Adjusting The Perfect Hot Pot: A Guide To Customizing Your Culinary Adventure

Hot pot is a fun and social meal, perfect for a cold winter night or a warm summer evening. It's a great way to spend an evening eating and chatting with friends or family.

To prepare a hot pot, you'll need a pot of soup simmering at the table, with various raw ingredients such as meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and noodles. Everyone can then cook their chosen ingredients in the soup and customise their own dipping sauces.

There are a few key pieces of equipment you'll need for a hot pot: a burner and a pot. The burner needs to be portable enough to sit at the centre of your table, and it's important to avoid using charcoal as it will fill your home with carbon monoxide. For the pot, you'll want something shallow so that your food isn't drowning—a deep stockpot won't do. If you're serving a group with different preferences, you might opt for a split pot so you can offer two types of soup.

For the broth, you can go for a simple combination of stock with a handful of aromatics, or try something more complex like a Sichuan-style broth. You can make your own or buy a premade soup base.

When it comes to ingredients, the options are endless. Meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu, dumplings, and noodles are all popular choices. Just be sure to slice your ingredients thinly so they cook quickly, and don't overcrowd the pot, as this will reduce the temperature of the broth.

So, gather your equipment and ingredients, and get ready for a fun and flavourful hot pot experience!

Choosing your broth

When choosing your broth, consider the preferences of your guests. If you are serving a large group, it is a good idea to offer both a spicy and a mild option. This way, everyone can find something to their taste. You can also adjust the spiciness of the broth by adding more or less chilli pepper.

In addition to the spicy and mild options, there are several other types of broth you can choose from. A popular choice is the Sichuan-style spicy broth, which has a high content of fat and a distinctive mouth-numbing and hot flavour. Another option is a chicken stock-based mild broth, which is often used in Cantonese cuisine. This broth is light and simple, allowing the original flavours of the food to shine through.

If you want to get creative, you can experiment with different ingredients and spices to make a unique broth. For example, you could try adding tomatoes, celery, or corn to your broth, or using a combination of different types of chillies. You can also find pre-made hot pot soup bases in Asian shops, which can be a convenient option if you are short on time.

Remember, the broth is the foundation of your hot pot, so take your time to choose the right one and prepare it with care.

Selecting your ingredients

Meat

Meat is a key component of hot pot. Look for thinly sliced beef, pork, and chicken, which are typically available at Asian grocery stores. If you can't find pre-sliced meats, you can DIY by freezing pieces of meat for about 30 minutes until they are slightly firm, and then thinly slicing them. Some popular options include ribeye, pork belly, pork jowl, lamb shoulder, and pork shoulder.

Seafood

Seafood is a common addition to hot pot, but it is not necessary. If you decide to include seafood, look for frozen seafood medley packs containing shrimp, squid, scallops, mussels, and clams. Fresh fish is also a good option.

Vegetables

While traditional Chinese hot pot includes a limited selection of vegetables, feel free to include a variety of vegetables in your hot pot. Asian vegetables such as gai lan, mushrooms, and leafy greens like baby bok choy and napa cabbage are excellent choices. Just be sure not to overcook them!

Tofu

Tofu is a must-have for hot pot as it soaks up all the flavors of the broth. Include a variety of tofu products such as mini tofu puffs, medium-firm tofu, egg tofu, and dried bean curd sticks.

Dumplings and Meatballs

Frozen dumplings are a great addition to hot pot. Look for fully cooked dumplings to avoid the risk of consuming raw filling. Classic pork and vegetable dumplings are a popular choice, but you can also find unique options like pork and corn. Meatballs, especially Vietnamese meatballs, are another tasty option.

Noodles

Noodles are the carb of choice for hot pot. Udon noodles are a popular option, but you can also use mung bean noodles, shirataki noodles, or rice noodles.

Preparing your ingredients

Meat:

Thinly sliced meat is a hallmark of hot pot. Beef, lamb, and pork are popular choices. Place your desired cuts of meat in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to firm them slightly, making slicing easier. Then, cut the meat into thin slices against the grain. You can also buy pre-sliced meat from Asian grocery stores, usually found in the frozen food section.

Seafood:

Seafood is a beloved addition to hot pot. Options include shrimp, squid, scallops, mussels, clams, and fish fillets. Cut the seafood into bite-sized pieces to ensure quick and even cooking. For fish, choose boneless fillets and slice them thinly.

