Homemade do-it-yourself Hot Pot for Dinner!

Homemade do-it-yourself Hot Pot for Dinner!

Homemade do-it-yourself Hot Pot for Dinner!

Soup Name:

Homemade do-it-yourself hot pot for dinner!  Tonight, is a tomato soup base.

Traditional Chinese Name:

番茄火鍋 (fān qié huǒ guō), aka in Cantonese, DA BEEN LO!

Nature:  Warming

Taste: Sweet and savory 

For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.

Here are the key things for a successful HOT POT dinner!

  • You can drop in longer boil ingredients ahead of the “hot potting” such as carrots, white radish, winter melon, or corn to allow more time for them to cook and soften.
  • Slice starchy and heavy vegetables very thin so they cook fast.  This applies to all radishes (white or green), winter melon, carrots, potatoes, lotus roots, pumpkin, squash, most melons.
  • Use an oil scooper for the foam and oil that accumulates as a result of cooking meats.
  • Using meats will change the flavour of the soup, this is especially common for beef and mutton or lamb (meats with heavier flavours), so depending how flavourful you like drinking your soup, try both (beginning and end)!
  • This also applies to the types of vegetables used with some being heavier in flavour.  Great hot pot vegetables include:  lettuce, siu choy or napa cabbage, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, spinach.  Some with stronger flavours such as wolfberry leaves do change the flavour of the soup base!
  • Get creative with the ingredients!  Most anything that you can boil can be used for hot pot!  The ones we love as a family include:  all forms of tofu, konjac noodles (or potato noodles, or all noodles!), all types of seafood (shrimp, fish fillets, crab or lobster, clams), all types of fish or beef or tofu cakes or balls, deep fried fish skin, all sorts of dumplings.
  • I will always keep boiling water ready in case we need to top up our soup.  Be sure to add either hot soup or hot water to maintain the steady temperature of the pot (instead of cold water).
  • And one more, the customized dipping sauce.  THIS IS SO KEY!  I love how we get to individualize whatever you need.  See below as I explore this! 

Making amazing dipping sauces for hot pot!

OK, trying to be as comprehensive as possible for the options you have when it comes to dipping sauces for hot pots.  Mind you, some Regions or Asian cultures don’t use dipping sauces,  but some other Regional versions have a billion options!  Try them all!

Ingredients for dipping sauces:

  • soy sauce
  • sweet soy sauce
  • hoisin sauce
  • satay sauce
  • oyster sauce
  • hot oil
  • hot sauce
  • sesame sauce
  • sesame oil
  • peanut butter
  • black vinegar
  • black garlic
  • fresh diced garlic
  • fresh diced ginger
  • fresh diced green onions
  • fresh diced shallots
  • fresh diced spicy peppers
  • fried diced garlic
  • fried diced shallots
  • raw egg
  • any others I may have missed?  Would love to hear!

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Did you know rice water is amazing for your skin?

Did you know rice water is amazing for your skin?

Did you know rice water is amazing for your skin? Integrate it into your skincare routine today!

 Rice is known to be antiaging, anti-inflammatory, whitening, photoprotective, and moisturizing!

One guiding principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the yin yang theory.  In the natural world, there exists a balance between 2 opposing and co-existing forces and yet, they also exist in each other.  Our bodies, minds, and souls are designed the same way in that to be healthy, we need to be in harmony between these 2 bipolar states.  Yin is receptive and passive, calm and slow, embodying cold and damp qualities (when we are sleeping).  Yang is its exact opposite in aggressive and active, embodying heat, dryness, and movement (when we are awake).

One of our mission at The Chinese Soup Lady is to bring these principles into the foods and drinks we consume in order to support harmony.  

You can explore more about some Traditional Chinese Medicine theories in these posts.

And… because I am a person of science, I had to go do some real research.  I don’t share much about my background, but right after getting my engineering degree, I went to college part-time for 2 years to do a diploma in Esthetician (for fun).  I do have an addiction to collecting education.  

Even 20+ years ago, my amazing skin teachers told me about an ancient tradition where the Chinese would use rice washed water to wash their faces and hands.  And this has stuck with me to date.

Source:   Zamil, Dina et al, Dermatological uses of rice products: Trend or true? National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35587098/ [accessed on Sept 23, 2023)

Rice and yeast extracts do have properties that are anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, whitening (this one is a popular one that is now used in the skincare industry – ie: SKII Pitera anyone?  I’ve been in skincare professional for 12+ years and that’s all we talk about… the clinical claims and marketing of other brands), photoprotective, and moisturizing.

There are also clinical studies of rice bran water used in bathing to help relieve dermatitis, including inflammation,  itching, and redness.

For me, I’ve started saving my rice washed water separately to use for washing my face in the evenings.  I’ll keep it room temperature and consume it completely in one wash.  I tried to leave some overnight in the fridge, but it does separate and haven’t explored it further.  So will need to do some more experimentation and research on the best way to preserve it for a morning wash. 

