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Looking for a fun and interactive meal? Try my Chinese hot pot recipe! With a delicious broth filled with a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables, this comforting dish, with just 4 simple steps, is perfect for enjoying with family and friends during celebrations or cozy dinners at home.
The Best Chinese Hot Pot Recipe
There are many types of hot pot in Asia, each with unique flavors and ingredients. In China and Southeast Asia, we have Chinese hot pot, known for its different broths and dipping sauces. In Japan, there are yosenabe, a mix of meats and vegetables, and shabu shabu, where thin meat slices are quickly cooked in a tasty broth.
Every Chinese New Year’s Eve, my family and I gather around the dining table to enjoy a scrumptious, hearty, and homey meal of Chinese hot pot. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a cherished tradition that brings us together. The hot pot symbolizes unity and togetherness as we cook and share a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. Each ingredient in the hot pot signifies abundance and prosperity for the year ahead, making this shared experience even more meaningful during this festive season.
I’ve put together an easy Chinese hot pot recipe that’s perfect for beginners. With just 4 simple steps and easy-to-find ingredients, it’s designed to keep things simple while still capturing the delicious flavors of traditional hot pot broth.
Looking for other hearty soups without having to make a big pot? Check out my Hot and Sour Soup, Egg Drop Soup and West Lake Beef Soup recipes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. With just 4 simple steps, a delicious broth, and your choice of ingredients, this hot pot recipe is a straightforward and stress-free meal to prepare.
- Variety. Hot pot offers a wide array of ingredients to choose from, ensuring endless possibilities.
- Tasty and fresh. Ingredients are cooked right at your table, ensuring a delicious meal that’s enjoyed right away!
- Versatility. Hot pot isn’t just for Chinese New Year and during cold weather—it’s perfect year-round, offering warmth and comfort whenever you crave it.
Hot Pot Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken stock cubes – Creates a quick and hassle free savory base. You may also use can chicken broth, or make your own stock from scratch!
- Chicken meat – Adds a mild, savory flavor to the broth.
- Seafood – Adds a savory seafood flavor to the hot pot broth.
- Napa cabbage and bok choy – Absorbs the flavors of the broth while adding a crisp, slightly sweet taste.
- Fish balls – Adds a a chewy and bouncy texture. If you prefer homemade fish balls, check out my How to Make Fish Balls recipe.
- Mushroom – Adds a savory and earthy flavor to the broth.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Chinese Hot Pot
Step 1. Arrange the fresh ingredients on plates, grouping similar kinds together. Heat cooking oil in a skillet. Once hot, fry minced garlic until it turns light brown (avoid frying until medium brown). Turn off the heat and transfer the garlic oil to a small bowl. Allow it to cool before use.
Step 2. Add chicken stock cubes, water, and ground white pepper to a pot. Bring the broth to a boil.
Step 3. Add the Napa cabbage first and cook for 1 minute.
Step 4. Add each ingredient to the pot in batches: fish balls, chicken, tofu, mushrooms, shrimp, salmon, scallops, and baby bok choy. Cook in 2 to 3 batches. Once the soup boils, drizzle garlic oil on top and stir. Serve the cooked ingredients with some soup in bowls immediately with condiments. Continue cooking the remaining ingredients in the soup until everything is used up.
Cooking Tips For Home Cooks
- To assemble the fresh ingredients, simply cut and slice them, then arrange them on a plate.
- All family members should gather around the dining table with the hot pot in the center. Fresh ingredients will be placed alongside the hot pot, and everyone will be given a bowl and a pair of chopsticks to enjoy the meal.
- Start with ingredients that take longer to cook, like root vegetables or tougher cuts of meat, before adding quicker-cooking items like seafood or leafy greens.
- Cook your ingredients in small batches to keep the broth at the perfect temperature and avoid overcrowding the pot.
- As the soup continues to simmer in the pot, the flavor develops and it becomes tastier as the meal proceeds. I love adding garlic oil to the hot pot, which adds an earthy nuance to the dish.
- For the dipping sauce, you can just use soy sauce. If you like a bit of heat, you can add cut chilies or chili oil to the soy sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use an Instant Pot instead of a normal pot for hot pot. Use the Saute mode to keep the broth simmering and cook the ingredients thoroughly.
