· Ingredient · 3 min read
Lightened Mala Hot Pot Soup Base: Lower Oil Recipe
This mala hot pot soup-based recipe is designed to be flavorful yet lighter in oil. It starts by boiling spices like star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, peppercorns, and dried chili peppers to create a fragrant broth.
Ingredients:
• 2 star anises
• 1 piece of cinnamon
• 2 bay leaves
• Several peppercorns (to taste)
• Several dried chili peppers or chili powder (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon Pixian bean paste
For the Base:
• Several tablespoons of sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Coriander (to taste)
• Several grams of chopped green onion, ginger, and garlic
Preparation Method:
1. Prepare Spices: Rinse the cinnamon, dried chili peppers, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Boil them in cold water for three minutes to release their flavors.
2. Drain Spices: After boiling, drain the spices to retain only the infused soup base.
3. Heat Oil: Heat a small amount of sesame oil in a pot. Stir-fry the Pixian bean paste and chopped chili peppers until aromatic.
4. Combine Ingredients: Add the prepared soup base to the pot and bring it to a boil. Adjust the flavor by adding some sugar to balance any bitterness from the bean paste.
5. Season the Soup: Add additional ingredients according to your taste, such as sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar (to cut through the richness), white sesame seeds, coriander, chopped green onion, ginger, and garlic.
6. Prepare Side Dishes: Select and prepare your favorite side dishes to accompany the hot pot.
7. Enjoy: Serve your hot pot with the prepared broth and side dishes. Dive in and enjoy!
