Prosperity Pot for sharing this Lunar New Year
MANILA, Philippines — For the Chinese, hot pot dining is always a special treat because it brings families and/or friends together. Diners gather around the table with a hot pot of flavorful soup base boils and plates full of assorted ingredients — meat strips, seafood, balls, mushrooms, noodles, and vegetables surrounding it.
Everyone participates in the cooking process, dropping complementary ingredients into the hot pot as they eat, seasoning the stock to keep it flavorful, and serving up bowls of the delicious soup dish as they exchange lively conversation with each other.
Good Life and Chef Jackie Ang Po recommend sharing a Prosperity Pot with the family this coming Chinese New Year.
“I love hot pot! It’s very festive and perfect for sharing and bonding. Great for Chinese New Year, it is slowly built and hearty and delivers warmth and meaning to the table,” the chef said.
She added: “At first, you think it’s complicated because it involves a lot of ingredients. But they are mostly meats, vegetables and seasonings. Then you realize it’s easy to prepare after all. All you really need to prepare is a good soup base.”
Here is Chef Jackie’s easy, foolproof way of preparing a really good hot pot.
Good Life Prosperity Pot
Ingredients:
For the broth:
1 kg. beef or pork meat/bones
12 cups water
1 pc. onion, quartered
2 pcs. leeks, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 thumb-sized segment ginger, sliced
2 pcs. shiitake mushrooms
1 pc. cinnamon stick
2 pcs. bay leaves
2 pcs. star anise
1/4 cup Chinese wine
3/4 cup Carp Soy Sauce
Procedure:
1. Boil beef or pork bones/meat for 10 minutes, then discard the water to remove impurities.
2. Return the meat/bones to the pot. Add water, onion, leeks, garlic, ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and spices.
3. Pour in Chinese wine and Carp Soy Sauce.
4. Simmer on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or until the broth is rich and flavorful.
5. Strain if desired, then transfer to a hot pot for serving.
For the dipping sauces:
Creamy sesame hot pot dip:
1/4 cup tahini
2 tbsps. Carp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp. sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. sesame seeds
2 tbsps. vinegar
1 tbsp. green onion, chopped
Procedure:
1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Mix until smooth and well combined.
Classic soy-based hot pot dipping sauce:
3 tbsps. Carp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp. Carp Vinegar
1 tbsp. green onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. Good Life Oyster Sauce
2 tsps. sugar
1 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
Procedure:
1. Stir all ingredients together.
2. Adjust sweetness to taste.
For the meat and vegetable selection:
200 grams beef slices
200 grams pork slices
1 pack bola-bola (assorted meatballs)
8 pcs. shrimps
1 pc. corn, sliced
1 pc. small carrot, sliced
100 grams spinach, bok choy, or mixed greens
100 grams Chinese cabbage
1 pack Korean mushrooms
Good Life Premium Vermicelli, soaked in water until tender
Procedure:
1. Bring broth to a gentle boil.
2. Cook meats and vegetables as you eat.
3. Finish the meal with vermicelli to absorb the rich, flavorful soup, which symbolizes prosperity and abundance.
*Good for 4 persons.
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