[China Must-Buy List] Hot Pot Recipe Using a Famous Chain's Soup Base—Just How Good Is It?

H brand hot pot soup base has recently gained popularity after appearing in an episode about exploring supermarkets around the world on tvN's “Free 19.” The famous hot pot chain also has locations in Korea, including Gangnam, Myeong-dong, Hongdae, the Konkuk University area, Yeongdeungpo and Sinnonhyeon. Buoyed by its popularity, it has released a variety of soup bases, including mala, mushroom, vegetable and tomato, making it easy for consumers to prepare hot pot. The products are also available online, but they are said to cost half as much at large supermarkets in China, quickly turning them into must-buy items for travelers visiting the country.

Bae Jung-nam Made It Too! What Is the Secret to His Hot Pot, Endorsed by Byun Yo-han, Who Studied in China?

The secret to the hot pot Bae Jung-nam prepared on SBS's “My Little Old Boy” is gomtang broth. The broth is readily available from butcher shops and is mixed with mala sauce. After preparing this simple hot pot soup base, add ingredients such as soy sauce, scallions and garlic, followed by vegetables, fish cakes and meat to suit your taste, and the hot pot is ready.

How Are Mala Xiang Guo, Malatang and Hot Pot Different?

Many Chinese dishes are still unfamiliar to us, but hot pot is relatively familiar because it resembles shabu-shabu. Hot pot is Chinese-style shabu-shabu, with a broth base that feels like a simmering stew. Malatang may be eaten like hot pot by dipping skewers into broth, as with shabu-shabu, or by cooking all the ingredients together at once. Park Na-rae once featured mala xiang guo on MBC's “Home Alone.” Like malatang, mala xiang guo is eaten spicy, so it is recommended for people who crave or enjoy spicy food.

Simple Homemade Hot Pot Recipe

Ingredients: hot pot soup base, vegetables for shabu-shabu, beef-bone gomtang broth, glass noodles and beef

1. Prepare the hot pot soup base and gomtang broth, then wash and trim the vegetables.

2. Pour in the hot pot soup base and gomtang broth, adding more water to taste.

3. Add all the prepared ingredients except the beef and bring to a boil. Once the liquid is boiling, cook the beef.

4. Once you have eaten the vegetables, add more, cook them and enjoy.

[Fam Times = Reporter Baek Hyun-jung]