Hot Pot is one of my favorite winter meals. It’s great for groups and potlucks, or great for anyone who doesn’t know how to cook or just doesn’t have the time. Here’s what you need:
1. A Hot Pot: these are usually electric and need to be plugged in. They keep the liquid hot throughout the meal. You can get ones that have different heat settings. This one also has a divider in the middle so you can have two different liquids to cook in.
2. Liquid: It can be as simple as water. You can go one step up with stock or broth. You can also spice it up with red chillies and Szechuan peppercorns. You can flavor it any way you like.
3. No Work Ingredients:
a. Buy sliced meats, any kind you want, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, etc. The ones made for hot pot are sliced ultra thin and are usually more fatty. (Picture is beef left, pork right.)
b. Fish balls, cuttlefish balls, fish balls with meat centers, beef balls, shrimp balls, there’s tons available. On the right, the long pieces are a new kind of fish dumplings from Taiwan.
c. fish cake
d. Shrimp and Squid. My mom bought the ones that were cleaned and cut already.
e. Mung Bean Noodle and/or rice cakes.
4. Just a little work ingredients:
a. Enoki Mushrooms, Beech Mushrooms, Corn, and Chinese Cabbage just have to be cleaned and cut.
b. Slice the Tofu.
5. Taro is the most work but so so worth it. It must be peeled, cut, and deep fried. If you do not fry it, they will fall apart and make the liquid starchy and murky.
6. Sauce: My mom makes sauce with crushed canned tomatoes, fermented chili bean curd, sa cha sauce, soy sauce, white vinegar, sugar, and garlic. You can make it any way you like.
I’m sure there are at least 20 more ingredient options not mentioned here. Hot Pot is all about putting in whatever you like.
do you have any good recs for hotpot restaurants in NYC?
Yum! We haven’t had that in a long time.
Yummy! I love hot pots! My family likes to cook up garlic and scallions and add soy sauce for dipping but I usually like the simple soy sauce and egg method!
Bill, I’ve only been to one in Manhattan, it’s a Sichuan Hot Pot place, read post here.
I’ve been to several in Flushing: Little Lamb Family Restaurant, East, Minni’s Shabu Shabu.
I generally prefer doing hot pot at home because none of the restaurants are all that special.
Asianmommy, it’s time to break out the pot…it’s perfect for a busy mom.
Wonders, I actually like fresh garlic in my sauce, adds a little kick (and bad breath, haha)
This really has my interest, I have not heard of hot pot before, very cool.
I had a hot pot thanksgiving, it beats turkey any day! especially with my dad’s kick ass sauce. but i’ve never been around when he’s made it so sadly i can’t reproduce it. the only problem with hot pot is portion control, you have no idea how much you’ve had until it’s too late and by then the only thing you can do is to keep eating! haha
Ever freeze your tofu for hot pot so it becomes spongy and soaks up all the tasty broth and sauces? I highly recommend it!
Katherine, try it, it’s healthy and interactive.
Xiu, very true, I stuffed myself silly.
Ghosty, yes, I love “frozen” tofu. We’ve mentioned it a few times on Foodmayhem but I’m planning to do a full post on it.
given my particularly unique and extreme tastes, individualized meals are my favorite. great idea!
Grace, it’s perfect for a party of picky eaters.
Hot pot is the best. And then the soup at the end, YUM!
Tammy, I totally agree, except I usually save the soup for another meal because I’m too full by the end of hot pot.