Yes, you can. Hot pot is highly customizable. You can choose from a variety of meats such as beef, lamb, pork (in this recipe I used chicken), seafood (fish, squid), and other vegetables.
Yes, it’s safe as long as the broth is kept simmering to cook everything well. Make sure each piece is fully cooked before eating.
Use chopsticks or a small strainer to take out the cooked ingredients from the broth. Dip them in the dipping sauce before eating. You can also sip the delicious broth directly from the pot.
You can dilute the broth with water if it becomes too salty during cooking.
Strain and store leftover broth in the fridge for a few days. Keep leftover ingredients in separate airtight containers.
This hot pot recipe has 480 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
This hot pot recipe is best served as the main dish. For a wholesome festive feast with your family and friends, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Shanghai-Style Borscht Soup (Luo Song Tang)
- Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken Wonton Soup
- Ginger and Clam Soup
- Fried Cuttlefish Balls
Chinese Hot Pot
Ingredients
- 4 oz (125g) napa cabbage, sliced
- 12 oz (350g) fish balls
- 6 oz (175g) chicken meat, sliced
- 4 oz (125g) tofu
- 4 oz (125g) shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 4 oz (125g) white mushrooms, sliced
- 6 oz (175g) shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 4 oz (125g) salmon fillet, cut into pieces
- 4 oz (125g) scallops
- 4 oz (125g) baby bok choy, sliced
Garlic Oil:
- 1 head garlic, peeled and minced
- 5 tablespoons cooking oil
Broth:
- 2 cubes (20g) chicken stock
- 3 cups water
- 5 dashes ground white pepper
Condiment:
- soy sauce
- chili pepper, optional
Instructions
- Arrange the fresh ingredients on plates, grouping similar kinds together. Heat cooking oil in a skillet. Once hot, fry minced garlic until it turns light brown (avoid frying until medium brown). Turn off the heat and transfer the garlic oil to a small bowl. Allow it to cool before use.
- Add chicken stock cubes, water, and ground white pepper to a pot. Bring the broth to a boil.
- Add the Napa cabbage first and cook for 1 minute.
- Add each ingredient to the pot in batches: fish balls, chicken, tofu, mushrooms, shrimp, salmon, scallops, and baby bok choy. Cook in 2 to 3 batches. Once the soup boils, drizzle garlic oil on top and stir. Serve the cooked ingredients with some soup in bowls immediately with condiments. Continue cooking the remaining ingredients in the soup until everything is used up.
Notes
- To assemble the fresh ingredients, simply cut and slice them, then arrange them on a plate.
- All family members should gather around the dining table with the hot pot in the center. Fresh ingredients will be placed alongside the hot pot, and everyone will be given a bowl and a pair of chopsticks to enjoy the meal.
- Start with ingredients that take longer to cook, like root vegetables or tougher cuts of meat, before adding quicker-cooking items like seafood or leafy greens.
- Cook your ingredients in small batches to keep the broth at the perfect temperature and avoid overcrowding the pot.
- As the soup continues to simmer in the pot, the flavor develops and it becomes tastier as the meal proceeds. I love adding garlic oil to the hot pot, which adds an earthy nuance to the dish.
- For the dipping sauce, you can just use soy sauce. If you like a bit of heat, you can add cut chilies or chili oil to the soy sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi, this looks delicious. I have a question for you. In the picture showing the ingredients it shows the fish balls and chicken and 2 other items. What are they?
I would really like to make this, Also what would you substitute for the tofu if you had too?
Carrie, yes the ingredient shot shows all the ingredients used in the recipe. Please refer to the recipe card in the bottom of the list for full details. You can skip the tofu if you want.
Hi Bee. The recipe sure sounds and looks delicious. What kind of Hot Pot
would you recommend. I don’t have one. Thank you. I love all your recipes.
Hi Shirley, traditionally we use a Chinese hot pot but for you, you can just use any stockpot or soup pot as long as it’s deep enough for the broth!! Thanks for being so kind and supportive of my recipes and the 5 stars rating! :)
Can you please share where you purchased the bowls, the brand, etc?
It’s Crate and Barrel.