Soup is a very popular starter and appetizer, which is generally served before meals. It consists of a combination of various ingredients, such as spices, vegetables, and meat. These ingredients are added in hot or boiling water to form a broth. Hot and sour soup is extremely popular, and is an important part of the Asian cuisine, as it is made with the help of unique ingredients, that make it spicy and delectable. This Chinese broth can be vegetarian or meat-based. The vegetarian one is prepared by using ingredients such as sesame oil, bamboo shoots, daylily buds, chili oil, wood ear, button mushrooms, and small slices of tofu skin. White peppers or red peppers are added to make it hot and spicy, while vinegar is added to make it sour. In some countries, it is flavored with chilies, lemon, lemongrass, galangal, tamarind, shrimp, or prawns. You can make different variations by adding different ingredients of your choice. So why don't you try these truly mouth-watering recipes. You can also add more vegetables to increase its nutritional value and health benefits. Vegetarian Soup Ingredients

• Canned Mushrooms, (sliced) 3 tbsp.
• Seasoning Cube, (veg.) 1
• Baby Corns, (cut diagonally) 7
• Garlic Cloves, 7
• Coriander, (chopped) ¼ cup
• 5 Stalks lemon grass, tied
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 3 Green chilies, slit
• Ginger, (cut into thin strips) 2-inch (50 mm) piece

For garnishing

• Carrot, (cut into thin strips) 2 tbsp.
• Coriander, (chopped) 2 tbsp.
• Spring Onion, (finely cut) 2 tbsp.

Preparation Tie together coriander and grass stalks, using some lemon grass. In a pan, boil 5 cups of water. Then add ginger, garlic, seasoning cube, coriander, and lemon grass (tied together). Cover the pan and simmer for about 15 minutes. When you notice the aroma releasing from the mixture, remove ginger, garlic, coriander, and lemon grass bunch from it. Add mushrooms, chilies, baby corn, and salt to the mixture. Allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes in the covered pan. When the broth becomes thick, add lemon juice, just before serving. Garnish it with carrot, coriander, and spring onion. Serve it hot with cheese-flavored breadsticks. Non Vegetarian Soup Ingredients

• Chicken Broth, 3 cups
• Bamboo Shoots, (sliced in thin strips) 3 tbsp.
• Boiling Water, 2 cups
• Soy Sauce, 2 tbsp.
• Egg, 1
• Ham, (diced) 3 tbsp.
• Dried Mushrooms, (soaked and sliced in thin strips) 4 tbsp.
• Shrimp, 3 tbsp.
• Pork, (sliced in thin strips) ½ cup
• Black Pepper, ¼ tsp.
• Wine Vinegar, 2 tbsp.
• Cornstarch, 2½ tbsp.
• Salt, ½ tsp.
• Water, 4 tbsp.

Preparation In a pan, add mushrooms, ham, pork, bamboo shoots, and water. Allow it to boil for about 3 minutes. Remove any impurities and continue to simmer it for about half an hour. Then add chicken broth, soy sauce, and shrimp to the mixture. Simmer it again for 10 minutes. Then add vinegar, pepper, and salt. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 4 tbsp. of water. Mix it well. Add this cornstarch mixture to the broth. In a small cup, beat the egg for about 10 seconds. Add it to the broth. Keep it for few seconds, until the beaten egg becomes hard. Then stir the broth and serve it hot. This soup is extremely delicious, and packed with nutritional benefits. You can always substitute your dinner with it, if you are following a healthy diet plan.