Poor Man's Soup
INGREDIENTS:
1 Egg 2 oz Bean threads
2 ts Dry sherry 4 c Chicken broth
2 ts Cornstarch 1 ts Dry sherry
1/2 ts Salt 1 ts Soy sauce
1/2 ts Fresh grated ginger 1/4 lb Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Finely chopped water 20 Snow peas *
-chestnuts 3 Sprigs cilantro
1/2 lb Medium shrimp ** Shrimp Balls
Soup Salt to taste
1 Egg 2 oz Bean threads
2 ts Dry sherry 4 c Chicken broth
2 ts Cornstarch 1 ts Dry sherry
1/2 ts Salt 1 ts Soy sauce
1/2 ts Fresh grated ginger 1/4 lb Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Finely chopped water 20 Snow peas *
-chestnuts 3 Sprigs cilantro
1/2 lb Medium shrimp ** Shrimp Balls
Soup Salt to taste
*Ends and strings removed from snow peas ** Shrimp should be shelled, deveined and finely chopped
Balls -
In a bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Blend together sherry and cornstarch, then stir into egg white along with salt and ginger. Add water chestnuts and shrimp; mix well. With oil-coated hands, roll shrimp filling into walnut-size balls. Heat a pan of water to simmering. Drop in shrimp balls a few at a time and simmer gently until they float (about four to five minutes). Drain and discard liquid. If made ahead, cool, cover, and refrigerate up to two days.
Soup -
Cover bean threads with warm water and let stand for 30 minutes. Drain, then place on a cutting board and cut in 6" lengths. In a 2-quart pan heat chicken broth, sherry and soy just to boiling. Add bean threads and mushrooms and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes. Add snow peas and cook for two minutes. Add shrimp balls and cook just until heated through. Garnish with cilantro and season to taste with salt.
Balls -
In a bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Blend together sherry and cornstarch, then stir into egg white along with salt and ginger. Add water chestnuts and shrimp; mix well. With oil-coated hands, roll shrimp filling into walnut-size balls. Heat a pan of water to simmering. Drop in shrimp balls a few at a time and simmer gently until they float (about four to five minutes). Drain and discard liquid. If made ahead, cool, cover, and refrigerate up to two days.
Soup -
Cover bean threads with warm water and let stand for 30 minutes. Drain, then place on a cutting board and cut in 6" lengths. In a 2-quart pan heat chicken broth, sherry and soy just to boiling. Add bean threads and mushrooms and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes. Add snow peas and cook for two minutes. Add shrimp balls and cook just until heated through. Garnish with cilantro and season to taste with salt.