrooms in a small bowl and the shiitake in another. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Pour the hot water over the mushrooms and set them aside to re-hydrate for about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the broth, garlic, ginger, in a large sauce pan. Crush the white part of 1 scallion with the side of a knife, add to the pan, simmer, covered for 15 minutes.
• Thinly slice the remaining scallions and reserve. Remove the mushrooms from the water and discard the liquid. Squeeze out any excess moisture from the shiitake and thinly slice.
• Remove the garlic, ginger, and scallion from the broth and discard. Add the mushrooms, soy, vinegar, pepper, and salt and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture, bring to a boil, and then simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Pour the egg into the soup and stir once to make delicate threads. Stir in the remaining scallions, oil, tofu, and pork, return to a simmer. Remove from the heat to prevent the meat from getting tough, adjust seasonings to taste. Serve immediately.

CHINESE HOT-AND-SOUR SOUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring 3 cups chicken stock to a boil. Add chicken breast; poach until cooked through, about 12 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board; slice in half crosswise, then into 1/4-inch-thick strips. Set aside. Pass stock through a cheesecloth-lined sieve set over a medium bowl; set aside.
• In a 6-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic and onion, and cover. Saute, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add mushrooms, and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add reserved and remaining chicken stock, carrots, ginger, black pepper, cayenne, and salt; bring liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer until carrots are tender, about 3 minutes.
• Place cornstarch in a small bowl, and slowly whisk in soy sauce until cornstarch has dissolved. Whisk in vinegar. Slowly whisk cornstarch mixture into soup. Simmer until soup is clear, 5 to 7 minutes. Add reserved chicken, and continue simmering until chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Slowly pour beaten eggs through a perforated spoon into soup. Cover and let stand 1 minute. Remove the cover, and gently stir. Add scallions and tofu. Ladle into individual bowls.

VEGAN HOT AND SOUR SOUP

Steps:

• In a small bowl, place wood mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and lily buds in 1 1/2 cups hot water. Soak 20 minutes, until rehydrated. Drain, reserving liquid. Trim stems from the mushrooms, and cut into thin strips. Cut the lily buds in half.
• In a separate small bowl, soak bamboo fungus in 1/4 cup lightly salted hot water. Soak about 20 minutes, until rehydrated. Drain, and mince.
• In a third small bowl, blend soy sauce, rice vinegar, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Place 1/2 the tofu strips into the mixture.
• In a medium saucepan, mix the reserved mushroom and lily bud liquid with the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, and stir in the wood mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and lily buds. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 to 5 minutes. Season with red pepper, black pepper, and white pepper.
• In a small bowl, mix remaining cornstarch and remaining water. Stir into the broth mixture until thickened.
• Mix soy sauce mixture and remaining tofu strips into the saucepan. Return to boil, and stir in the bamboo fungus, chili oil, and sesame oil. Garnish with green onion to serve.