SPICY HOT AND SOUR SOUP WITH PORK

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high flame.
• Add the smashed garlic, ginger paste, chili paste, shiitake and oyster mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Mix the soy sauce, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar in a small bowl, pour it into the pot. Cook 2-3 minutes to let flavors blend.
• Pour in the chicken broth, bring the soup to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, dust pork with cornstarch. You will probably need about 2-3 tbsp, depending on how much pork you have. Season with a few shakes of white pepper and mix thoroughly.
• Heat a pan with 1 tbsp oil and fry pork until mostly cooked through. It will finish cooking in the soup but you want the outside a little brown. Add to soup.
• If you haven't already, dissolve the 3 tbsp cornstarch in the 1/4 cup water and stir until smooth. Pour into the soup and continue to simmer 5 more minutes, until soup thickens. If using tofu, add at this step.
• Remove the soup from the heat and stir in 1 direction until the soup is spinning on its own. Then, slowly pour in eggs in a steady stream using a fork to stir if necessary to break up pieces. (The egg should be cooked almost immediately.).
• Add scallions and enjoy!