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Easy Hot and Sour Soup - So much tastier (and FASTER) than delivery! 30 min start to finish. Made with homemade wonton strips. SO SO GOOD.

So much tastier (and FASTER) than delivery! 30 min start to finish. Made with homemade wonton strips. SO SO GOOD.

Easy Hot and Sour Soup - So much tastier (and FASTER) than delivery! 30 min start to finish. Made with homemade wonton strips. SO SO GOOD.

reasons to make hot and sour soup

  • Cozy, comforting and quick to make in 30 min or less
  • Takeout favorite, tasting even better at home
  • Best for cold-fighting, helping to clear congestion

what is hot and sour soup?

Hot and sour soup is a classic Chinese soup typically made with mushrooms, sesame oil, egg, cornstarch, and of course vinegar for its enhanced sourness.

tips and tricks for the wonton strips

  • Homemade wonton strips goes a long way. Store-bought will save some time in the kitchen but the homemade version below requires only 2 ingredients and tastes so much more fresh, crisp and light-textured.
  • Use a heavy pot. A heavy bottom pot, such as a Dutch oven, is ideal here for even heat distribution for the hot oil.
  • Cook in batches. If too many wonton strips are added at once, the oil temperature will drop and the wontons will absorb too much oil, resulting in soggy wonton strips.
  • Make ahead. The crispy wonton strips can be made 1-2 days in advance, stored in an airtight container at room temperature once cooled completely.
Easy Hot and Sour Soup - So much tastier (and FASTER) than delivery! 30 min start to finish. Made with homemade wonton strips. SO SO GOOD.

tips and tricks for the soup

  • Use good-quality stock. The better quality your stock, the better your soup. Many brands love to pack in the salt so always opt for unsalted or a lower-sodium variety. Homemade stock is even better.
  • Use reduced sodium soy sauce. Reduced sodium has less sodium and less salt without compromising flavor.
  • Add more vinegar. If you like your soup particularly sour, add additional vinegar, to taste.
  • Make it vegetarian. Use vegetable stock for the chicken stock, skipping the fish sauce as well.
  • Mix it up. Swap out the tofu for cooked beef, chicken or pork.

Tools For This Recipe

Dutch oven

Easy Hot and Sour Soup: Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find wonton wrappers?

Wonton wrappers are available at most grocery stores as well as Asian specialty markets by the refrigerated aisle, typically next to the tofu.

What other oils can I use to cook the wonton strips?

We recommend using a neutral oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, canola oil or peanut oil.

Can I make the crispy wonton strips ahead of time?

Yes! The wonton strips can be made 1-2 days in advance.

What can I substitute for the shiitake mushrooms?

White, cremini and wood ear mushrooms can be used as well.

How can I make this a thicker soup?

For a more thicker consistency, add additional cornstarch (about 1-2 teaspoons) to the cornstarch-water mixture.

How can I store leftovers?

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Easy Hot and Sour Soup

Easy Hot and Sour Soup

So much tastier (and FASTER) than delivery! 30 min start to finish. Made with homemade wonton strips. SO SO GOOD.
4.9 stars (47 ratings)

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 3 (3.5-ounce) packages fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
  • 7 cups chicken stock
  • 1 (8-ounce) can sliced bamboo shoots, drained and cut into slivers
  • ½ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoons chili garlic sauce
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (8-ounce) package firm tofu, drained and cubed
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

For the crispy wonton strips

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 (12-ounce) package wonton wrappers, cut into strips

Equipment

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/4 cup water; set aside.
  • Heat canola oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Stir in garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in mushrooms until wilted, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in chicken stock, bamboo shoots, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fish sauce, chili garlic sauce and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. Stir in tofu.
  • Stir in cornstarch mixture, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
  • Gradually add egg in a slow steady stream, stirring with a fork. Cook until the eggs are set, stirring frequently to create ribbons, about 2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat; stir in green onion and sesame oil.
  • Serve immediately with crispy wonton strips.

For the crispy wonton strips

  • Heat vegetable oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat.
  • Working in batches, add won ton strips to the Dutch oven and fry until evenly golden brown and crispy, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Video

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