So, I have a cold. No, I have no idea how anybody gets a cold in June,but I did. Now, My favorite cold remedy is Hot and Sour soup, clears me right up. I used to be able to order up a delivery of a couple quarts of the stuff from my local Chinese place. However where I am at now, there is no delivery place that makes H&S soup.
So after Bitching and moaning and generally cursing the gods for their existence because I have to suffer through this without H&S soup, just canned chicken whatsoever. The suddenly I had an epiphany…
It doesn’t actually have to be real H&S soup. The effective parts are the Hot and the Sour and the chicken broth. The Egg drop, the tofu the soy sauce etc. are irrelevant to the curative properties.
A generous pour of Rice Vinegar, and pepper flakes into my canned chicken-whatever, and complete success. Surprisingly great tasting and I can feel the congestion lessening.
I’m that way with Tom Yum soup- lemongrass, ginger, garlic, hot stuff, drink broth for nasal relief.
If you want a hot & sour with some stuff in it that takes about 10 minutes (veggie folk delete/sub as required):
1/4 lb BBQ pork (or shrimp)
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp sherry
1/2 cup water
1/2 a brick of firm tofu, cubed small
4 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp chili oil (or less if a wuss like me)
2 tsp sesame oil
2 green onions, sliced
1 litre chicken stock
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 beaten egg
a few sliced mushrooms
1 julienned carrot
Prep the veggies and tofu. Combine vinegar, chili oil,sesame oil in wee bowl and set aside. In another bowl,stir cornstarch and water together. Add stock,sherry and soy sauce to pot and bring to simmer.Add mushrooms,tofu,carrots and pork/shrimp-simmer 10 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture to broth, lower heat and stir to thicken. Add vinegar/oil mix and stir.Slowly stir in beaten egg, then top with green onion. Make sure the egg cooks-about 1 minute.