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Chicken Hot and Sour Soup - Authentic Chinese Flavor in 30 Minutes

Chicken Hot and Sour Soup

This easy Chicken Hot and Sour Soup brings together tangy vinegar, warming spice, tender chicken, and mushrooms in a silky broth. A comforting one-pot wonder inspired by a grandmother’s classic.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 chicken breast or thighs thinly sliced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp vinegar rice or white vinegar
  • 1 tsp white pepper or chili flakes adjust to taste
  • 1 cup mushrooms shiitake or wood-ear, sliced
  • 1/2 cup bamboo shoots drained and sliced
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)
  • 2 green onions chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Soup Pot

Method
 

  1. Prepare the ingredients: slice chicken, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, beat the egg, and ready the sauces and seasonings.
  2. Heat chicken broth in a pot. Add soy sauce and sesame oil, bring to a simmer.
  3. Add chicken, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. Simmer until chicken is cooked through.
  4. Stir in vinegar and white pepper or chili flakes for heat and sourness. Taste and adjust if needed.
  5. Add the cornstarch slurry while stirring to thicken the soup slightly.
  6. Slowly pour in the beaten egg while stirring to create silky ribbons.
  7. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot.

Notes

Use leftover chicken or tofu for a quick variation. Add noodles to make it a full meal. For a vegetarian version, swap chicken broth with vegetable broth and skip the chicken.