Lately,
I've been missing the Chinese hot pot. My mom often made it for the
Chinese New Year or on cold days. Unfortunately I can't have it at
home because I don't own a portable stove for the table (due to not
having enough storage space). I decided that I'd make a hot pot dish
that is similar to the traditional one I grew up with, but is done on
the stove, and with fewer ingredients. Instead of the fish balls
(which are very difficult to find here without all the msg and
chemicals) or thin slices of hot pot meats, I made these really yummy
and unique taro-chicken meatballs to replace the fish balls, and it
still has the cellophane noodles and the tofu I love, plus three
other ingredients (because six is the lucky number for Chinese!).
Everything is cooked in the same broth like the traditional hot pot,
so in the end, all the flavours come together. I didn't even have to
season the broth much at all! It was sweet and flavourful all by
itself! I hope you make this during the Chinese New Year, and I wish
you all a happy and peaceful sheep year!
