Hot & Sour Soup and Moo Shu Tofu

Moo Shu Tofu (left) and Hot & Sour Soup (lower right)

If you didn't have Chinese food on Christmas Day, these recipes for Hot & Sour Soup and Moo Shu Tofu are for you! You'll need to purchase wood ears and golden needles for both recipes, which you can find at your local Asian market or online. It's worth the effort to find them--these recipes are easy to prepare, and in the time it takes to go out to eat or wait for delivery, you'll be enjoying a home-cooked meal that tastes just like what you'd enjoy at a Chinese restaurant!

Hot & Sour Soup

Ingredients:

¼ cup dried wood ears (black fungus), plus 1 cup hot water

¼ cup dried golden needles (lily flower), plus 1 cup hot water

1 (14-ounce) can vegetable or chicken broth, plus 2 cans of water

1 tablespoon lowered-sodium soy sauce

½ cup cold water

4 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon sherry (or apple juice)

1 egg, lightly beaten (or ¼ cup egg substitute)

4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

¼ teaspoon fresh-ground peppercorn mix

2 green onions (including tops), sliced

Directions:

Soak wood ears and golden needles in separate bowls in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain well and chop coarsely.

Meanwhile, combine broth, 2 cans water, and soy sauce in medium saucepan over high heat until broth comes to a boil.

Meanwhile, combine ½ cup water, cornstarch, and sherry in a small bowl. Stir well with a fork until smooth. Set aside.

Combine vinegar, peppercorn mix, and green onions in a second small bowl. Set aside.

When broth begins to boil, add wood ears and golden needles. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute.

Reduce heat to medium. Stir cornstarch mixture well, then add cornstarch mixture to broth and stir well to combine. Continue to cook, stirring often, until broth thickens.

When broth is thickened, drizzle egg into soup in a spiral pattern, then stir egg into soup. Add vinegar mixture and combine. Serve hot.

Moo Shu

You'll need a wok or a Dutch oven to prepare this dish, as the napa cabbage takes up a lot of space until it cooks down. If you don't have a wok or Dutch oven, cut the recipe in half. To replace the tofu with chicken, use chopped cooked chicken, and add it in with the bean sprouts.

Ingredients:

¼ cup dried wood ears (black fungus), plus 1 cup hot water

¼ cup golden needles (lily flower), plus 1 cup hot water

2 teaspoons sherry (or apple juice)

6 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 pound grilled tofu, chopped in ½” cubes

4 tablespoons canola oil

2 tablespoons bottled minced ginger

1 small (about 5 ounces) napa cabbage, well-washed and thinly sliced

1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms

2 cups (6 ounces) bean sprouts, or 1 (14-ounce) can bean sprouts, drained

2 green onions (including tops), sliced

moo shu pancakes (or flour tortillas), if desired

hoisin sauce, if desired

Directions:

Soak wood ears and golden needles in hot water in separate bowls for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine sherry, soy sauce, and cornstarch in medium bowl. Add tofu and gently stir to cover. Set aside.

After wood ears and golden needles have soaked for 15 minutes, drain well and chop coarsely. When wood ears and golden needles are chopped, heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Cook ginger 2 minutes, stirring often.

Reduce heat to medium. Add wood ears, golden needles, and tofu mixture to wok and stir to combine. Add mushrooms and cabbage, and stir carefully to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender, about 15 minutes. Add bean sprouts and green onions and cook until green onions are just tender.

For an authentic Chinese restaurant presentation, serve with moo shu pancakes (or gluten-free tortillas) and hoisin sauce: spread pancake with hoisin sauce, add moo shu, and wrap like a burrito.

Like what you're reading?

Click here for a free weekly email every Friday,

scroll down to leave a comment or a rating,

or click on the three dots at the top of the page to share with a friend!

(If you're not getting your email, check your Promotions, Updates, Junk, Spam, etc. folders!)

If you click on the links in this post and make a purchase, I earn a small finder's fee on qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate, at no cost to you.

This website is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute

for or to replace working with a doctor, therapist, or any other care provider.

I assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or other

inconsistencies, and disclaim any liability to any party for any events,

including but not limited to loss, damage, or disruption, whether loss,

 damage, or disruptions results from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Your use of the information on this website is at your own risk.