Soups are always a comfort when you are feeling down, but most people find preparing soups hectic. When it comes to light dinner ideas, soups are the best, but frankly, even I used to be like, “A bowl of soup would be good, but it would be a hassle.” I am a soup person, but I have never explored the classic Chinese soups. As the hassle of prep used to worry me, but healthy Chinese at home is something I wanted to achieve after trying the classic Chinese Wonton Soup in a restaurant.
Being a food fanatic made me explore making authentic Chinese food myself. I realized making these soups is easy, and today I would share them with you, the original, authentic ones I learned from a Chinese cookbook.
Quick, Cozy & Wholesome: Authentic Chinese Soups for Effortless Dinner Nights
1. Chinese Vegetable Soup:
Well, let’s start with some comfort, healthy Chinese vegetable soup,
Ingredients: (Serving 4-6 people)
Napa cabbage shredded
Peanut oil (as required)
Marinated bean curd (Tofu, cut into cube dice)
Garlic (2 cloves thinly sliced)
Scallions (4 thinly sliced)
Carrot (1 thinly sliced)
Vegetable stock (4 cups)
Chinese rice wine (1 tbsp)
Light Soy sauce (2 tbsp)
Salt, pepper, sugar (as per taste)
How to Prepare:
Heat oil in a large wok, skillet, or any vessel you have available suitable for soups. Add bean curd cubes and stir fry for 4-5 min, until slightly brown, remove and drain excess oil on a paper towel.
In the same vessel, add garlic, scallions, and carrot and stir-fry for 2 mins. Pour stock, rice wine, and soy sauce, then add sugar and shredded Napa cabbage. Cook this mix on low heat for another 2-3 minutes and keep stirring.
Season with salt and pepper, add the bean curd, and serve piping hot in a bowl to slurp on the comfort.
2. Whole Chicken Soup:
Ingredients: (the whole chicken soup generally serves 6-8 people)
1 Whole chicken
Chinese Mushroom (2 dried, soaked in warm water for 20 min)
Yunnan Ham/ Ordinary Ham (100g chopped)
Fresh or Canned Bamboo shoots rinse (¾ cup if fresh, boil for 30 min)
300g napa cabbage, 1 tbsp silvered scallion, 8 slices fresh ginger root
Lean pork (225 g chopped)
2 tbsp shaoxing rice wine, 12 cups water
Sesame & Scallion Dipping Sauce (2 tbsp light soy sauce, ¼ tsp sesame oil, 2 tsp finely chopped scallion)
How to Prepare:
Prepare Yunnan ham by balancing for 30 sec, skimming the surface, and setting aside. Squeeze the water from the mushroom and finely slice it, and chop the bamboo shoots into small cubes.
Prepare the chicken, stuff it with scallions and ginger roots, and put all the ingredients, except the cabbage and dipping sauce, in a casserole or a big enough vessel you have available for brewing. Bring a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer on low heat for 1 hour, keeping it covered. After that, add the cabbage and let it simmer for another 3 minutes.
For serving, remove the chicken skin and chunk the chicken meat into separate bowls, add pieces of vegetables, pour the soup, add the Yunnan ham, and top it with dipping sauce.
3. Crab Corn Soup:
This is the simplest, fulfilling, and relishing soup. I understand hearing crab makes you think of the tedious task of prep, but it would be easy once that is done, and this quick egg drop soup is a must-have in healthy Chinese soups.
Ingredients: (Serving 4)
Crab meat (fresh or frozen, 115g)
Corn (cream style corn canned, drained/ one can even prepare this if they want fresh)
2 ½ cups of water
Egg (1 beaten)
2 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in water (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
How to Prepare:
If you are using frozen crabmeat, blanch it in boiling water for 30 seconds, remove it, and set it aside
If you want to make fresh cream corn, boil corn kernels and make a paste of half, and keep the remaining kernels. Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan, add chopped onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until soft and aromatic. Add the prepared corn paste and kernels, pour in the stock, add salt and pepper, simmer for 6 min, and it's ready.
For the soup, boil water with crab and corn in a large vessel and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, add cornstarch, and stir continuously. Once the soup thickens, rapidly pour and stir the beaten egg, and serve warm your crab meat, corn, and quick egg drop soup.
4. Wonton Soup:
How to make wonton soup is the question that led me to explore Chinese at home. Preparing Wontons might take time, but the result is delicious, so the effort is worth it.
Ingredients: (Serving 6)
For Wonton filling, 175 g meat, traditionally it's pork, but you can use any filling base of your choice, like chicken, tofu, etc.
225g shrimp (thoroughly cleaned)
Gingerroot ( ½ tbsp finely chopped )
Light soy sauce (1tbsp)
Shaoxing rice wine (1tbsp)
Scallion (2 tbsp finely chopped)
Sugar, salt, white pepper, sesame oil
Wonton skin 30 squares
Egg ( 1 egg white beaten)
Cilantro ( 1tbsp finely chopped for garnish)
Chicken stock (8 cups for soup)
How to Prepare:
Mix the filling ingredients and stir well until a thick paste texture is gained. Set aside for 20 min.
To make wonton, place 1 tbsp of filling in the center of the skin, and brush the edge with a little egg white. Bring opposite sides together and press the edges, creating a flower-like shape, and make the remaining similarly.
To make soup, boil the stock, add salt and pepper as per taste, and add the wontons. Boil it in stock for about 5-10 minutes or until the skin begins to wrinkle around the filling.
Serve the soup with scallions and cilantro to garnish in the bowls, and that is your Wonton soup recipe, easy to make and delicious to eat.
