Put White Pepper To Work
Classic Ground White Pepper Hot and Sour Soup
Serves 4
A silky, tangy soup built on shiitake and tofu, sharpened with Ground White Pepper and finished with delicate egg ribbons and toasted sesame oil.
Ingredients
- 4 cups good-quality chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated and sliced thin (reserve the soaking liquid)
- 3 oz firm tofu, cut into matchsticks
- 1/2 cup bamboo shoots, julienned
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar (Chinkiang vinegar)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp Tea & Turmeric Ground White Pepper (adjust to taste for heat)
- 3 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water (to make a slurry)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a medium pot, combine the broth, sliced shiitake mushrooms (along with a splash of their strained soaking liquid), bamboo shoots, and tofu. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Stir in the soy sauce and the ground white pepper. Ground white pepper brings a distinct, sharp warmth that disperses evenly throughout the soup without the earthy fruitiness of black pepper.
- Whisk in the cornstarch slurry a little bit at a time until the soup reaches a silky, slightly thickened consistency that can coat the back of a spoon.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the Chinese black vinegar. Always add the vinegar off the heat so its bright, complex tang doesn't cook away.
- Gently stir the soup in a circular motion to create a whirlpool, then slowly pour the beaten egg in a thin stream. Let it sit for 5 seconds before gently folding it with a fork to create delicate egg ribbons.
- Stir in the sesame oil, ladle into warm bowls, and garnish generously with sliced green onions and a tiny extra dusting of ground white pepper on top.