Hot and Sour Soup

Hot and sour soup is reputed to be good for colds. To increase the health benefits, feel free to add 2 or 3 teaspoons of finely chopped ginger. For a vegetarian version of Hot and Sour Soup, leave out the pork. Serves 4 Ingredients:

1 cake tofu fresh, if possible! 2 ounces pork tenderloin

Marinade: 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1"2 teaspoon sesa#e oil 1 teaspoon tapioca starch or cornstarch!

Other: 1"2 cup ba#boo shoots 2 tablespoons black fungus $ood %ar! or &loud %ar fungus or 3 ' 4 &hinese dried black #ushroo#s or fresh #ushroo#s! 1 s#all handful dried lily buds ( cups )ater or ( cups )ater and 1 cup &a#pbell*s chicken broth!+ 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons red rice vinegar, )hite rice vinegar, or red )ine vinegar 1 teaspoon sesa#e oil 1 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1"4 cup )ater 1 egg, beaten 1 green onion, finely chopped $hite pepper to taste no #ore than 1 tablespoon! Hot chili oil, to taste, optional

Preparation: Hot and Sour Soup ,irectionsShred pork. .i/ #arinade ingredients and #arinate pork for 20 #inutes. &ut tofu into s#all s1uares. &ut ba#boo shoots into thin strips and then into fine slices. To reconstitute the fungus, soak in )ar# )ater for 20 #inutes. 2inse, and cut into thin pieces. 3f substituting &hinese dried #ushroo#s, soak to soften, then cut off the ste#s and cut into thin strips. 3f using fresh #ushroo#s, )ipe clean )ith a da#p cloth and slice.!

To reconstitute the dried lily buds, soak in hot )ater for 20 #inutes or until softened. &ut off the hard ends. 4ring the )ater to a boil. $hen it is boiling, add the ba#boo shoots, fungus or #ushroo#s, and the lily buds. Stir. 5dd the tofu. 4ring back to a boil and add the #arinated pork. Stir in the salt, sugar, soy sauce and vinegar and sesa#e oil. Test the broth and ad6ust the taste if desired. 3f using chicken broth, you #ay )ant to add a bit #ore rice vinegar!. .i/ the cornstarch and )ater. Slo)ly pour the cornstarch #i/ture into the soup, stirring )hile it is being added. 7et the broth co#e back to a boil. 5s soon as it is boiling, re#ove the broth fro# the stove. Slo)ly drop in the beaten egg, stirring in one direction at the sa#e ti#e. 5dd the green onion and the )hite pepper to taste. ,ri88le )ith chili oil if desired. Serve hot. Hot and Sour Soup can be prepared ahead of ti#e and fro8en. $hen #aking the soup, leave out the tofu. $hen ready to serve, tha), add the tofu and bring to boiling. $hen the soup is boiling, add the egg.! +5d6ust the ratio of )ater to chicken stock as desired.