Hototay(Soup)
Hototay is a flavorful Chinese-inspired soup featuring shrimp, pork, and vegetables in a savory broth, perfect for comforting meals and those who enjoy hearty, spicy flavors.
Ingredients
- 1/4 lb chopped shrimp ⓘ
- 1/4 lb ground pork ⓘ
- 1/4 cup chopped water chestnuts ⓘ
- 2 dried mushrooms, soaked and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 cup cornstarch ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon MSG ⓘ
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions ⓘ
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon sugar ⓘ
- 1 whole egg
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil ⓘ
- 1 cup shrimp, peeled with tail ⓘ
- 1/2 cup gizzard ⓘ
- 1/2 cup liver ⓘ
- Chicken broth ⓘ
- Chinese mustard ⓘ
- Chinese petchay ⓘ
- Pea pods ⓘ
- Carrots ⓘ
- Leeks ⓘ
Instructions
- Mix chopped shrimp, ground pork, chopped water chestnuts, soaked and chopped dried mushrooms, salt, cornstarch, MSG, chopped green onions, black pepper, sugar, beaten egg, and sesame oil together.
- Wrap the mixture in wonton wrappers and set aside.
- Boil gizzard in chicken broth until tender.
- Add peeled shrimp, liver, and the prepared wontons to the broth.
- Add vegetables such as Chinese petchay, pea pods, carrots, and leeks.
- Season the soup with salt and MSG to taste.
- Sprinkle with sesame oil before serving.
- Serve piping hot with a raw egg added to each bowl.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider adding a splash of soy sauce or a few drops of fish sauce to the broth. You can substitute ground chicken for ground pork for a lighter option. If you can't find water chestnuts, bamboo shoots can provide a similar crunch. Ensure the shrimp are fresh for the best taste, as they are a key ingredient in this soup.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the hototay hot, garnished with additional chopped green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil. It pairs wonderfully with steamed jasmine rice or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth. For a balanced meal, consider a side of stir-fried vegetables or a simple salad.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover hototay in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, do so gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of chicken broth to retain moisture and avoid overcooking the shrimp and wontons.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Hototay(Soup) contains roughly 486 calories, with 7g protein, 66g carbohydrates, and 23g fat. It is a good source of vitamin C (16% of the Daily Value), protein (14% of the Daily Value), and iron (13% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 993mg per serving (43% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make hototay ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the filling and wrap the wontons in advance. Store them separately from the broth and vegetables in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, cook the broth and add the wontons and vegetables for a fresh bowl of soup.
What can I use instead of MSG?
If you prefer not to use MSG, you can enhance the umami flavor with a combination of soy sauce and a bit of mushroom powder. Alternatively, using a homemade broth with aromatics can also boost the flavor without needing MSG.
Is this soup suitable for meal prepping?
Hototay can be meal-prepped, but it's best to keep the broth and wontons separate until you're ready to eat. This prevents the wontons from becoming too soft. You can portion out the soup and reheat them individually for a quick meal.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).