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Here’s a wonderful recipe for colder weather, as it will keep you nice and warm for hours. I don’t know how other Chinese people prepare their hot pot (or steamboat), but this is how my mother does it, so I’ve described it the way we’ve always had it at home. Naturally, there are many variations based on personal preferences and regional differences, but ours follows the Hong Kong Cantonese style. I’ve had Beijing and Mongolian hot pot in China and these were definitely different.
My friend Susan S. Cheung has sent me some helpful tips, based on her own hot pot experiences:
‘If you have no vegetarians for dinner, you can make hot pot stock with vegetables and chicken stock. You can add some Maggi chicken stock to your basic stock or make fresh chicken stock by boiling chicken bones for a while. I add a little salt as well.
You suggested that lamb or beef as excellent choice of meats. In my experience, many Chinese, especially from Southern China and Hong Kong, don’t like the strong taste of lamb and in both of our parents’ households, beef is hardly cooked because most people don’t like the taste of it. If you have vegetarians and meat eaters together, then have two hot pots going. If you physically only have one pot, then cook the meat separately on the stove and add to your bowl when the vegetables are cooked.
Try fried tofu as well as soft tofu and dried bean curd sticks, though they have to be soaked for a while beforehand. Leave shells and heads of prawns on for flavour.
Don’t forget garnishes for your dish. We always have a plate of finely chopped coriander, spring onions and some fresh uncooked small bean sprouts for scattering onto our bowls.
A personal preference – I like a cube of spicy fermented bean curd with my dish, as well as other dipping sauces. And I like chilli oil instead of chilli sauce.
Finally, don’t forget the karaoke – hot pot and karaoke fit like a horse and carriage, or else I’ve been tortured by my cousins in Hong Kong!!!’
Thank you Susan, I’m having hot pot next weekend, so will definitely bear your tips in mind! Helen Yuet Ling
Helen, your hotpot looks delicious. Love the fact that there is a vege option. Love your pot too.
Thanks VegeYum! My diet consists mostly of delicious vegetarian food cooked by my husband. Once in a while, I get to eat a bit of meat when I eat out. Hot pot can definitely be purely vegetarian, and super healthy. Let me know if you give it a try! Helen Yuet Ling
I need a husband like that!
I love your presentation, the photos and the details. In my blog on Antioxidants and Cooking today, I referred to this recipe of yours and your wonderful World Foodie Guide, which I am sure people will enjoy and find helpful.
Thank you Uncle! Your blog looks really interesting, and I will go through it in more detail over the weekend. I may have to consult you and Aunty for cooking tips! Helen Yuet Ling
Guess what? I am having hot pot session this Saturday!! Can’t wait to stock up all the yummy (spicy) fishballs!
Sneaking some tips from your blog, I am defo going add enoki mushroom to my shopping list. 🙂
What fun! I was only talking about hot pot with a friend yesterday. She went to Red n’Hot on Charing X Road for Sichuan hot pot recently.
Spicy fishballs are so delicious. Enoki mushrooms are great, as are shimeji mushrooms. And if you can find tong ho (Chinese vegetables), that’s lovely for hot pot. Don’t forget the XO sauce…
Hi Helen,
I’ve just found your blog and am enjoying it! By coincidence, I just ate at Angeles this Monday and had the Szechuan hot pot. At £20 a person, I thought all that fresh, beautiful food was a steal, and I’m looking forward to returning to try the “regular” Szechuan menu.
Hi R.W. Apple Wannabe!
Thanks for visiting. Just had a quick look at your blog, it seems we share the same tastes! Off to Pearl Liang on Sunday as part of my research into where to eat dim sum. I’ve been writing way too much on dim sum and must stop soon! Maybe switch to hot pot again! Thanks for your Angeles recommendation. There are so many Sichuan restaurants to try!
Keep in touch!
Helen Yuet Ling
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could tell me where i could buy the Yin /Yang pot from in London.
Hi Arti
I don’t use one, as you can see, but I think you can buy the pot from most large Chinese supermarkets (Oriental City in Colindale apparently closes next month, so hurry!, Loon Fung, Wing Yip)?
Good luck and let me know if you’re successful!
Helen Yuet Ling
[…] Hot Pot (火鍋) Jump to Comments Hot pot or steamboat is also known as the chinese fondue. You can read more about Hot Pots in Wikipedia. And more on this world foodie guide blog. […]
How could you leave this out –
3 tbsp. Fermented bean curd
3 – 4 tbsp peanut butter
dash sesame oil
soy milk (for blending)
Blend into a smooth amazing dipping sauce for hot – pot.
Hmmm, will have to try this next time (in the autumn now, I suppose). Thanks for the tip…
Helen Yuet Ling
Another dipping sauce if you like it spicy – diced red hot chillies and garlic with fish sauce and lemon juice.