Sichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms
A warming bowl of hot and sour soup bursting with bold Sichuan peppercorn heat, silky tofu, and earthy mushrooms, perfect for chilly days. This chinese-inspired soups ready in about 35 minutes pairs vegetable broth, cut into 1/2-inch cubes firm tofu, sliced shiitake mushrooms for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 8 oz, cut into 1/2-inch cubes firm tofu
- 1 cup, sliced shiitake mushrooms
- 1/2 cup dried, soaked and sliced wood ear mushrooms
- 1/2 cup, julienned bamboo shoots
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
- 1 tsp, toasted and ground Sichuan peppercorns
- 2 tbsp, mixed with 3 tbsp cold water cornstarch
- 1 large, lightly beaten egg
- 2, thinly sliced green onions
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- to taste salt
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, bring 6 cups vegetable broth to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tbsp minced ginger, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms, 1/2 cup soaked and sliced wood ear mushrooms, and 1/2 cup julienned bamboo shoots. Simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Stir in 8 oz firm tofu cut into 1/2-inch cubes, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce, 1 tsp toasted and ground Sichuan peppercorns, and 1/2 tsp white pepper. Simmer for another 3 minutes.
- Step 3: Slowly pour in the slurry made from 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water while stirring the soup gently. Continue to cook until the soup thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Slowly drizzle in 1 lightly beaten large egg in a thin stream while stirring the soup in a circular motion to create silky egg ribbons.
- Step 5: Remove from heat, stir in 1 tsp sesame oil, and adjust salt to taste. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with 2 thinly sliced green onions before serving hot.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (15 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Sichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep vegetable broth from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Sichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Sichuan-Style Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Mushrooms?
Chinese soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
