- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Makes 8 cups
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The bright aromas of this Chinese-inspired soup will have you hooked from the first spoonful. Tart lemon juice mingles with umami-rich soy sauce, sweet maple syrup, and bright brown rice vinegar to create a fusion of flavors that perfectly complement a medley of earthy vegetables. The secret ingredient? A few pinches of Sichuan pepper. Known for its strange but satisfying mouth-numbing effect, this unique ingredient adds more of a sensation to the dish than a taste. While you will certainly notice a bit of added heat, Sichuan pepper mainly makes your mouth and tongue feel a bit tingly, which is said to enhance the other flavors of the food. Feel free to leave out the pepper if you aren’t a fan of this unique culinary phenomenon!
Tip: Enjoy this soup as a side or appetizer, or add brown rice noodles to make it a meal.
For more vegan Chinese recipes, check out these tasty ideas:
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms
- 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ½-inch slices baby bok choy
- 2 pinches Sichuan pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons brown rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet over high. Add the first five ingredients (through garlic); cook 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly cooked, stirring frequently and adding water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking.
- Stir in bok choy and a pinch of Sichuan pepper flakes (if using). Cook and stir about 2 minutes more or until bok choy starts to turn bright green. Add 7 cups water. Bring to boiling.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together a pinch of Sichuan pepper flakes (if using) and the next five ingredients (through lemon juice). Stir mixture into soup. Return to boiling; turn off heat. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro and additional Sichuan pepper flakes.
Comments (8)
(5 from 5 votes)is there something you can use instead of the mushrooms?
Making fir the second time...it's absolutely delicious. I added snow peas to the broth and veggies, also some fresh corn. Having a birthday dinner with this recipe. Husband loved it the first time and wanted t again.
Delicious depth of flavor!!! This is so good! Pretty simple to make as well.
Have you ever added diced tofu (marinated first in a bit of soy sauce?)
What can I substitute for pepper ingredients
Hi Pam, If it is the red pepper, you could just add more of the other veggies. If you want color and texture I would julienne cut the carrots add a sprinkle of fresh sliced red radish as a garnish, even fresh mung bean sprouts would be good. For the pepper spice it is optional. I have not made this but I have eaten this way for a long time and had to learn to make substitutions. I hope this helps.
Hi seems like the amount of broth is missing??
Good looking soup hope to try, in the second paragraph it says add 7 cups of water after you woke cook the veggies. Hope that helps. It is a bummer when it is not listed with other ingredients easy to over look.