One of the most commonly enjoyed dishes in China is soups. With a great diversity of ingredients able to be added to each stock and broth, there are an almost infinite number of soup varieties created in China. As with most soups, Chinese soups can be classed as either a thick soup or a thin soup, with the difference largely down to the base used for the soup.
Thick Soups
To make a thick Chinese soup, all of the ingredients required tend to be added into a pan at once and cooked slowly, allowing the flavours to infuse each other. The soup is further thickened by adding in a thickener such as tapioca starch or cornstarch.
Thin Soups
A thin soup starts off as a clear broth and has meats and vegetables added into it near the end of cooking. Typically, it takes less time to cook a thin soup than a thicker one. Often the ingredients for thinner soups will be preprepared, such as leftover chicken or pre-steamed vegetables, thus reducing the time they spend in the broth. This helps each ingredient retain its individual flavours.
There are a number of different bases for soups, but one of the most common in Chinese cuisine is a chicken stock. There are two types of chicken stock used in China. The first kind is the higher quality stock, which is made by simmering an entire chicken, which imparts is flavour into the water, making a delicious soup base. The second kind is made solely using the bones of the chicken, and this is considered a lower quality broth.
For more luxurious soups, such as shark fin soup, a special stock is created from boiling chicken with ham, pork ribs, duck and other pork bones to develop a rich and flavourful broth.
No spices will be added to Chinese stocks or broths as it is seen to mask the flavours presented by the chicken, although seasoning may be added later.
How is Chinese Soup Served?
Thin soups are often used as a substitute for drinks at mealtimes in China. It is considered unhealthy to serve a soft drink such as water or soda with a meal, and hot drinks tend to be reserved as a relaxing beverage after dinner. As such, a thin soup is typically served up as a replacement. Thin soups can also be served as a palate cleanser between courses when enjoying a larger meal or banquet.
Thicker soups, on the other hand, are served as a meal – either lunch or dinner – as their thicker consistency makes them far more filling than a thin soup. Due to this, you would usually not find a thick soup on a table with other dishes, especially at a banquet, although an exception can be found in the popular celebration dish shark fin soup.
If you are looking for ingredients to make a delicious Chinese soup, then be sure to check out our range at our Chinese supermarket online!
Of the soups commonly found on Chinese restaurant menus, egg drop is the healthiest. Totally starving when you walk into a Chinese restaurant? Order soup as an appetizer, and egg drop is tops. "It's really made with eggs, so it does offer quite a bit of protein," says London.
Both soups are low in calories — containing only 65–90 calories per 1-cup (240 mL) serving — and you can make them even healthier by avoiding the fried lo mein noodles that are often offered as a topping ( 2 , 3 ).
Egg drop soup is quite healthy. Egg drop soup calories and carbohydrates are low, which makes the dish good for people watching their weight. While the chicken broth and eggs are nutritious, this soup has the drawback of being high in sodium. However, you can reduce the saltiness by making the dish at home.
Named after a Chinese war hero, this fat-laden dish won't help you win any weight loss battles. The breaded, fried chicken is smothered in a sugary sauce. One order clocks in at around 1,500 calories and 88 grams of fat, and it delivers more sodium than you should get in a day.
Wood ear is widely used in Chinese cuisine as it helps to reduce blood pressure, clear away cholesterol, thus improve blood circulation. Chinese people also name it as “blood vessel cleaner”. Wood ear contains rich protein and vitamin B, but low in calories.
Made with natural ingredients such as herbs, plants and meats, Chinese soups are filling and tasty, and can help maintain your weight. You can drink Chinese soups in place of snacks, or simply have them as meal replacements.
“Looking for foods that aren't breaded is a good start. And you can usually find lots of vegetables, like broccoli, carrots and sugar snap peas at Chinese takeout places, too.” Other dishes on the healthier side include: Moo goo gai pan, stir-fried lean chicken, mushrooms, water chestnuts, broccoli and carrots.
Winter melon soup is a popular Chinese soup that is believed to have cooling properties and can help to reduce body heat during the summer months. Winter melon itself is rich in vitamins and minerals, and can help to promote overall wellbeing. For a seafood option, you can try winter melon and shrimp soup.
With the egg drop soup, you get cholesterol and saturated fat from the eggs in high-sodium chicken broth. The hot and sour soup has tofu and vegetables, but is loaded with sodium-rich soy sauce. Which is worse? At about 100 calories per cup, "calorically, they're okay," says Klatell.
Wonton soup is the quintessential Chinese soup on all American Chinese restaurant menus, but this Shanghai wonton soup is so easy to make at home that you'll be able to make these in the morning and still have plenty of time to hang out on the couch on a snow day!
In addition to lifting your energy levels, metabolism, and muscle production, wonton soup can also contribute to your overall health by providing at least eight percent of the total vitamin B needed per day.
Both egg drop and wonton soups are among the better options if you are trying to eat healthy at a Chinese restaurant. A cup of egg drop soup contains 65 calories and only 1.5 grams of fat, while a cup of wonton soup provides 71 calories but only 0.6 grams of fat.
With just 216 calories, Hot and Sour Soup just happens to be one of the healthiest mushroom soup recipes in the world! A Chinese restaurant favourite, it's hearty, savoury, sour – and as spicy as you want it to be.
Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257
Phone: +2613987384138
Job: Chief Retail Officer
Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing
Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
