Hot & Sour Soup

First thing to make when the weather drops below 70 degrees.

And this is what you need : Frozen or fresh mixed vegetables,Spring onion,Garlic,Ginger,Egg noodles,Chicken or vegetable stock,Corn starch,Soy sauce,Red chilli sauce,Oil,Vinegar,Salt ,Black pepper,Chicken and Egg (optional).

To begin with, cook a piece of chicken in water with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.Bring it to a boil and then cook for another few minutes in low flame with lid on until the chicken is done.

Meantime, chop 1 garlic

A small piece of ginger.

Now let's dice the fresh vegetables.Cut at an angle 1/4 cup beans.You will need 7 or 8 beans.

Chop 2 green onions.

These are the veggies that I used in the soup - 1/4 cup of chopped frozen carrots,1/4 cup of frozen peas,1/4 cup of frozen corn,beans,green onion ,ginger and garlic.You can even use a packet of frozen mixed vegetables .

Chicken will be done by this time .Shred the chicken and keep it aside.You will need 1/4 cup of shredded chicken.

Heat 1 Tbsp of oil and saute ginger and garlic for a minute.

Add all the veggies and cook them for few minutes..You can also use other veggies like Mushroom,Cabbage and Cauliflower .(All 1/4 cup each )

Next pour in 4 cups of chicken stock or, vegetable stock if you are making vegetable soup.

You can use canned stock or bouillon packets.You will need 32 oz can of stock or 2 packets of bouillon to make 4 cups of stock.(I used knorr chicken flavored bouillon.If you can find it, get this.)

Dissolve 2 packets in 4 cups boiling water.

Stir well and pour it in to the veggies.

Then stir in 1 cup egg noodles.

The shredded chicken..

The green onion..

1/2 tsp of black pepper

 And bring it to a boil until the noodle is cooked.

Now add 1/2 tsp Soy sauce..

1/2 tsp Red chilli sauce

 1tsp Vinegar..

And the cornstarch.Dissolve 1tsp of cornstarch in 2Tbsp cold water.

It gives the soup a wonderful sauciness...

Finally, Beat 1 egg and pour it slowly in to the soup through a sieve and slowly stir the soup the same time. Like this you will get thin strands of egg.Let it simmer for another 2 minutes.

Pour the soup in to bowls.Make sure you get plenty of chunks in each bowl...

You'll love it !!

Servings : 4

Ingredients : (Adapted from showmethecurry.com)

• Oil - 1 Tbsp
• Garlic - 1
• Ginger - 1 small chunk
• Frozen Peas  - 1/4 cup
• Frozen carrots - 1/4 cup
• Frozen Corn - 1/4 cup
• Green Beans - 1/4 cup, cut at an angle
• Green Onions –2, chopped
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth/Stock - 4 cups (32 oz can)
• Shredded chicken (optional)- 1/4 Cup
• Egg Noodles -1 cup
• Black Pepper - 1/2 tsp
• Soy Sauce - 1/2 tsp
• Red Chili Sauce - 1/2 tsp
• Vinegar - 1 tsp
• Corn Starch -1 tsp, mixed with a 2 Tbsp cold water
• Egg - 1, well beaten (optional)

Directions:

• To make the shredded chicken, cook chicken piece with 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/4 tsp salt.Shred it and keep it aside.
• Chop the fresh vegetables.
• Heat oil.
• Add ginger and garlic and saute for a minute.
• Add the vegetable and saute it for a minute.
• Then add the stock,chicken,noodle and black pepper.
• Bring to a boil or until the noodle is cooked.
• Then add soy sauce,red chilli sauce,vinegar,cornstarch mixed with water and cook it for 2 minutes
• Finally drizzle the beaten egg and simmmer it for another 2 mintues.
• Serve hot.