Hot and Sour Soup

By luvyaz12

* CALORIES 167
* FAT 7g (sat 2g, mono 2g, poly 1g)
* PROTEIN 13g
* CARBOHYDRATE 14g
* FIBER 1g
* CHOLESTEROL 70mg
* IRON 1mg
* SODIUM 318mg
* CALCIUM 57mg

Ingredients

• # 4 dried Chinese (or shiitake) mushrooms
• # 1/4 cup tree ears, optional
• # 4 cups canned chicken broth
• # 5 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• # 1/4 cup lean pork (from a center-cut pork chop), cut into julienne strips
• # 1 block firm tofu (about 4 ounces), rinsed and cut into 1/4-inch cubes (about 3/4 cup)
• # 1/3 cup matchstick-cut canned bamboo shoots, rinsed and drained
• # 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• # 1 large egg, well-beaten
• # 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• # 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• # 1/8 teaspoon granulated sugar
• # 2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Preparation

Step 1

In a small bowl, soak mushrooms in 1/2 cup hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and squeeze dry; reserve soaking liquid. Cut off and discard stems; slice caps thinly. In a small bowl, soak the tree ears (if using) in 1/2 cup hot water for 30 minutes. Drain and squeeze dry. Remove any hard spots, and roughly chop the tree ears. Discard the soaking liquid.

In a large saucepan, combine broth, 1 cup water, vinegar, and reserved mushroom liquid; bring to a boil over high heat. Add pork, mushrooms, tree ears, tofu, and bamboo shoots.

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water. When soup returns to a boil, stir in cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly until soup is just thickened (about 30 seconds). Stir in egg, and remove from heat. Stir in the oil, white pepper, sugar, and scallions.