Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot)
A bubbling aromatic broth for cooking thin meat and vegetables.
Ingredients
- 400 g Beef flank steak
- ½ head Cabbage
- 300 g Firm tofu
- 30 g Dried shiitake
- 1 Ginger
- 3 Scallions
- 2000 ml Chicken stock
- 3 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Toasted sesame oil (optional)
Method
- Soak the dried shiitake in warm water until softened.
- While the shiitake soak, slice the beef paper-thin, cube the tofu, and tear the cabbage.
- Simmer the stock with ginger and scallions into an aromatic broth.
- Mix a dipping sauce of soy and sesame oil.
- Bring the broth to the table and cook the ingredients in it, dipping as you go.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot)
Huo guo, or hot pot, is less a single recipe than a shared ritual: a pot of simmering broth is brought to the table and everyone cooks their own thin slices of meat and vegetables in it as the meal goes along. This simple version keeps the broth clear and aromatic, chicken stock infused with ginger and scallion rather than a fiery Sichuan mala base, which makes it approachable and lets the ingredients speak. Paper-thin beef flank, cubed tofu, torn cabbage, and rehydrated shiitake are the spread, cooked to order in seconds.
The pleasure is in the pace and the participation. Each bite goes from raw to just-done in the bubbling broth, then gets dunked in a personal dipping sauce of soy and toasted sesame oil before eating, so flavors stay fresh and hot throughout. The beef cooks almost instantly and stays tender, while the cabbage and mushrooms sweeten the broth as the meal progresses, leaving a rich soup to drink at the end. It is a communal, sociable way to eat, ideal for a group and endlessly adaptable to whatever you want to slice and simmer.
Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot): frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot)?
A serving has about 530 calories — 43.2g protein, 34.5g carbs, 25.7g fat, 4.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 43.2g of protein, roughly 33% of its calories.
Is Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot) gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Light soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot) take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 18 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot)?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out toasted sesame oil — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Huo Guo (Simple Hot Pot) make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.