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mardi 19 novembre 2013

Entertaining On A Budget With Hot Pot Soup Base

By Georgia Diaz


The festive season is fast approaching and for some it brings the icy weather with it. It is also the season for entertaining and long nights in fire lit homes with copious amounts of mulled wine. Hot pot soup base is the answer to entertaining quickly with minimum effort. This age old tradition brings friends and families together and for those on a budget, don't be alarmed, it can be very cost effective too.

A hot pot is originally of Mongolian descent and later spread to China and the East. It refers to a variety of soups or stews that consist of a metal pot which is placed at the table with simmering stock in it. While the stock is simmering, various other ingredients are added to complete the stew or soup. The process adds a little theater to the meal and is enjoyed immensely by dinner guests.

The start to a good finished product is starting with a great stock. Expert home cooks may choose to create these themselves which is a fantastic undertaking. The process can however be quite lengthy, lasting anything up to 8 hours of simmering time. For those who are on a time constraint, buying the stock is a good solution and many quality stocks are readily available in supermarkets.

Deciding which stock to use is of utmost importance. Considering the guests that will be eating the meal is essential in this. In today's modern society dietary restraints are common and catering for friends or family with these needs are important. When entertaining vegetarian or vegan guests, be sure to consider this when acquiring the stock for the base.

The ingredients that are added at the table very often determine the end result of the dish. The bit of theater that this adds to the dining process is also much applauded. A variety of shapes, colors and textures can decoratively be laid out at the table, anticipating the end process. This also adds a presentation element to a dish that would normally be presented quiet plainly.

This may sound like a daunting task at first but it really is quite simple. Although the process takes up a lot of time, the results are definitely worth the wait. The prepared stock can be reduced to the required consistency and a large batch can even be frozen to save time next time around. Fish, chicken or vegetable stock can be made in much a similar way but the cooking time required is between 20min to an hour.

Any ingredients can now be added to complete the dish and strengthen the flavors. Thinly sliced raw meat of seafood, vegetables sliced thinly and additional spices are common. Chilli flakes, garlic, ginger and soy sauce are common ingredients used to round off the finished product.

A hot pot soup base is a fantastic way to entertain. The results are homely yet an air of theater is still added to excite guests. Paired with a local wine or Chinese sake it makes a fun night of entertaining for everyone.




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