Vegetarian hotpot is a wonderful, light and healthy dish, suitable for family parties or friends gatherings. Not only delicious, vegetarian hotpot is also very nutritious thanks to the combination of many types of vegetables and mushrooms. Made entirely from natural ingredients, the light vegetarian hotpot brings balance to the meal and helps cool the body. This article will guide you on how to make delicious vegetarian hotpot, full of flavor while still ensuring to retain nutritional value.
1. Health Benefits of Vegetarian Hot Pot
Vegetarian hotpot is a great choice for those who want to follow a healthy diet or lose weight but still want to enjoy delicious and rich meals. Vegetarian hotpot not only provides many vitamins and minerals but also very little fat and calories, helping the body to be purified and maintain energy without being heavy on the stomach.
Fresh vegetables are the main source of nutrition in vegetarian hotpot. Green vegetables provide a lot of fiber, helping the digestive system work better and creating a feeling of fullness for a long time. Mushrooms, the main ingredient of vegetarian hotpot, not only bring rich flavor but also contain a lot of protein and valuable nutrients, helping to strengthen the immune system and prevent many diseases.
Vegetarian hotpot is also a great way to reduce the consumption of processed foods and red meat, helping the body rest and detox after greasy meals. With a variety of vegetables and mushrooms, you can enjoy a delicious hotpot while still maintaining the frugal and healthy taste.
2. Ingredients Needed
To make a light vegetarian hot pot, you need to prepare the following ingredients:
- 1 liter vegetable broth (or water)
- 100g fresh shiitake mushrooms (or button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms)
- 100g enoki mushrooms
- 1 carrot (thinly sliced)
- 200g cabbage or Chinese cabbage (chopped)
- 100g tofu (cut into small square pieces)
- Lettuce, coriander, herbs
- 100g spinach or watercress
- 2-3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 onion (sliced)
- Salt, pepper, vegetable oil, and other spices (sugar, soy sauce, vegetarian seasoning)
- Fresh noodles or vermicelli (optional)
The ingredients for vegetarian hotpot are very rich and can be flexibly changed according to each person’s preferences. You can add vegetables such as pumpkin, chayote, broccoli to increase the nutritional value and enrich the hotpot dish.
3. How to Cook Simple Vegetarian Hot Pot
Here are the steps to cook a light, delicious and easy-to-make vegetarian hot pot:
Step 1: Prepare the Broth
To have a sweet and rich broth, you can cook the broth from vegetables such as carrots, kohlrabi, corn, and white radish. Boil about 1 liter of water, then add the vegetables and simmer for about 30 minutes to extract all the sweetness from the vegetables. After cooking, filter out the vegetable residue and keep the broth.
Step 2: Prepare Ingredients
Wash and chop vegetables and mushrooms. Cut tofu into bite-sized cubes, slice shiitake mushrooms, thinly slice carrots, and thinly slice onions. For enoki mushrooms, just wash and leave whole, no need to chop.
Step 3: Stir-fry Ingredients
Heat a pan with a little cooking oil, then add minced garlic and onion and saute until fragrant. Next, add shiitake mushrooms and carrots and stir-fry for a few minutes to let the mushrooms and carrots absorb the spices, then turn off the heat.
Step 4: Cook Hot Pot
Add the prepared broth to the hot pot, then add the stir-fried mushrooms and vegetables. Season the hot pot with salt, pepper, soy sauce and vegetarian seasoning to create richness. Simmer until the ingredients are soft and well blended.
Step 5: Finishing the Hot Pot
Once the hot pot water is boiling, you can start adding vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, Chinese cabbage and tofu to the pot. Green vegetables should be added last to keep them fresh and not mushy. Once the vegetables are cooked, the hot pot is ready to enjoy.
Vegetarian hot pot is often served with noodles or fresh vermicelli, which adds variety to the meal. You can also dip vegetables and tofu in soy sauce or fermented bean curd for added flavor.
4. Variations of Vegetarian Hot Pot According to Taste
Vegetarian hot pot can be easily changed and modified according to each person’s preferences and tastes. Here are a few suggestions to help you refresh your vegetarian hot pot:
- Vegetarian seafood mushroom hotpot: Instead of using regular vegetable broth, you can use vegetarian seafood mushroom broth to enhance the rich flavor and natural sweetness of the hotpot.
- Spicy Vegetarian Hot Pot: If you like spicy food, add fresh chili or chili powder to the hot pot broth. You can also use chili paste to add a spicy flavor to the dish.
- Thai-style vegetarian hot pot: Add coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass to the hot pot broth to create a rich, delicious Thai flavor.
These variations help vegetarian hot pot become more diverse and attractive, while bringing diverse culinary experiences to the daily menu.
5. Notes When Making Vegetarian Hot Pot
To have a delicious, light vegetarian hot pot, you need to note the following:
- Always choose fresh vegetables and mushrooms to retain natural flavor and nutritional value.
- Vegetable broth needs to be cooked long and low to extract all the natural sweetness from the vegetables.
- Do not add too many spices to keep the vegetarian hot pot taste light and bland.
- Green vegetables should be added last to the pot to retain their crispness and bright color.
- You can add tofu skin or vegetarian rice paper to enrich the dish.
By following these tips, you will have a light, delicious and nutritious vegetarian hot pot.
Vegetarian hotpot
This light vegetarian hotpot not only tastes delicious but is also a great choice for a healthy diet. With a combination of many vegetables and mushrooms, this dish provides complete nutrition, helping you maintain your health and feel comfortable after the meal. Try this vegetarian hotpot recipe now to refresh your menu and enjoy a light meal with family and friends!