Skip to Content

Hot and Sour Soup

Hot and Sour Soup – make your own take out at home with this simple and easy soup! It is loaded with chicken, mushrooms, tofu and silky ribbons of eggs. Tastes just like P.F. Chang’s!

Chinese take out is a staple for so many people, and rightfully so, it is tasty stuff! But making your own take out at home is just a fun and delicious way to have dinner. Not only can you control the ingredients (less salt, good quality meat etc) you can use the vegetables and ingredients your family enjoys.

The Asian Recipe section on the blog is ever growing, with so many take out staples in there like Chicken Lo Mein or Egg Drop Soup. And today we are adding another classic. Hot and Sour Soup is on almost every Chinese menu out there. Some versions are really good, some are overly salt, some are just bland. Well this is one you will come back to over and over again!

looking down on a bowl of hot and sour soup

 

What Is Hot and Sour Soup

Hot and Sour Soup is a Chinese style soup that is a staple on most take out menus. It is usually a meat based soup with pork or chicken broth and then is full of tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and egg ribbons. The white pepper makes it hot and the vinegar gives it the sour taste.

This hot and sour soup tastes exactly like the one at PF Chang’s! So if you have ever tried that, you are going to love this.

hot and sour soup ingredients

Hot and Sour Soup Ingredients

  • Chicken Breasts
  • Water
  • Low Sodium Chicken Stock – using low sodium is a must or your dish will end up too salty
  • Soy Sauce – I like to use low sodium soy sauce for almost all of my cooking
  • Dark Soy Sauce – If you can not find dark soy sauce, using more of the regular soy sauce will work
  • White Vinegar
  • White Pepper
  • Firm Tofu – cut into small cubes
  • Bamboo Shoots – if you can find ones that are sliced into thin sticks use those. Or I like to slice the more traditional ones into matchstick size before adding to the soup.
  • Mushrooms – I like to use baby bella mushrooms
  • Sesame Oil
  • Cornstarch
  • Eggs
  • Green Onions
a pot of hot and sour soup with a ladle

Don’t click away after seeing the ingredient list. I get that it looks long, but it is mostly pantry staples that you can have on hand at any time! This comes together in about 25 minutes, so it is great for busy nights.

Hot and Sour Soup is a staple at Chinese restaurants, but often times it is disappointing. They make a big batch of it and then just scoop out a portion when it is is ordered. This is made fresh and is very balanced with flavor. It isn’t too salty or gloopy. It will definitely give you a different opinion of this classic soup.

mushrooms i pot for soup

How To Make Hot and Sour Soup

  1. Cut the chicken into 1/8th inch thin strips. Add them to a large stockpot that full of boiling water. Cook for a few minutes until it is cooked. Drain the chicken and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, heat chicken stock over medium heat. Add soy sauce, dark soy, white vinegar, white pepper, tofu, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, sesame oil, and the cooked chicken. Stir to combine, bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
  3. While you are waiting for the soup to come to a simmer, stir the cornstarch with some chicken stock until it is fully combined with no lumps.
  4. When the soup comes to a simmer, slowly stream in the cornstarch mixture while stirring. You want to make sure no cornstarch gets stuck on the bottom of the pot. Continue to cook until the soup has thickened, about 3 minutes.
  5. Use a ladle to add the eggs. We are going to stir the soup then toss some of the beaten egg into the soup with the ladle, then again stir the egg in through the soup. Do this in about 6 batches. This will make the egg ribbon effect.
  6. Taste, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve with a garnish of scallions.
a spoonful of soup

This is such a quick and easy soup that you can make to really take your homemade take out to a whole new level! And if you are a fan of the P.F. Chang’s version, you are going to want to make this immediately!

You really can mix this up and customize to your taste. If you want to make it meat free, leave out the chicken and use vegetable broth. Pork is also delicious in this soup. So many different ways customize and add whatever your favorite veggies are.

close up of hot and sour soup

More Asian Recipes

Yield: 8

Hot and Sour Soup

close up of hot and sour soup in a bowl

Hot and Sour Soup - make your own take out at home with this simple and easy soup! It is loaded with chicken, mushrooms, tofu and silky ribbons of eggs. Tastes just like P.F. Chang's!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 (32 ounce boxes) low sodium chicken stock, divided
  • 2/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 3 Tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • ½ tsp white pepper, or to taste
  • 7 ounces firm tofu, but into small cubes
  • 8 ounces bamboo shoots, drained and thinly sliced*
  • 4 ounces baby bella mushroom, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 6 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • scallions thinly sliced for garnish, optional

Instructions

    1. Cut the chicken into 1/8th inch thin strips. raw chicken strips on a plate
    2. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large stockpot. Add chicken strips and cook for about 3 minutes, until it is cooked. Drain the chicken and set aside.
    3. In the same pot, heat chicken stock (reserve 3/4 cup of chicken stock for later) over medium heat. Add soy sauce, dark soy, white vinegar, white pepper, tofu, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, sesame oil, and the cooked chicken. Stir to combine, bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.mushrooms i pot for soup
    4. While you are waiting for the soup to come to a simmer, stir the cornstarch with the reserved chicken stock until it is fully combined with no lumps.
    5. When the soup comes to a simmer, slowly stream in the cornstarch mixture while stirring. Make sure no cornstarch gets stuck on the bottom of the pot. Continue to cook until the soup has thickened, about 3 minutes.
    6. Use a ladle to add the eggs. Stir the soup, slowly pour in some of the beaten egg. Use the ladle to continue stirring the soup.. Do this in about 3 batches. This will make the egg ribbon effect. egg ribbons in pot of soup
    7. Taste, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve with a garnish of scallions.

Notes

Use low sodium chicken stock or the soup will be too salty

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 151Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 72mgSodium 1189mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 17g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a picture on social media!

I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can
share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and
tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS
recipes YOU make!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you
never miss a post!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Did you know there is a Dinners,
Dishes, and Desserts SHOP
? Lots of different E-Books for sale. Or you can buy me a
coffee
to say thanks!

.

Erin S
Follow me
Latest posts by Erin S (see all)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Amanda Livesay

Wednesday 25th of August 2021

This tastes just like my favorite takeout! And it's so easy!

Beth

Monday 16th of August 2021

My family and I love this soup, and it’s so much better than our takeout place! Such a delicious and easy recipe to throw together! Can’t wait to make this again!

Catalina

Sunday 15th of August 2021

Hot and sour is such an amazing flavor! My husband will love this soup!

Beti | easyweeknightrecipes

Saturday 14th of August 2021

Oh my goodness, I LOVE the flavors in this Hot and Sour soup!! Incredibly delicious!

katerina @ diethood.com

Saturday 14th of August 2021

mmmm..such a fantastic soup! I can't wait to try this! YUM!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe