Bring out the Hot Pots!!

There is one thing that my children ask for as soon as the weather turns cold..... Chinese Hot Pot!!

For those who are unfamiliar with the Chinese Hot Pot, it is basically like a broth fondue. You cook the food in the broth, dip into your sauce and devour.....yummy. Perfect for those chilly days.

So, this weekend, we decided to take out the pot and have our first Hot Pot of the season. My kids were so excited they started rattling off all the ingredients that I had to get for them....get Mr Crabs and Sponge Bob (a.k.a. crab sticks and fried tofu pouches)....fat noodles (a.k.a. Japanese udon)....those pink thingies (a.k.a. fish cakes)....needless to say, I knew what they wanted, so off I went to the local Chinese grocery store.

Every fall and winter, my family gathers for a huge Hot Pot dinner. Cousins, aunts, uncles and the occasional mystery guest gather around the tables and eat until late into the night. We can have anywhere from 2-3 pots going at one time. Some are simply a light broth flavored with sauteed scallions and chicken broth, while others are bubbling over with hot, numbing spices that can make a grown man cry. I hope that this will inspire you to have your own Hot Pot Party.

Hot Pot Dinner




Ingredients:

• Hot Pot with or without divider (or any pot)
• Table top burner (uses butane canisters)
• Individual Hot Pot baskets if you wish or chopsticks
• Chicken broth
• Water
• Oil (1 tbs)
• Chinese Barbecue Sauce*
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
• Sesame Oil
• Cary's Peanut Sauce (this is a secret sauce that my husband makes - can't divulge just yet)
• Scallions, sliced
• Cilantro, chopped 
• Chili peppers, chopped (if you like it spicy)
• Eggs
• Mushrooms (we like the Enoki mushrooms)
• Tofu, cubed
• Fried tofu pouches*
• Thinly sliced meat* (beef, pork, lamb) 
• Vegetables (spinach, napa)
• Noodles* (udon, vermicelli/bean thread)
• Fish cakes*, sliced
• Fish balls*
• Crab sticks
• Taro slices
• Seafood

*these items can be found in your local Asian Market



Individual Sauce Mixture:

• 1 tbs Chinese Barbecue Sauce
• 1 tbs Cary's Peanut Sauce
• Cilantro
• Scallions
• 1 raw egg ~ caution: use at own risk
• Chili peppers
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
• Sesame oil

Combine and mix well any or all of the ingredients above to your taste.

Directions:

1. Heat oil in heated pot and add scallions, once fragrant, add chicken broth
2. Add water and heat to boil
3. Pick your item, place into hot broth and cook
4. Once item is fully cooked, dip into your sauce and enjoy! 

Remember, this is just a basic Hot Pot....let your culinary imagination go wild. One of my favorites that I do with my cousins is the Spicy Hot Pot ~ SOOOO delicious. You can buy the spice packets in your local Asian Grocery store, but beware have a glass of water handy and a box of tissues!!

Please let me know what you do for your Hot Pot....I'm always looking for new things to try.