Bringing Kameron Home: How to Make Hot Pot

I've been asked by multiple fellow China adoptive momma's on how we make Kameron's favorite meal, hot pot. Let me assure you, it is surprisingly easy! It just requires a lot of gathering/locating ingredients. I think of it as "Asian fondue" except there is no dairy-- but you can mix and match and create your own. It is definitely spicy, but incredibly yummy as well. So without further ado....

How to Make Hot Pot

The biggest amount work is locating an Asian market with all of the key ingredients. Some things you can get from your local grocery store, but finding a good/authentic hot pot sauce is difficult unless you order it online (expensive!!) or can find it at a local Asian Market.

Hot pot sauce packet

The hot pot sauce gives step by step instructions (usually requiring minced garlic and water to add to the oil and spices enclosed). We used our electric fondue pot to make our hot pot, but a large electric skillet or pot on the stove will work as well. Stir that up!

Once that sauce is boiling, you get to add whatever you want!! We tend to add the following, as this is what our son enjoys:

-- Carrots, thinly sliced.
-- Cabbage, large hand sized pieces
-- Asian mushrooms *Asian Market find. (Side note: grocery store mushrooms work too, but "aren't as good," according to our son)
-- Thinly sliced and then chopped up beef.
-- Pork meatballs *Asian Market find.
-- Tofu (cubbed)
-- Fish balls or shrimp balls. *Asian Market find.
-- Shrimp
-- Noodles (Our son prefers rice noodles). You can also add Chinese donuts, if desired. (Our son did NOT desire). *Asian Market Find.

Asian mushrooms

Frozen shrimp (or fish) balls

Rice noodles

Pork meatballs

Shrimp, a cheap Walmart find

Cubbed tofu

Chopped thinly sliced beef

Once you have all the ingredients ready, you add them in. I usually add the carrots and other ingredients that take the longest to cook (IE: beef, noodles, raw veggies), and save the shortest to cook to add last (IE: tofu, shrimp, etc) so they aren't as soggy.