Hot And Sour Soup - 4
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Chinese
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 1
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   3                    dried black mushrooms
   1      tablespoon    small -- tree ear mushrooms
  20                    dried lily buds
   2                    pads firm bean curd
     1/4  pound         lean pork -- cut into
                        shreds
   2      teaspoons     dark soy sauce
   1      tablespoon    light soy sauce
   5      tablespoons   white vinegar
   2      teaspoons     salt -- or to taste
   1      tablespoon    peanut oil
     1/4  cup           bamboo shoots -- cut into
                        shreds
   5      cups          chicken stock
   3      tablespoons   cornstarch mixed with 1/4 -- cup water
   2                    eggs lightly beaten
   1      teaspoon      white pepper
   1      tablespoon    sesame oil
   2      tablespoons   chopped scallions
   2      tablespoons   chopped fresh coriander -- leaves
 

Preparation:

Here's a classic Chinese version. Put the mushrooms, tree ears and lily buds into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, slice the bean curd into strips and set aside. Combine the pork shreds with the dark soy sauce in a small bowl. Combine the light soy sauce, vinegar and salt in another bowl. Remove the black mushrooms from the soaking liquid, cut off the woody stems and discard, then slice the caps thinly and put into a bowl. Drain and rinse the tree ears and add them to the mushrooms. Remove the lily buds, cut off the woody tips, slice them in two, then pull each apart by hand into 2 or 3 shreds and add them to the mushrooms. Heat the oil in a wok or large pot. Stir-fry the pork just until it changes color. Add the tree ear mixture and bamboo shoots; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add the stock and bring to a boil (you may have this simmering in a separate pot), and stir in the vinegar mixture. Adjust the seasonings. Cook for 1 minute then add the bean curd. When boiling, give the cornstarch/water mixture a stir to recombine and stir into the soup. Cook until the soup thickens and clears slightly. Turn off the heat and slowly swirl in the beaten eggs. Transfer to a soup tureen, sprinkle with the pepper, drizzle in the sesame oil, garnish with the scallions and coriander and serve