I also spend a little more time washing the rice (or at least soaking my clean hands in the water) and the results have been amazing in having softer and smoother hands!  It’s really amazing to see and experience it!

TRY IT!!

 

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GIVE YOUR LOVE OF SOUP.

FOLLOW US AND SHARE.

Amazing soup making and kitchenware on Temu!  Come unpack with me!

Amazing soup making and kitchenware on Temu! Come unpack with me!

AMAZING SOUP MAKING AND KITCHENWARE FINDS on TEMU!

I’ve recently discovered Temu and the shopping experience is AMAZING!  Their kitchenware, soup making, and cooking equipment is vast, affordable, and some innovation products!  Come explore haul #1 with me.  I’ve actually got more coming in the mail!

You can experience it here: https://temu.to/m/ucxllxz5ogm

One guiding principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the yin yang theory.  In the natural world, there exists a balance between 2 opposing and co-existing forces and yet, they also exist in each other.  Our bodies, minds, and souls are designed the same way in that to be healthy, we need to be in harmony between these 2 bipolar states.  Yin is receptive and passive, calm and slow, embodying cold and damp qualities (when we are sleeping).  Yang is its exact opposite in aggressive and active, embodying heat, dryness, and movement (when we are awake).

One of our mission at The Chinese Soup Lady is to bring these principles into the foods and drinks we consume in order to support harmony.  

You can explore more about some Traditional Chinese Medicine theories in these posts.

Here’s a summary of this 1st Temu haul:

  • Vacuum sealer.  This compact, light-weight vacuum sealer is perfect for sealing my soup packs.  To be honest, I sucked at wrapping these things.  They were simply too big (my fault for putting way more ingredients, too greedy!! LOL) and in the end, I had to double wrap with saran wrap (AH, I also hate using non-recyclable or biodegrade-able products) so that the pieces weren’t falling out.  I managed to seal one-side, but on the first attempt, couldn’t get the vacuum to work.  I will try again!
  • Adjustable sealable bags.  This is great because it’s not a prefixed size.  Yes yes, I am going to make soup packs that are little more… smaller.  And yes, it’ll fit in a 3 cup rice cooker.  I will try.  I promise.
  • Recyclable paper tea bags.  Another cool find!   I have so many tea ideas lately because it’s way easier to make teas and they still have the same benefits as some of the soups, if not more!  Plus, I’m a huge fan of teas.  It’s now my go to first thing in mornings and post exercise (depending on what I do!).
  • You can explore Temu here: https://temu.to/m/ucxllxz5ogm

The great thing about understanding how yin and yang is balanced is that this also pairs with the cooking styles of Chinese soups!

You can follow this post on “How Different Styles of Chinese Soups are Made“.

 

EQUIPMENT USED

To answer your questions on what equipment I'm using, I've built a section here where you can find and explore what I'm using to make soups.  Ingredients are a little harder, but I will do my best as I source them around.  However, you can always message me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook, and I will reply and try to point you in some direction!  

A great help for fish or small bones in soups, including small ingredients such as barley, fox nuts, spices just to keep everything together.

A MUST HAVE in the kitchen!  Energy saving, cost effective, and perfect for busy chefs!  Check out my article here that explains it.

Another MUST HAVE in the kitchen for soups!  It's so fine that it will scoop off the top oil and foam layer when using meats in your soup!

I use these types of stove top safe tea pots to make most of my herbal teas!

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GIVE YOUR LOVE OF SOUP.

FOLLOW US AND SHARE.

Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea

Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea

Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea

Tea Name:

Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea

Traditional Chinese Name:

红枣甘草羅漢果薑茶 (hóng zǎo gān cǎo luó hàn guǒ jiāng chá)

Nature:  Warming

Taste: Sweet and slightly bitter

For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.

The tea is warming!  It’s got the power to expel wind from the body (and lungs) and nourish and moisturize the lungs, especially after a cold run.

I love the light sweet tones it brings and how it’s refreshing and not heavy.  It’s also not overly spicy, but you can definitely craft this any way you’d like by adding more or less of any ingredient.  

 

OK, honestly, I really feel the temperature variance in my lungs when it hits 10C or lower in Toronto.  At this point, the buffs come out!  I mean, I’ve gotten pretty good at knowing the temperature thresholds in my body and humidity stays pretty relative here, so I just go on temperature to determine what to wear.  This also applies to riding in the cold and this is different because there’s more wind (due to both speed and just the amount of wind Toronto has) and exposure to cold.

This means, I’m already going into yin excess (too much yin in the body thanks to both cold and wind into the lungs first… and then ultimately, if I don’t address it, it goes into the body).

Here’s my post cold run routine:

  1. Slow down the pace. The slower the air turnover, the less yin I bring into the body. This means running in zone 2 or slower. Save the intervals for the indoor treadmill or the bike trainer (also indoors).
    2. I will also carry warm water with me to sip in a small plastic holder.
    3. As soon as I’m home, I’ll make this herbal tea with boiling water.
    4. Take a hot shower and spend 5 extra minutes to breathe in warm steam to the lungs.
    5. Sip on my tea all day (adding boiling water to it 2-3 times until it runs flavorless).

