Shiitake Hot and Sour Soup

Ming Sung was on the Dr. Oz show.  He said that if you ate this soup you would not get a cold or the flu.  It has to do with the mushrooms.  If I make this soup again I would add soba noodles or rice noodles.  It was delicious.  The lemon really added flavor.  Unless you have Wegman’s or a like market with any mushroom you desire, I recommend you go to an Oriental grocer and buy dried mushrooms.  They are very good reconstituted and less expensive.   Serves 4. 

Ingredients:

1 T grapeseed oil

1 jalapeno, minced with seeds (I buy mine in a jar.  I find them stronger like we bought in CA.)

1 T minced fresh ginger

1 T minced garlic

2 bunches scallions, green and white parts sliced, 2 T greens reserved

1# shiitakes, stem removed and tops ¼” sliced (2 oz dry soaked in hot water)

2 ½ qts. chicken stock (I use Wolfgang Puck)

2T soy sauce

Juice and zest of 2 lemons

1 block silken tofu, cut into ½” cubes

2 C shredded carrots

Fresh pepper

Directions:

1.      To make life easier, before you start, slice and dice everything that you will need as this happens to fast to not be prepared.  So look over the ingredients and start dicing.

2.      In a stockpot over medium-high heat, add oil and swirl to coat the bottom. 

3.      Add jalapeno, ginger, garlic and scallions.  Sauté until aromatic, about a minute.

4.      Add shiitakes and sauté 2 minutes, until softened.  Reconstituted dry take a little longer. 

5.      Add stock and soy sauce, bring to a simmer and reduce by 20%., about 2 cups down. 

6.      Add lemon juice, zest, tofu, and carrots.  Cook gently for 2 moren minutes to heat tofu through.  Season with pepper.