5. Bean Curd & Bean Sprout Soup:
Among the easy hot and sour soups, this one is something you must try
Ingredients: (Serving 4-6)
Spareribs (280g cut into small pieces)
Tomatoes (2 seeded and coarsely chopped)
Ginger root (3 thin slices)
Bean sprout (1 cup)
Soft bean curd (tofu, 200g, cut into cubes)
How to Prepare:
Boil and blanch the spareribs for 30 seconds, skim the water, and set the ribs aside
Boil the water and add spareribs, tomatoes, and gingerroot. After 10 minutes, remove the tomato's skin, add bean sprouts, and salt. Cover and let it simmer on medium flame for 1 hour
After that, add bean curd cubes, or tofu, let them simmer for 10 minutes, and serve
6. Szechuan Pumpkin Soup:
Pumpkin is my favorite for soups, as the Italian version is my favorite comfort food, but I never thought that the Chinese version of it would be so good
Ingredients: (Serving 4-6)
Chicken stock (4 cups or 1 liter)
Pumpkin (450g peeled and cut into small pieces)
Vegetables (preserved or freshly cut and cooked)
Leafy green (any Chinese leafy green, shredded)
How to Prepare:
Bring the stock to a boil, then stir in the pumpkin and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes
Add the preserved vegetable or freshly prepared vegetables, and add salt and pepper as per taste. Finally, add the green vegetables and let them simmer for an additional minute, and serve
7. Mushroom Hot-n-Sour Soup:
Ingredients: (Serving 4)
Chinese egg noodles (thin dried 115g)
Chinese wood ear mushroom (15g dried, soaked in boiling water for 20 min)
Arrowroot or Cornstarch (2 tsp)
Vegetable stock (4 cups)
Gingerroot (5 cm piece fresh, peeled, and sliced)
Dark soy sauce (2 tbsp)
Mirin or Sweet Sherry ( 2 tsp)
Rice Vinegar (1 tsp)
Bok choy (4 small cut in half)
Salt, pepper, chives, Chinese or ordinary for garnish and taste
How to Prepare:
Boil noodles until half-cooked, drain well, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Strain the mushroom through a strainer lined with a dish towel and reserve the liquid. Depending on the mushrooms, keep them whole or slice them.
Put the arrowroot in a large wok, pan, or a large vessel as available. Gradually add and stir the mushroom liquid.
Add vegetable stock, sliced gingerroot, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, mushrooms, and bok choy, and bring to a boil, and keep stirring. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
Add salt and pepper according to taste, and remove the pieces of ginger root.
Add the noodles to the bowls, pour the soup, and garnish with chives. You've got an easy hot and sour soup.
These are a few quick Chinese recipes at home preparation. With these fulfilling and comforting soups, you have a light dinner ready, but if you want to know how to make an authentic Chinese meal, follow us for more such recipes.
FAQs:
1. What is Indian Chinese food?
Ans) The Indian Chinese food is a modern fusion created by combining traditional Chinese cooking techniques with Indian flavors and spices. It adapts Chinese dishes to suit Indian tastes by adding ingredients like ginger, garlic, chili, and soy sauce.
Today, it's quite popular, and the dishes include Manchurian, Hakka noodles, chili paneer, and fried rice, offering a tangy, spicy, and uniquely Indo-Chinese flavor profile.
2. What are the most eaten foods in China?
Ans) If you follow the Chinese recipe, it has a diverse culinary tradition, yet one would notice that the rice is a staple in the southern region, while wheat-based foods like noodles, dumplings, and steamed buns dominate in the north. Then there are Soy products like tofu and soy sauce that are widely consumed, along with vegetables like bok choy and cabbage. Pork is the most commonly eaten meat, followed by chicken and fish. Popular dishes include fried rice, dumplings, hotpot, and stir-fries. Tea is the most traditional beverage, enjoyed daily across the country.
3. Is Chinese food healthy?
Ans) If you notice, each kind of cuisine with its traditional preparation is healthy; this is no exception to Chinese tradition. It emphasizes fresh vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and light cooking methods like steaming and stir-frying. Balanced meals with rice, noodles, tofu, fish, or chicken often provide essential nutrients.
However, the restaurant style may include excess oil, sodium, refined flour, and sugary sauces, reducing health benefits. Choosing home-cooked versions, steamed dumplings, clear soups, and vegetable stir-fries makes Chinese cuisine a nutritious choice that supports both taste and well-being.
4. What is Szechuan Style?
Ans) Szechuan style is a bold and flavorful cooking tradition from China’s Sichuan province. This preparation is rich with spicy and aromatic flavours, and it uses key ingredients like Sichuan peppercorns, dried chilies, garlic, and ginger. Popular Szechuan dishes include Kung Pao Chicken, Mapo Tofu, and Szechuan Hot Pot. This style emphasizes strong seasonings, chili oils, and sauces, creating a fiery yet complex taste loved by spice enthusiasts worldwide.
5. Is Dim Sum Chinese cuisine?
Ans) Yes, Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese cuisine originating from the Cantonese culinary culture. It consists of a variety of bite-sized dishes, including dumplings, buns, rolls, and desserts, often served with tea. Dim Sum is typically enjoyed during brunch or lunch, emphasizing shared dining, variety, and delicate flavors, making it a beloved part of Chinese food culture.
6. What is a dumpling?
Ans) Dumplings are small dough-wrapped food items made in Chinese, Japanese, and European cuisine. They are typically made from a thin dough filled with meat, seafood, or vegetables that can be steamed, boiled, or pan-fried, and enjoyed as appetizers, snacks, or main dishes. Dumplings are versatile, flavorful, and symbolize unity and prosperity in Chinese culture, especially during festivals like the Lunar New Year.
– P. Manika
(Performist Content Writer)
