Thai Hot and Sour Soup

From Simply THAI Cooking, by Wandee Young, with adjustments for local ingredients. Prep all ingredients before starting to cook.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  ounces mushrooms, sliced (wood ear mushrooms are very nice, if you can find them)
• 7  ounces soft tofu, sliced in thin, long strips
• 4  cups water
• 3  tablespoons soy sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  teaspoon garlic, chopped
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons sugar
• 5  tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1  teaspoon  chili-garlic sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup bamboo shoot
• 1  teaspoon  sesame oil
• 1  tablespoon cornstarch
• 1  tablespoon water
• 2  egg yolks, beaten
•  red bell pepper, cut in thin strips
•  fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

Directions

1. 1. Assemble and prep all ingredients. Boil 4 cups water in a soup pot. Add soy, black pepper, garlic, sugar, vinegar, chili-garlic sauce and salt. Lower heat to medium and cook 2-3 minutes.
2. Add bamboo shoots and mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add tofu and sesame oil and cook 3-5 minutes. Dissolve corstarch in 1 T. water, and stir into soup.
3. Slide egg yolks into soup. Turn off the heat, and do not stir. You want the egg to stay in pieces.
4. Transfer to soup tureen and garnish with pepper strips and cilantro. Serve immediately.