Chinese hot and sour soup with pork, black fungus, carrot & celery

This thickened soup recipe uses pork, black fungus, carrot and celery.

Black fungus is a type of fungus that grows on trees. The chinese name is literally wood ear (mu er). It looks a bit like ears protruding out from the tree branches, hence the name. It is usually sold in dried form. It needs to be soaked in warm water and re-hydrated. Note that it will expand when hydrated.

Dried black fungus or wood ear. It gives the soup an extra crunch.

Never heard of black fungus? Cannot find it in the stores? Substitute with Chinese black mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms.

5 secrets to a successful hot sour soup.

Ingredients
100g lean pork
20g black fungus
2 pieces ginger
30g carrot
30g celery
2 eggs, beaten
6 cups soup stock
2 tbsp cornstarch mixture
2 tbsp cooking oil

Seasonings
1.5 tsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
1 tbsp rice vinegar

Garnish
1 stalk spring onion, chopped
2 stalks coriander, chopped

Directions

1. Soak the black fungus until soft
2. Clean the lean pork, black fungus, carrot and celery, coriander and ginger
3. Cut the pork, black fungus, carrot and celery into thin strips
4. Chop the coriander and ginger finely
5. Bring a pot of water to a boil and parboil the pork, fungus, carrot and celery for about 5 minutes
6. Drain and leave aside
7. Heat the cooking oil in a pot and fry the ginger till brown
8. Add the pork strips, black fungus, carrot and celery strips and fry quickly
9. Add the soup stock and bring to a boil
10. Add the salt and pepper to taste
11. Thicken the soup with the cornstarch mixture to the desired consistency
12. Remove from heat and stream the beaten egg in using a pair of chopsticks
13. Place the rice vinegar into the serving bowl and pour the soup over it
14. Give it a quick mix
15. Garnish with the chopped spring onion and coriander
16. Serve

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Recipe source: <a href="http://www.homemade-chinese-soups.com/hot-and-sour-soup-02.html">Chinese hot and sour soup with pork, black fungus, carrot & celery</a>