Mandarin hot & sour soup

4 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
8cupsSoup stock, 6-8 cups
¼poundsPork, lean
½eachSquare bean curd (optional)
¼cupShredded bamboo shoot
3eachesDried black mushrooms 2-3*
2tablespoonsSliced can button mushrooms
4eachesDried wood ears (optional)*
2eachesStalks green onion, chopped
1eachSlice cooked ham, shredded**
4tablespoonsVinegar
1teaspoonChili oil (optional)
¼eachHite pepper
¾teaspoonSalt
½teaspoonSesame oil
½teaspoonSugar
1tablespoonSoy sauce
2eachesEggs lightly beaten
3tablespoonsCornstarch in 3 t water

Directions

* Soaked and shredded. ** Optional Bring soup stock to a boil, add shredded pork, black mushrooms and wood ears. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add remainder of ingredients and seasonings (except cornstarch, eggs, and green onion) reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Thicken with cornstarch and turn off heat. Slowly pour in beaten eggs in a thin stream while stirring. Serve immediately. Garnish with green onion. If soup is to be prepared ahead of time, do not add cornstarch and eggs until serving time. Otherwise the egg will be overcooked and spoil the appearance. Soup should be quite hot and sour. Adjust the hotness with varying amount of white pepper and the sourness with different amounts of vinegar.