Mandarin hot and sour soup

4 servings

Ingredients

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