Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Course :	Chinese
From:	HungryMonster.com
Serves:	4

Ingredients:

6	cups	chicken broth
1 1/4	cups	fresh mushrooms
1 1/2	cups	fresh raw spinach -- washed
3	tablespoons	light soy sauce
3	tablespoons	cider vinegar
3/4	teaspoon	black pepper
2 1/4	tablespoons	sesame seed oil
1/2	teaspoon	hot pepper oil or Tabasco -- sauce
3/4	pound	tofu -- (soybean cake), cut
1	small	dice
3	tablespoons	cornstarch -- dissolved in 5
2	cups	water
1	large	egg -- beaten
3	tablespoons	finely chopped cilantro
2	medium	green onions -- finely chopped

Preparation:

Combine the chicken broth, mushrooms and spinach in a soup pot. Simmer for 4 minutes. Mix the soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, sesame seed oil, and the hot pepper oil or Tabasco together in a small bowl. (Taste the mixture carefully before adding full amount of pepper oil or Tabasco sauce.) Stir until well blended, add to the broth. Taste and correct the seasonings. Add the tofu and the cornstarch, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour the egg into the broth, stirring constantly until it forms into ribbons. Add the cilantro and onion and serve at once.