The ultimate Chinese Hot Pot recipe guide on how to make Chinese hot pot at home with ideas on hot pot ingredients, hot pot dipping sauce and a homemade broth.

Prep Time

    •    Prep time: 15 minutes
    •    Cook time: 60 minutes
    •    Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Hot pot Broth (Simplified):

    •    1 onions
    •    1 tsp salt
    •    4 bay leaves
    •    4 cloves garlic
    •    3 slices ginger
    •    1 whole star anise
    •    2 tbsps soy sauce
    •    1/4 cup Chinese shaozing wine (or dry sherry)
    •    1800ml beef/chicken/vegetable broth (approx. 7 1/2 cups)

Silkier hot pot broth (optional):

    •    1 pork hock (cut into 2-3 inch chucks

Spicy hot pot broth (optional):

    •    3/4 cup oil
    •    3 tbsps dried chili peppers flakes
    •    1-2 tsps cayenne powder (optional)
    •    handful of whole dried chili peppers

Hot pot ingredients ideas:

    •    Meat & seafood: fish (sliced) / thinly sliced chicken, turkey, pork / squid / fresh oysters / bacon or pork belly / spam / tripe / frozen mussels

    •    Vegetables: red, yellow or green peppers cut into chucks / variety of Chinese greens (napa cabbage, tong oh, pea sprouts, watercress greens etc.) / brussels sprouts cut in half / cabbage / carrots / broccoil / cauliflower / baby corn / bean sprouts / zucchini / garlic chives / taro

    •    Noodles & tidbits: variety of noodles (udon, thick rice noodles, instant noodles (without the flavor packs etc.) / shirataki yam noodle bundles / bean curd skin rolls

Dipping sauces ideas:

    •    Sweet: hoisin sauce / maple syrup / honey
    •    flavor: Chinese BBQ sauce / sesame seeds
    •    Salty: soy sauce / fish sauce / oyster sauce
    •    Texture: sesame paste / raw egg / garden onions / sesame seeds
    •    Sour: rice vinegar / Chinese black vinegar / red wine vinegar / lime juice
    •    Spricy: dried chili flakes / sriracha / Chinese chili oil / sambal olek cayenne powder

Method

Hot pot Broth (Simplified):

1. In a large pot add all the ingredients under the ‘Hot Pot Broth’ (Simplified).
2. Boil for 1 hour with lid on medium heat.
3. Once the broth is done, remove the spices, onions, garlic and ginger – the broth is ready to be used. Place the broth in a pot (or use the pot it’s already in) and place it over a portable induction stove and you’re good to go!

NOTE: If the broth was reduced too much (you should have enough broth to dunk food in and to cook it), add 1 cup of water into the broth before starting hot pot.

Silky hot pot broth (optional, will require more cooking time):

1. In a large pot add all the ingredients under the ‘Hot Pot Broth’ (Simplified).
   
   
2. Rinse the pork hock to remove any bone shards.
   
   
3. Add the pork hock into the pot once you have added all the spices in, in step 1.
   
   
4. Boil for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
   
   
5. Skim off any floaty scum bits that floats on top of the broth.
   
   
6. Once the broth is done, remove the spices, onions, garlic, ginger and pork hocks – the broth is ready to be used. Place the broth in a pot (or use the pot it’s already in) and place it over a portable induction stove and you’re good to go!
   
   
7. Set the pork hocks at the table and snack on them with the dipping sauces.

NOTE: If the broth was reduced too much (you should have enough broth to dunk food in and to cook it), add 1 cup of water into the broth before starting hot pot.

Making your hot pot broth spicy (optional):

1. In a frying pan, set the stove on low heat.
   
   
2. Add the oil and dried chili flakes and toast it for 1-2 minutes. You will know it’s ready when you can smell it.
   
   
3. Turn off the heat.
   
   
4. Mix in cayenne powder if you like it spicier, since this is a mild spicy chili oil (optional).
   
   
5. Soak whole dried chili peppers in the finished chili oil for additional spiciness (optional).
   
   
6. Set the oil aside until the hot pot broth is finished.
   
   
7. Once the broth is finished, and you are ready to eat – pour the chili oil into the hot pot broth and set the pot over a portable induction stove and you’re good to go!

This great family recipe is thanks to Pups With Chopsticks Recipes at https://pupswithchopsticks.com/chinese-hot-pot-recipe-guide/