To eat hot pot like a pro, cook ingredients in the correct order and pay close attention to cooking times. A thinly sliced meat will cook very quickly, so remember to pay attention to your ingredients and whisk them out quickly to avoid overcooking.
Chinese hot pot is a popular traditional Chinese food with a history of over 1000 years. Thought to have emerged in Eastern Asia, the idea for a hotpot has a long and debated history. The Mongolian hot pot dining experience allowed the leaders to taste the diverse foods of various regions all at once. If you’re asking yourself what is a Chinese hot pot, we've got you covered. A Chinese hotpot is a meal served through a simmering pot of fragrant soup stock. You cook different ingredients in the pot and eat them while they're hot.
Today, a Chinese hot pot restaurant can be found almost anywhere in the world. Many restaurants serving hotpot have customized menus with additional options like a hot pot buffet. If you're having trouble deciding on a Chinese hot pot recipe, the restaurant can offer you a pre-designed menu. Since hotpot is a communal dining experience, much like fondue, it's a way to socialize with friends and family while enjoying a meal. If you've never tried hotpot before or you're unsure of how to eat a hotpot properly, here are tips on how to eat a hotpot like a pro.
1.
Familiarize Yourself With The Tools To Eat Chinese Hot Pot With
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If you're a complete newbie, you will need to familiarize yourself with the tools commonly used to eat Chinese Hot Pot. You will be provided with these tools if you visit a Chinese hot pot restaurant. But even if you’re planning to throw a hot pot party at home, having these tools around can improve your overall Chinese food experience.
Eating a Chinese hot pot requires a hot pot to hold the broth and let you cook your ingredients. Normally, you would see a split hot pot (much like the Chinese yin-yang symbol) that can hold two different kinds of broths. You'll also be using chopsticks. Usually, you'd be provided two pairs per person. One pair would be used to handle the ingredients that are to be cooked and the second pair for eating. The last thing you'll need is a strainer with a handle to keep track of all the ingredients being cooked by each person.
2.
Ingredients That Take Longer To Cook Should Go Into The Pot First
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While there are no hard and fast rules as to which ingredients you should put first, a good rule of thumb is to start with those foods that take the longest to cook. Chinese cabbage should definitely be the first to go in. Other ingredients such as lettuce, potatoes, corn, and radish should all be put into the hot pot first.
3.
Choose An Appropriate Eating Pace
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If you're at a hot pot party or a hot pot buffet, you've got family and friends around that you're eating your Chinese food with. Selecting an appropriate pace is essential because you want to give everybody a chance to cook their ingredients in the hotpot. You can cook a few ingredients and eat them first before putting more in.
Or you can cook your selected ingredients all at once. It's up to you but remember to maintain a balance between eating and cooking. And while you're at it, enjoy the experience. Chat and socialize with your family and friends, that way you'll be more relaxed and the Chinese food will taste even better!
4.
Put The Ingredients In The Hot Pot Slowly & Remember Not To Overcook
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A lot of first-timers forget this tip completely, particularly those who have little experience using chopsticks. When you're eating with a lot of other people, you want to observe your table manners. When you're eating Chinese hot pot, it is essential to put your ingredients in the hotpot slowly. This way you won't splash the broth around. You don't want all that delicious broth ruining other people's clothes.
When you're among friends and family, say at an all you can eat restaurant (because most all you can eat restaurants serve Chinese food and Chinese hot pot buffets), you can easily get carried away in conversation and forget to pay attention to your ingredients cooking in the broth.
5.
Do Not Cross Dunk & Be Sure To Finish Off With A Drink
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Photo by Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplash[/caption]
Most Chinese hot pots are split and divided to hold two kinds of broth at once. If your hotpot is split so that it can handle spicy broth on one side and plain broth on the other, do not cross dunk your food. A mild broth can get spicy in an instant and vice versa. Remember to cook your Chinese food ingredients in separate broths by deciding on a broth beforehand.
Chinese hot pot dining sessions can be a leisurely experience. Once you're done eating, you might enjoy a drink to wash all that delicious Chinese food down. For non-drinkers, tea might be a good option. Yogurt is also a good option if you're feeling up for it.
But most importantly, remember to have fun. Trying out Chinese hot pot for the first time can seem daunting. But if you follow these easy tips, you'll be eating hotpot like a pro in no time. There are many restaurants offering Chinese food and hotpot. Most Chinese restaurants almost always serve hotpot alongside other Chinese food.
Chinese food is delicious on its own, but if you're feeling a little adventurous, try out the Chinese hotpot dining experience. If you haven't tried out Hai Di Lao, add that to your list. Hai Di Lao is a Chinese food chain that serves a one-of-a-kind hotpot dining experience. We hope these tips help you next time you sit down for a Chinese hot pot dining experience. All the best!
Related travel guides: How To Use Chopsticks Like A Pro: Ultimate Step-by-step Guide, Soju: All You Need to Know About Korea's National Drink, and Bubble Tea: All You Need To Know About Taiwan's Favourite Drink.
