✅ Step 1: Ingredient List
Here are the main ingredients needed to make Sour Soup Beef Slices.
| Category | Ingredient | Quantity | Notes (Emoji & Description) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | Beef Slices for Hot Pot | 200g | 🐄 Choose better quality beef rolls for better texture |
| Accessories | Enoki Mushrooms | 150g | Remove ends, wash and set aside |
| Crystal Noodles / Potato Starch Noodles | 180g (optional) | Soaked in warm water in advance | |
| Aromatics & Seasonings | Yellow Lantern Chili Paste | 20g | 🌶️ Provides the golden color and unique sour-spicy flavor |
| Garlic | 10g (approx. 3-4 cloves) | Minced | |
| Ginger | 5g (approx. 2-3 slices) | Sliced or minced | |
| Bird’s Eye Chilies (小米辣) | 2 | Sliced into rings, adds heat | |
| Hangzhou Pepper (杭椒) | 1 | Sliced into rings, adds aroma | |
| Other | Cooking Oil | 30ml | For stir-frying and oil drizzling |
👨🍳 Step 2: Instructions
Making Sour Soup Beef Slices emphasizes seasoning the soup base and controlling the heat for the beef. Here are the core steps.
- 🥬 Prepare Ingredients:
- Remove the ends from the enoki mushrooms, wash and set aside. Soak the crystal noodles or potato starch noodles in warm water. Mince the garlic and ginger. Slice the bird’s eye chilies and Hangzhou pepper into rings and set aside.
- 🍲 Blanch Ingredients:
- Bring water to a boil in a pot. Add the enoki mushrooms and blanch for about 1 minute. Remove, drain thoroughly, and spread at the bottom of a serving bowl.
- Place the beef slices into the boiling water and quickly blanch until they change color (approx. 20-30 seconds). Remove immediately and place on top of the enoki mushrooms. Avoid blanching too long to prevent the meat from becoming tough.
- 🔥 Make the Sour Soup (Key Step):
- Heat the wok, add cooking oil. Add minced ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Add Yellow Lantern Chili Paste (approx. 20g), stir-fry to release its aroma and red oil.
- Pour in an appropriate amount of water or stock (approx. 400-500ml). Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add salt, sugar, white pepper, chicken powder (etc., precise amounts in Step 3), and simmer for about 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- 🥘 Combine and Final Seasoning:
- Strain the prepared sour soup to remove residue, then pour it into the bowl containing the beef and enoki mushrooms.
- Sprinkle the prepared bird’s eye chili rings, Hangzhou pepper rings, and minced garlic on top.
- Heat a little cooking oil (approx. 20ml) in a small pan until hot, then drizzle it over the chilies and garlic to release their fragrance.
- Finally, drizzle white vinegar (approx. 40g) and stir evenly before serving. Note: White vinegar volatilizes easily; always add it last to preserve the sour taste.
🌟 Step 3: Seasoning Ratio & Nutrition Info
Precise seasoning ratios are key to the flavor of Sour Soup Beef Slices, especially the balance of sourness and spiciness.
| Seasoning | Precise Amount (g) | Notes (Emoji & Description) |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Lantern Chili Paste | 20g | 🌶️ Provides the core sour-spicy flavor and soup color |
| White Vinegar | 40g | Provides sourness; add last to prevent volatilization |
| Table Salt | 5g | Provides base saltiness |
| White Sugar | 15g | Balances sour and spicy flavors, enhances umami |
| Chicken Powder / MSG | 5g (optional) | Enhances umami |
| White Pepper Powder | 3g | Removes gaminess, adds aroma |
| Cooking Oil | 50g | For stir-frying (30g) and drizzling (20g) |
💡 Chef’s Tips (TIPS)
- Choosing Ingredients is Fundamental: Choose better quality beef rolls for a better texture. Yellow Lantern Chili Paste is key to achieving the soup’s golden color; it’s not recommended to substitute with other chili pastes.
- Blanch Beef Quickly: The blanching time for beef slices must be short—remove as soon as they change color to avoid overcooking, which makes the meat tough.
- Vinegar Last: White vinegar (or sour soup seasoning) must be added last because the sourness of vinegar volatilizes easily with heat; adding it too early will affect the sour taste.
- Sizzling Oil Releases Aroma: Finally, using hot oil drizzled over the chilies and garlic can fully release their fragrance, enriching the dish’s flavor layers.
- Adjustable Side Dishes: Besides enoki mushrooms, you can also add bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, or shredded lettuce as side dishes.
- Adjustable Sourness & Spiciness: The amount of chili paste and vinegar can be flexibly adjusted according to personal taste. Reduce Yellow Lantern Chili Paste if sensitive to heat; add more vinegar if you prefer sourness.
