When the weather gets dark and chilly, there are few dishes that I crave more than hot pot. This fun, interactive way of eating is a great way to spend time with friend and family while enjoying a tasty (and fairly healthy!) meal. While it’s not as traditional as Lo Hei, it’s a great dish to make to celebrate Chinese New Year too!

Chinese hot pot is a social way of eating, where ingredients are cooked at the table in a pot of hot stock and then dipped into a tasty sauce. Use this basic recipe as a guide to help you make Chinese hot pot at home.

Prep Time

    •    Prep time: 30 minutes
    •    Cook time: 1 hour
    •    Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

For the Dipping Sauce:

    •   1 shallot , finely diced
    •   1/3 cup soy sauce, light, dark or mushroom soy
    •   1/2 tsp sugar
    •   1/2 tsp tsp sesame oil
    •   1/4 cup water
    •   lemon juice , to taste

For the Broth:

    •   8 cups chicken stock , (you may need more or less depending on the size of your pot)
    •   2 cloves garlic , peeled
    •   1 piece ginger , peeled and sliced thinly (about 1/2 inch piece)
    •   1 sprig green onion , roughly chopped into large pieces

For Serving:

    •   1 bunch watercress , washed thoroughly in multiple changes of water
    •   1 package enoki mushrooms , rinsed
    •   1 package cremini mushrooms , cleaned and sliced
    •   1 package beef , thinly sliced
    •   1 package lamb , thinly sliced
    •   1 package shrimp , shell on if desired
    •   1 package wontons , frozen, cooked ahead of time
    •   1 package Udon noodles , cooked ahead of time
    •   Chinese XO sauce , with dried shrimp and scallops
    •   Chinese BBQ sauce
    •   Sambal Oelek , or other hot sauce
    •   Preserved bean curd , optional (very strong flavour!)

Method

Make the Dipping Sauce:

1. Sauté the diced shallot in a small skillet with a little bit of oil. Cook until softened and fragrant.
2. Add the sautéed shallot to a small bowl, and combine with the other dipping sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside for later

Prepare Other Ingredients:

1. Clean all vegetables properly, especially the watercress.
2. Slice the cremini mushrooms. Arrange on a platter with the other vegetables, and set on the table.
3. Cook the wontons and noodles, being careful not to overcook them. Set these items on a platter on the table.
4. Take meat and shrimp out of the fridge. Arrange these items on a platter, and set on the table, along with the condiments.

Make the Broth:

1. Place  burner in the middle of your table. You may wish to put down a plastic cloth first, to protect your table from splashes.
2. Place pot on the burner, and fill it about 3/4 full of stock. Add the rest of the broth ingredients, and bring to a simmer.

Finish setting the table:

1. Provide small bowls and spoons for the sauce and condiments, as well as larger bowls to eat out of.
2. Place chopsticks for each person, plus an extra pair or two for cooking. If using tongs and/or metal nets, place these on small plates or sauces (to avoid putting wet utensils on your table).

Get Cooking: Once the brother is simmering, take turns adding ingredients into the broth. Allow all raw items to cook fully before removing and adding to your bowl. Dip cooked ingredients into dipping sauce, or top with condiments are desired.

NOTES: Please note that this recipe is just a basic guideline. Be sure to read the accompanying blog post to get information on the equipment, ingredients and tips for making Chinese Hot Pot at home!

This great family recipe is thanks to In-Search-of-Yummy-ness Recipes at https://insearchofyummyness.com/chinese-hot-pot/