Chinese Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup

This Simple Chinese Vegetarian Sour and Spicy Soup features all the classic, bold flavors of takeout – no meat required. Shiitake mushrooms, tofu, and vegetables in a savory, tangy, and spicy vegetable broth made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili sauce. Every spoonful tastes like it came straight from one of your favorite Chinese restaurants.

Ingredients

• Low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce
• Garlic chili sauce
• rice vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt
• Vegetable stock
• shiitake mushrooms
• Bamboo shoots
• Firm tofu
• carrot
• Fresh ginger
• Cornstarch/corn flour
• Egg
• Chives/green onions/scallions

This is the easiest hot and sour soup to make and a favorite here since 2020. Just add all the ingredients to a pan and thicken. Easy to make at home, even if you’re not a good cook. When it comes to ingredients, I don’t use sesame oil – too much can easily overpower the other flavors.

When I crave hot, comforting Chinese soup, this is my go-to. Traditionally made with pork, this version is completely meatless. I also added carrots, which isn’t traditional, but I love the citrus color it brings—and the flavor is legit. No need for a wok, just a soup pot

Eggs in hot and sour soup

I’ve seen some debate about whether eggs are real and whether they make hot and sour soup vegetarian. I won’t claim this is a truly authentic version, but every hot and sour soup I’ve enjoyed has contained egg – and the flavor here is very close to the original.

If you are vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian and prefer to avoid eggs, you can omit them entirely or just use the egg whites. According to one reader review, the soup is just as delicious without eggs. actually “lip slapping”.

Spice level

No black pepper, white pepper, or chilies are added to this hot and sour soup recipe. The spicy taste comes from the spiciness of the chili sauce which you can easily adjust according to the level of spiciness you want.

Is hot and sour soup healthy?

Besides being low in calories. Only 59 calories per cup. This soup is also quite healthy. It’s low in fat, packed with vegetables, and tofu is a meat-free source of protein.

Serving suggestions

I love serving it with small appetizers, like spring rolls paired with a Trio of Asian Dipping Sauces, Grilled Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks, or Chicken and Vegetable Lettuce Wraps with Orange Sauce.

Make it gluten free

There’s soy sauce in this soup, but it’s easy to make it gluten-free by using coconut aminos. It is thickened with cornstarch slurry instead of flour.

Hot and sour soup steps

This soup cooks up in about 30 minutes from start to finish, thanks to its short and simple ingredient list.

A comforting soup for cold and flu season

When I’m not feeling well, hot and sour soup is always one of the first things I reach for. The warm broth is soothing, the tangy vinegar refreshes a tired palate, and the gentle heat sensation can help clear sinuses and make breathing easier. It’s light yet nutritious, easy to drink, and comforting without feeling heavy. Whether you’re fighting a cold or just not feeling well, a steaming bowl of hot and sour soup feels like edible therapy in the best way.