Chinese soups are a beloved part of Asian cuisine. These comforting dishes offer a mix of flavors and textures that can warm you up on chilly days or soothe you when you’re feeling under the weather. From classic wonton soup to spicy hot and sour varieties, there’s a Chinese soup for every taste.
You can easily make these tasty soups at home with the right recipes and ingredients. Many Chinese soups use common proteins like chicken, beef, pork, or seafood along with veggies and aromatic spices. By learning to make these soups yourself, you can enjoy restaurant-quality flavors without having to order takeout. Plus, you’ll have control over the ingredients and can adjust them to suit your preferences.
Wonton soup is a classic Chinese dish that’s both comforting and delicious. You’ll love the flavorful broth and tender dumplings filled with savory meat.
To make wonton soup, start by preparing the filling. Mix ground pork, shrimp, and seasonings like soy sauce and ginger. Wrap small portions of the filling in wonton wrappers.
For the broth, simmer chicken stock with aromatics like garlic and scallions. Cook the wontons in boiling water, then add them to your soup bowls.
Pour the hot broth over the wontons and garnish with chopped green onions. You can also add blanched leafy greens for extra nutrition and color.
Egg drop soup is a quick and easy Chinese dish you can make at home. To prepare it, simmer chicken broth with ginger and scallions for flavor.
Mix cornstarch with water and add it to thicken the soup. Slowly pour in beaten eggs while stirring to create delicate wisps.
Season the soup with salt, white pepper, and a touch of sesame oil. For extra color, you can add a few drops of yellow food coloring or turmeric.
Serve your egg drop soup hot as a comforting starter or light meal. It takes just 10-15 minutes to make this restaurant-style favorite in your own kitchen.
Chinese Chicken Corn Soup is a tasty dish you can make in just 10 minutes. It’s thick, sweet, and salty, perfect for warming you up on cold days.
You can use leftover chicken or skip it for a vegetarian version. The soup combines tender chicken, sweet corn, and eggs in a silky broth.
To make it, you’ll need chicken, corn kernels, eggs, and some basic seasonings. Cook the ingredients together in chicken broth until everything is hot and the eggs are cooked.
This soup is easy to prepare and great for busy weeknights. You can even make it ahead of time and reheat it when you’re ready to eat.
Fish ball soup is a tasty Chinese dish that’s easy to make. You start by boiling water with ginger to create a flavorful broth. Next, you add fish balls and let them simmer until they’re cooked through.
For extra flavor, you can include dried seaweed or bok choy. Some recipes use chicken stock or dried anchovies to enhance the soup base.
You can serve the soup with noodles like bee hoon for a heartier meal. Cook the noodles separately and add them to bowls before pouring in the hot soup and fish balls.
This comforting soup is perfect for chilly days or when you want a light, satisfying meal.
Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup combines chicken with medicinal herbs for a nourishing dish. You’ll need ingredients like ginseng, red dates, and goji berries.
Start by soaking the herbs in water for 30 minutes. Cut the chicken into pieces and blanch it with ginger to remove impurities.
Place the chicken and herbs in a pot with water. Simmer on low heat for about 2.5 hours until the meat is very tender.
Add goji berries and salt near the end of cooking. The soup is ready when the flavors have melded and the broth is rich and fragrant.
This soup is believed to boost health and energy. You can adjust the herbs based on your preferences or needs.
Sweet corn and crab soup is a popular Chinese dish that’s easy to make at home. You’ll love its creamy texture and delicate flavors.
To make this soup, start with chicken or seafood broth. Add fresh or canned sweet corn and cooked crabmeat.
Ginger, light soy sauce, and spring onions give the soup its classic taste. For extra richness, some recipes call for adding egg in a thin stream to create “egg flowers.”
This comforting soup is perfect for cold days or as a light meal. You can find it at many Chinese restaurants, but it’s simple enough to cook in your own kitchen too.
Beef noodle soup is a classic Chinese dish loved for its rich flavors. To make it, you start by boiling beef chunks briefly to remove impurities.
Next, you sauté aromatics like ginger, garlic, and scallions in oil. Add the beef and cook for a few minutes until lightly browned.
Pour in soy sauce, cooking wine, and beef stock. Toss in spices like star anise and cinnamon. Let everything simmer for about 2 hours until the beef is tender.
Serve the soup over thick wheat noodles. Top with sliced green onions and bok choy for added freshness and crunch.
Silkie chicken soup is a prized Chinese dish known for its health benefits. You’ll find this black-skinned chicken creates a rich, flavorful broth.
To make it, you’ll need a silkie chicken, ginger, red dates, and goji berries. Some recipes add herbs like angelica root and lily bulb for extra flavor and nutrition.
Start by rubbing the chicken with Shaoxing wine and salt. Then add it to a pot with the other ingredients and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 2 hours.
The result is a nourishing soup that’s believed to boost the immune system and provide other health perks. It’s often enjoyed during cold weather or after childbirth.
Double-boiled chicken soup is a treasured Chinese dish known for its rich flavor and health benefits. This cooking method involves placing ingredients in a covered ceramic pot, which is then submerged in simmering water.
The slow cooking process extracts maximum flavor and nutrients from the chicken and herbs. Common ingredients include dried figs, honey dates, and Chinese red dates.
You can prepare this soup using chicken legs or a whole chicken. The herbs and meat are combined with water in the inner pot, then steamed for several hours.