Vegetables:

Wash and dry all vegetables thoroughly. For leafy greens such as baby bok choy, they can be left whole. Larger leaves like napa cabbage should be cut into smaller, manageable pieces. Root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and daikon radish should be peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces. Other vegetables like pumpkin, tomatoes, corn, and lotus root can be cut into similar-sized pieces.

Tofu and Soy Products:

Tofu and soy products are a must-have for hot pot. Options include silken tofu, firm tofu, frozen tofu, dried bean curd sticks, soy puffs, and tofu sheets. Drain the tofu and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Bean curd sticks should be soaked in warm water for a few hours before cutting into 2-inch pieces. Soy puffs can be left whole or sliced in half for quicker cooking.

Noodles and Starches:

Noodles and starches are essential for a filling hot pot meal. Options include mung bean vermicelli, rice vermicelli, thin fresh white noodles, spinach noodles, shirataki noodles, rice cakes, and frozen dumplings. Most noodles should be soaked in warm water before cooking. Dumplings should be fully cooked before adding to the hot pot to avoid undercooked fillings.

Meatballs and Fish Balls:

Meatballs and fish balls are popular additions to hot pot. You can often find them in the frozen section of Asian grocery stores. Meatballs can be sliced in half if desired. Fish balls come in various flavors, so choose your favorites!

Dipping Sauces:

The dipping sauce is a pivotal part of the hot pot experience, allowing customization of flavors. Common ingredients for dipping sauces include soy sauce, sesame paste, peanut butter, chili garlic sauce, Chinese black vinegar, toasted sesame seeds, chopped scallions, and fried shallots or garlic. Mix and match these ingredients to create your perfect sauce.

Making your dipping sauce

Making your own hot pot dipping sauce is easy and allows you to adjust the flavours to your personal taste. The basic steps are to choose a base, add some flavourings, and then adjust to taste.

Choosing a base

First, decide on a base for your sauce. Common options include:

• Chinese sesame paste
• Peanut butter
• Tahini
• Soy sauce
• Sha Cha (Chinese BBQ sauce)
• Oyster sauce
• Sesame oil
• Chinese black vinegar
• Rice vinegar
• Fish sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Chili oil
• Chili garlic sauce
• Sriracha

Adding flavour

Once you've chosen your base, you can start adding flavours. Here are some options:

• Minced garlic
• Chopped scallions
• Minced cilantro
• Chopped red or green chillies
• Roasted chopped peanuts
• Whole fried soybeans
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Leek flower sauce
• XO sauce
• Fermented bean curd
• White pepper
• Sichuan peppercorn powder
• Sugar
• MSG

Adjusting to taste

Once you've added your flavourings, give the sauce a taste and adjust to your preference. You can add more of any of the above ingredients, or thin out the sauce with water or hot pot broth.

Light Sesame Soy

• 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp chopped spring onion
• Sprinkle of sesame seeds

Chilli Oil Vinegar Dip

• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tbsp black vinegar
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chopped spring onion

Creamy Dashi Garlic

• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander

Honey Miso Dip

• 1 tbsp chopped spring onion
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander

Spicy Peanut Dip

• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tbsp spicy bean paste
• 1 tbsp chopped spring onion

Setting up your equipment

Hot pot is a fun and social meal, where everyone cooks their food in a communal pot of broth at the table. It's a great way to bring people together and create a cozy atmosphere. The equipment you'll need depends on how many people are joining in on the fun. Here's a list of what you'll require:

• A tabletop heat source: This can be a portable gas, electric, or induction burner. If you're using gas, ensure it's suitable for indoor use. Electric burners are preferred by some as they cook more evenly and you don't have to worry about running out of fuel.
• A pot or wok: Choose a wide and shallow option that sits stably over your heat source. This design allows for easy scooping of cooked ingredients. For an extra special touch, you can opt for a divided pot (Yuan Yang Guo or Yin-Yang Hot Pot) with a wall in the middle, allowing you to offer two types of broth, usually one spicy and one mild.
• Plates: You'll need plates for holding the various food items that will be cooked in the broth.
• Bowls: Provide individual bowls for each diner to mix their own dipping sauces.
• Chopsticks: Wooden or bamboo chopsticks are ideal, as plastic may melt at high temperatures, and metal conducts heat, becoming too hot to handle.
• Slotted spoons (optional): These are helpful for fishing out slippery food items, but you can manage without them using a long-handled spoon or tongs.

Once you have your equipment ready, it's time to prepare the broth and gather all the delicious ingredients for your hot pot feast!

Frequently asked questions