How do you make the perfect hotpot at home?

Making hotpot at home is easier than you might think. With a good soup base, fresh ingredients, and an electric hotpot cooker, you can quickly prepare a cozy meal. Everyone at the table cooks their own favorite ingredients and decides which combinations they want to make.

In this blog, we explain step-by-step how to make hotpot at home, what ingredients you need, and how to ensure a successful hotpot evening.

What is hotpot?

Hotpot is an Asian dining tradition where a pot of hot broth is placed in the center of the table. You cook various ingredients in it yourself, such as meat, vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and noodles.

Hotpot is especially popular in China, but it is now eaten throughout Asia. The fun thing about hotpot is that everyone at the table can decide for themselves what goes into the pot and how long it is cooked.

What do you need for hotpot?

For a good hotpot, you essentially only need four things:

1. A hotpot cooker

An electric hotpot cooker is ideal because you can easily regulate the temperature and the broth stays warm during the meal.

2. A soup base

The soup base largely determines the taste of your hotpot. For example, choose a mild natural broth, a rich tomato broth, or a spicy Sichuan broth.

3. Fresh ingredients

There are many possibilities. Popular ingredients include:

• Thinly sliced beef
• Shrimp
• Tofu
• Bok choy
• Napa cabbage
• Mushrooms
• Lotus root
• Glass noodles
• Udon
• Dumplings

Pre-cut the ingredients into small, easy-to-eat pieces.

4. A tasty dipping sauce

A good dipping sauce completes your hotpot. You can choose a ready-made hotpot dip or create your own sauce with, for example, sesame, peanut, soy sauce, garlic, and chili.

How to make hotpot?

Step 1: Prepare the soup base

Put the soup base in the hotpot cooker and add the required amount of water. Bring the broth to a boil, then set the cooker to a temperature where the broth continues to simmer gently.

Want extra flavor? Add fresh ginger, garlic, spring onion, or chili, for example.

Step 2: Prepare the ingredients

Pre-cut all ingredients and arrange them in different bowls. This way, everything is on the table when the meal begins, and everyone can easily grab what they like.

A good hotpot consists of a combination of meat or fish, vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, and noodles.

Step 3: Set everything on the table

Place the hotpot in the center of the table and make sure everyone can easily reach it. Arrange the ingredients and dipping sauces around it.

Now the real hotpotting can begin.

Step 4: Cook and enjoy

Everyone puts their own ingredients into the simmering broth. Thinly sliced meat is often cooked within seconds, while firm vegetables and some noodles take a bit longer.

Remove your ingredients from the broth with a hotpot ladle or chopsticks and dip them in your favorite sauce.

5 tips for the perfect hotpot evening

1. Cut everything small and thin
Thin slices of meat and small pieces of vegetables cook faster and are easier to eat.

2. Ensure sufficient variety
Combine different types of meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and noodles. This way, there's something delicious for everyone.

3. Start with firm ingredients
Ingredients such as tofu, mushrooms, and lotus root can stay in the broth longer. Add delicate ingredients later.

4. Keep the broth warm
An electric hotpot cooker makes this easy. The broth should continue to simmer, but it doesn't need to boil vigorously constantly.

5. Put several dipping sauces on the table
Everyone has their own preference. With different dipping sauces, everyone can customize their hotpot to their own taste.

Which soup base do you choose?

Don't know which soup base suits you best?

• Natural: mild and versatile
• Tomato: rich, soft, and accessible
• Sichuan: spicy and pungent

In doubt? Then also read our blog Which hotpot soup base suits you?

Hotpot at home: easier than you think

The beauty of hotpot is that you don't need a complicated recipe. Put a good soup base on the table, prepare various fresh ingredients, and let everyone cook for themselves.

This naturally creates a cozy, interactive meal where everyone can eat exactly what they like.

With a Hotpot Box, you also have a large part of what you need readily available. You can quickly and easily organize your own hotpot evening.

Frequently asked questions about hotpot

What do you need to make hotpot at home?

You need a hotpot cooker, soup base, fresh ingredients, and dipping sauce. With a few accessories, such as hotpot ladles and chopsticks, it becomes even easier.

How long should meat be in the hotpot?

Thinly sliced beef often only needs a few seconds. Thicker cuts of meat and chicken need to be cooked longer. Always make sure meat is fully cooked.

What vegetables can go in hotpot?

Almost all vegetables are suitable. Popular choices include bok choy, Napa cabbage, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, and lotus root.

Is hotpot suitable for beginners?

Absolutely. Hotpot is one of the easiest Asian meals to make at home. You only need to prepare the broth and arrange the ingredients beforehand.

Ready to hotpot yourself?

With a good hotpot cooker, a delicious soup base, and fresh ingredients, you have everything you need for a cozy evening at the table.

Discover our Hotpot Boxes and create your own hotpot evening at home.