You can check this article that explains the balance of yin and yang in the body, AN INTRODUCTION TO YIN AND YANG IN OUR EVERYDAY SOUPS AND FOOD. 

What’s involved?

Prep time: 2 mins

Cook time: 3 mins (steep time)

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 1 cup

Ingredients
    Cooking Instructions
    1. You can put all the ingredients into an individual empty tea bag for easier management of the ingredients
    2. Drop all the ingredients into a ceramic or glass mug
    3. Add in boiling water to 1 cup full
    4. Cover and steep for 2 minutes
    5. Add in honey and stir
    6. Serve and enjoy!

    You can actually make these little tea bags or pouches yourself!  The ingredients are all part of my standard Chinese Soup kitchen pantry and then I use disposable and decomposable tea bags!

    Use disposable, environmentally friendly, degradable tea bags!

    There are various individual tea bags you can find out there!

    The two I’ve been using are these Japanese ones (sourced from Hong Kong) that fold over.  I’m not sure if they are degradable completely, but finishing up a batch I took back with me.

    I would recommend these disposable and environmentally friendly tea bags from amazon.  I also bought some and now have a pile of tea bag holders sitting in my drawer!  But I do love how convenient they are and will pre-make my own tea bags to bring to work or pre-fill in my thermal mug for drinking on the go!

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    GIVE YOUR LOVE OF SOUP.

    FOLLOW US AND SHARE.

    Is your fish too fishy for soups? How to use fish in Chinese soups

    Is your fish too fishy for soups? How to use fish in Chinese soups

    Is your FISH too fishy for your soup? 
    HERE’s How to use Fish in CHINESe SOUPS 

    Thank you for your questions!  These make great topics for me to explore further and share my love of making soups and the best way to do it!  So if you have any comments or questions, or would love to be features, do leave a comment in any of my social channels, links all below.

    One guiding principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the yin yang theory.  In the natural world, there exists a balance between 2 opposing and co-existing forces and yet, they also exist in each other.  Our bodies, minds, and souls are designed the same way in that to be healthy, we need to be in harmony between these 2 bipolar states.  Yin is receptive and passive, calm and slow, embodying cold and damp qualities (when we are sleeping).  Yang is its exact opposite in aggressive and active, embodying heat, dryness, and movement (when we are awake).

    One of our mission at The Chinese Soup Lady is to bring these principles into the foods and drinks we consume in order to support harmony.  

    You can explore more about some Traditional Chinese Medicine theories in these posts.

    Thank you for the question!

    This is a great observation and question from a follower.  I kind of took for granted that because I knew how to use fish, that it would be common knowledge, but now that I think back on it, I actually avoided using fish for a large part of my cooking career because of this exact thought about “fishy” fish.

     

    Throughout my journey, I’ve learned there are so many ways to address the “fishiness” in using fresh fish in soups.  The Japanese versus the Koreans versus the Chinese and even versus the South East Asians all have different methods in which to handle fish.  I’ve explored a few in this video on YouTube.

    Here are some tips for using fish in soups:

    • You can either pan-fry or blanch your fish with ginger to minimize the fishy taste.  I prefer pan-frying because it really creates that fragrant smell and enhances the flavors of the soup!
    • Use a fish bag!  This is important especially if you’re using small fish.  This will help keep the fish together and the bones from disintegrating all over the soup.
    • I tend to use fish for quick boils soup as they cook really fast and begin to break down and shred the longer it boils, especially if the water is bubbling more, or use a fish bag.
    • I’ll use fish with bones in to keep the fish intact.  If you want to use filets, flash boil them or do a genuine quick boil (20 minutes or less) on medium heat.  This type of fish is used less for the taste of the broth and more as a protein in the soup.  
    • In general though, Chinese will use pork (pork shank or pork bones) along with fish (to add more flavours).
    • There are so many types of fish to use in soups such as:  Grass carp, salmon bones, all types of fish heads (bass, grouper, carp).

    The great thing about understanding how yin and yang is balanced is that this also pairs with the cooking styles of Chinese soups!

    You can follow this post on “How Different Styles of Chinese Soups are Made“.

     

    EQUIPMENT USED

    To answer your questions on what equipment I'm using, I've built a section here where you can find and explore what I'm using to make soups.  Ingredients are a little harder, but I will do my best as I source them around.  However, you can always message me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook, and I will reply and try to point you in some direction!  

    A great help for fish or small bones in soups, including small ingredients such as barley, fox nuts, spices just to keep everything together.

    A MUST HAVE in the kitchen!  Energy saving, cost effective, and perfect for busy chefs!  Check out my article here that explains it.

    Another MUST HAVE in the kitchen for soups!  It's so fine that it will scoop off the top oil and foam layer when using meats in your soup!

    I use these types of stove top safe tea pots to make most of my herbal teas!

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