This gentle cooking technique results in a clear, flavorful broth that’s believed to boost health and circulation. You can enjoy it as is or use it as a base for other soups.
Hot pot broth is the key to a delicious Chinese hot pot experience. You can make both spicy and mild versions to suit different tastes.
For a basic broth, start with chicken or pork bones. Clean them well and simmer with ginger, scallions, and white peppercorns. This creates a flavorful base.
To make a spicy broth, add dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, and garlic. Soak the chilies first to soften them. Blend these ingredients for a smooth, spicy mix.
For extra flavor, try adding mushrooms, daikon radish, or jujubes to your broth. Simmer everything together for about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Winter melon soup is a light and refreshing Chinese dish. You can make it with pork ribs or chicken broth as a base.
To prepare, cut the winter melon into bite-sized pieces. Remove the thick skin and rinse well.
Simmer the broth with ginger and dried shrimp for added flavor. Add the winter melon pieces and cook until they turn translucent and tender.
Season the soup with salt and white pepper to taste. Some recipes include ingredients like mushrooms, red dates, or goji berries for extra nutrients and flavor.
This soup is perfect for warm weather and is believed to have cooling properties in Chinese medicine.
Pork rib soup is a comforting Chinese dish that warms you up on cold days. You simmer pork ribs with flavorful ingredients like ginger, garlic, and green onions.
Many recipes include daikon radish and carrots for added nutrition. Red dates (jujubes) are often used to give the soup a subtle sweetness.
You can make this soup on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or using an Instant Pot. The ribs become tender and fall off the bone after cooking for 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Season your soup with fish sauce and white pepper for extra flavor. Serve it with a bowl of rice and dip the ribs in soy sauce for a satisfying meal.
Peanut chicken soup is a comforting Chinese dish that combines tender chicken with creamy peanuts. You’ll love its rich, nutty flavor and hearty texture.
To make this soup, you’ll need chicken feet or pieces, peanuts, and aromatic ingredients like ginger. First, blanch the chicken to remove impurities.
Then combine the chicken, peanuts, and other ingredients in a pot with water. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for about 2-3 hours.
The long cooking time allows the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender. Season with salt to taste before serving. This nourishing soup is perfect for cold days or when you need a comforting meal.
Essential Ingredients
Chinese soups rely on key ingredients for their distinctive flavors and textures. These components create the rich, comforting tastes that make these soups so popular.
Common Herbs and Spices
Ginger is a must-have in many Chinese soups. It adds warmth and a zesty kick. Garlic is another staple, providing depth and aroma.
Star anise gives a sweet licorice flavor to broths. Cinnamon sticks bring a subtle sweetness and woody notes.
Sichuan peppercorns offer a unique numbing sensation. They’re great in spicy soups.
White pepper is milder than black pepper. It’s often used in light-colored soups.
Green onions are added at the end for freshness and color. Cilantro is another common garnish, giving a bright, citrusy taste.
Popular Proteins
Chicken is a go-to protein for Chinese soups. It’s versatile and makes a flavorful broth.
Pork, especially spare ribs, adds richness to soups. The bones create a hearty stock.
Beef is less common but still used in some recipes. It’s great for heartier soups.
Tofu is a popular vegetarian option. It soaks up flavors well and adds protein.
Fish and shellfish are used in seafood soups. They cook quickly and give a delicate flavor.
Eggs are often added to soups. They can be beaten into the broth or served as a topping.
Health Benefits of Chinese Soups
Chinese soups offer many health perks. They can help your body fight off sickness and make your stomach feel better.
Boosting Immunity
Chinese soups are great for your immune system. Many use herbs that have been trusted for thousands of years. These soups can help you stay healthy and ward off colds.
Chicken soup is a popular choice. It has proteins that may help reduce cold symptoms. Adding veggies like carrots and bok choy gives you extra vitamins.
Aiding Digestion
Chinese soups can be gentle on your stomach. They often use easy-to-digest ingredients that help your gut.
Broths are a good start for upset tummies. They give you fluids and electrolytes without being hard to process. Some helpful soup ingredients for digestion include:
Poria cocos mushrooms: May reduce bloating
Chinese yam: Can soothe the digestive tract
Lotus seeds: Rich in fiber
These soups are often light and clear. This makes them easy on your system. Sipping warm soup can also help your body relax and digest food better.
Cooking Techniques
Chinese soup recipes use various cooking methods to create flavorful broths and tender ingredients. These techniques range from traditional approaches to modern adaptations.
Traditional Methods
You’ll find slow simmering at the heart of many Chinese soups. This method lets flavors develop over time. Start by boiling meat or bones to make a rich stock. Then add veggies and herbs.
Some soups use quick-boiling. This keeps ingredients crisp. You’ll often see this with delicate greens or thin meat slices.
Braising is another key technique. It’s great for tougher meats. You brown the meat first, then cook it slowly in liquid.
Modern Adaptations
Today, you can use pressure cookers to speed up soup-making. They’re great for bone broths and tough cuts of meat. You’ll get deep flavors in less time.
Slow cookers are another modern option. They’re perfect for set-and-forget soups. Just add your ingredients in the morning and come home to a hot meal.
Some cooks use blenders to create smooth, creamy soups without dairy. This works well for veggie-based broths.
Sous vide cooking can give you precise control over meat temperatures. It’s good for tender, evenly cooked proteins in your soup.
