The Ultimate Guide To Heating Your Hot Pot

Hot pot is a fun and social meal, often eaten communally. It involves a pot of broth placed in the centre of the table, with raw ingredients such as meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu and noodles, which are cooked in the broth by each diner.

To heat a hot pot, you will need a portable heat source such as a butane stove or an induction cooktop, and a pot to place on top. You can use a regular pot, or a special hot pot with a divider, which allows you to cook with two types of broth at the same time.

Choosing a heat source: a portable butane stove or a portable induction cooktop are both good options

When it comes to choosing a heat source for your hot pot, a portable butane stove or a portable induction cooktop are both great options. Here's a detailed comparison between the two to help you decide:

Portable Butane Stove:

• Butane stoves are widely available and can be found at most outdoor stores or online retailers.
• They are typically more affordable than induction cooktops.
• Butane stoves are easy to use and require minimal setup. You simply attach a butane canister, turn on the stove, and adjust the heat settings.
• These stoves are compact, lightweight, and easy to transport, making them ideal for outdoor activities like camping or picnics.
• Butane stoves produce an open flame, which allows for better temperature control and a more authentic hot pot experience.
• They are suitable for use both indoors and outdoors, as long as there is adequate ventilation.
• Butane canisters are widely available and easy to replace.

Portable Induction Cooktop:

• Induction cooktops are known for their safety features. They have a flat, smooth surface that remains cool to the touch, reducing the risk of burns.
• Induction technology cooks food by generating an electromagnetic field that directly heats up the cookware, making it more energy-efficient than traditional stoves.
• Induction cooktops are easy to clean due to their flat, smooth surface. Simply wipe down the surface with a damp cloth after it has cooled.
• They are generally more expensive than butane stoves, but the price range varies depending on the brand and features.
• Induction cooktops are typically quieter than butane stoves since they don't produce an open flame.
• These cooktops are ideal for indoor use, especially in small spaces, as they don't produce any emissions and can be placed on a countertop.
• Induction cooktops require compatible cookware with magnetic properties, such as cast iron or magnetic stainless steel.

In conclusion, both options have their advantages. If you prioritize affordability, portability, and temperature control, a portable butane stove might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you value safety, energy efficiency, and ease of cleaning, a portable induction cooktop could be the preferred option. Ultimately, the decision depends on your specific needs and preferences.

Picking a pot: a wide, shallow pot is best

When it comes to picking a pot for your hot pot, a wide and shallow pot is best. This is because it needs to be big enough to fit a good amount of food, but not so deep that food gets lost at the bottom. A wide and shallow pot also makes it easier for diners to scoop out their cooked ingredients.

A Chinese stainless steel hot pot is ideal, as the metal is thin and heats up quickly. However, any wide, relatively shallow pot will work. If you want to go the extra mile, you can buy a divided pot with a wall in the middle, allowing you to have two different types of broth at once. This is known as a Yin-Yang Hot Pot, as it resembles the Yin-Yang symbol.

Preparing the broth: use a simple combination of stock, scallions, ginger and dried ingredients

Preparing the broth is a simple process and a great foundation for a light soup. Using stock is an easy way to get flavour instead of making it from scratch. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing the broth:

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need stock (chicken or vegetable), fresh ginger slices, scallions, and dried ingredients such as wood ear, jujubes, and daikon radishes. You can also add dried Sichuan peppers to adjust the heat level to your preference.

Next, wash, cut, and prepare all your ingredients. Combine all the ingredients, except for the salt, in a pot over high heat. This includes the stock, water, ginger, scallions, and dried ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the temperature to a simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, taste the broth and add salt to your preference. Let the broth simmer for another 10 minutes, and your broth is ready to serve!

If you are preparing the broth ahead of time, it is recommended to strain out the broth ingredients first. This ensures that you don't end up with any leftover disintegrating ingredients like wilted scallions. On the day of serving, simply heat up the broth in the hot pot with a lid until it boils.

For a more intense flavour, you can also try making a chicken or pork bone broth. Cut the chicken into large chunks and clean the chicken chunks and bones. Break the ginger and cut the scallions into large sections. Prepare a pot or wok with enough water (at least 4L), and add the ginger, scallions, white peppercorn, chicken, and bones. Bring the mixture to a boil, skimming any foam that forms on the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer for 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Selecting ingredients: choose thinly sliced meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu and noodles

Selecting Ingredients for Your Hot Pot

Meat

Hot pot is a great way to enjoy thinly sliced meat. If you're buying pre-sliced meat from an Asian supermarket, you'll likely find beef brisket or chuck, or pork belly. If you're slicing your own meat, par-freeze it first to make it easier to cut into thin slices or cubes.

Seafood

Add some briny shellfish to your hot pot to balance out richer flavours. Manila clams and shrimp are great options, but you can also try squid or scallops.

Vegetables

When it comes to vegetables, the more variety, the better. Try to include a range of colours and textures, such as crunchy vegetables like bamboo shoots, lotus root, cauliflower, radish, broccoli and carrot; starchy vegetables like squash, potato, sweet potato and taro root; and leafy greens like napa cabbage, pea shoots, baby bok choy, Chinese broccoli, yu choy and Swiss chard.

Tofu

Tofu is a great option for hot pot as it absorbs the flavours of the broth. Look for tofu products like fried tofu, yuba sheets, yuba knots and tofu skin at your local Asian grocery store. If you're using regular tofu, freezing and thawing it first will give it a more porous texture that will hold up better in the hot pot.

Noodles

Noodles are a must-have for a hot pot meal. Wheat noodles made from flour work particularly well, but if you're looking for a gluten-free option, potato starch noodles or sweet potato noodles are a great choice. Just be sure to pre-soak your noodles according to the package instructions before adding them to the hot pot.

Making a dipping sauce: combine soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, chilli and other condiments

To make a delicious dipping sauce to accompany your hot pot, you can combine soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, chilli and other condiments. Here is a suggested recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 4 ½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• Honey, orange juice, and lime juice, to taste

Instructions:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the hot oil and cook until fragrant (about 2-3 minutes).
• Pour in the soy sauce, honey, orange juice, ginger root, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and lime juice. Stir everything together and heat through for another 2-3 minutes.
• Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for about an hour before serving, to let the flavours meld and develop.

This dipping sauce is perfect for a hot pot as it can be served with a variety of meats and vegetables. You can also adjust the spice level to your preference by adding more or less chilli. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions