Chinese Take out Hot-And-Sour Soup

Hot-and-Sour soup is one of those dishes (like a consomme) that is perfect on a cold day. It is quick to prepare, low in fat, and warms you up from the inside out. We like to keep a container of this soup in the freezer for those times when someone we know might need a bit of added warmth. From the Take-Out Menu Cookbook.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 6  dried Chinese mushrooms (shitakes are fine)
• 4  cups  chicken stock
• 1⁄3 cup  chopped bamboo shoot
• 4  ounces  pork tenderloin or 4  ounces chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
• 1  cup  diced firm tofu
• 1⁄4 cup cider vinegar
• 3  tablespoons soy sauce
• 1  teaspoon  toasted sesame oil
• 1  teaspoon  chili-garlic sauce
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with
• 3  tablespoons cold water
• 1  large egg, beaten
• 2  green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish

Directions

1. Soak the mushrooms in 1/3 cup boiling water for 15 minutes. With a slotted spoon, lift the mushrooms from the liquid and set aside. Strain the liquid through a coffee filter-lined strainer to remove the grit and set aside. Discard the tough stems from the mushrooms. Squeeze the mushrooms dry. Cut into thin slices.
2. Pour the mushroom liquid and chicken stock into a large stockpot set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and meat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and add the tofu, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and chili sauce. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings to taste.
3. Stir the cornstarch mixture and add it to the simmering soup. Cook for 2 minutes to thicken the soup. Drizzle in the egg while the soup is at a simmer, stirring gently.
4. Do not boil.
5. Serve hot, garnished with green onions.
6. The soup can be made up to the cornstarch addition up to 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated. To finish the soup, reheat over medium-high heat and once it reaches a simmer, resume the recipe.