How to host a hotpot night? Here's how to do it at home

Organizing a hotpot evening might sound like a lot of preparation, but it's actually one of the easiest ways to enjoy an elaborate meal with a group.

You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen. Most of the preparation is done beforehand, and everyone participates during the meal.

From shopping to the moment the pot hits the table: follow these steps to easily organize a successful hotpot evening.

1. Determine how many people will be eating

Start with the number of guests.

For a hotpot evening, a group of 4 to 8 people often works very well. You'll have enough people to try different ingredients without the table getting too crowded.

More people can certainly be accommodated too. Just make sure there's enough space around the pot, and possibly use multiple pots.

Of course, you can also enjoy hotpot cozying up as a couple, and it can even be fun alone. Delicious, it is without a doubt.

2. Choose your broth

The broth largely determines the ambiance of your hotpot.

You can opt for one flavor, but with a two-compartment hotpot, you can also serve two different broths simultaneously.

For example:

Spicy: Sichuan, chili, or another flavorful broth.

Mild: chicken broth, tomato, or a light vegetable broth.

This way, not everyone has to eat the same flavor.

3. Determine how many ingredients you need

You absolutely don't need to buy twenty different ingredients.

A good basic selection for a group might include:

• 1–2 types of meat or fish
• 4–6 types of vegetables
• Tofu
• Mushrooms
• Noodles
• Dumplings
• A few different dipping sauces

This gives you plenty of choice without completely cluttering your table.

How much per person?

As a guideline, you can estimate approximately 300–400 grams of meat, fish, tofu, and vegetables per person, depending on how many other ingredients and side dishes you serve.

For an elaborate hotpot evening, you can, of course, provide a bit more.

4. Choose your favorite ingredients

The fun thing about hotpot is that there isn't really a fixed list of ingredients.

Meat

• Thinly sliced beef
• Lamb
• Chicken
• Pork

Fish and seafood

• Shrimp
• Salmon
• Cod
• Mussels
• Squid

Vegetables

• Bok choy
• Chinese cabbage
• Carrot
• Broccoli
• Corn
• Spinach

Other favorites

• Tofu
• Shiitake
• Enoki
• Dumplings
• Glass noodles
• Udon

Above all, choose ingredients you personally enjoy.

5. Make your dipping sauces

A good dipping sauce completes the hotpot.

You can make one sauce for everyone, but it's much more fun to put various ingredients on the table so everyone can create their own sauce.

For example, provide:

• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Sesame paste
• Garlic
• Spring onion
• Chili
• Lime
• Rice vinegar

This way, someone can make a fresh sauce, while another chooses something spicy and savory.

6. Prepare everything beforehand

This might be the most important step.

Before your guests arrive, slice all ingredients and arrange them on platters.

Slice meat as thinly as possible and cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

Then, place everything neatly on the table.

This way, you'll have almost nothing left to do during the evening.

What can you prepare in advance?

A few hours beforehand:

• Cut vegetables
• Prepare meat and fish
• Slice tofu
• Make dipping sauces
• Prepare noodles and dumplings
• Lay out tableware and chopsticks

Just before eating:

• Prepare broth
• Place pot on the table
• Connect heating element
• Take ingredients out of the refrigerator

7. Set up the table properly

A good table arrangement makes a surprising difference.

Place the hotpot in the center and arrange the ingredients around it.

Everyone should be able to easily reach the pot.

Also, make sure everyone has their own:

• Bowl
• Chopsticks
• Dipping dish
• Spoon

Additionally, use separate cooking utensils for the communal pot.

8. Start slowly

When everyone is seated at the table, there's no need to throw everything into the pot at once.

First, bring the broth to a good boil.

Start with a few vegetables and mushrooms, for example.

Then everyone can add ingredients themselves.

This keeps the broth's temperature consistent and allows the evening to get off to a relaxed start.

9. Don't treat it as a regular meal

The best thing about hotpot is that the meal continues throughout the evening.

So you don't have to serve an appetizer first and then put everything on the table all at once.

Prepare the ingredients and let everyone cook small portions throughout the evening.

In between, you can simply continue talking, drinking, and enjoying yourselves.

That's what makes hotpot so suitable for long, convivial evenings.

10. Finish with noodles

Save the noodles for the end.

By that time, the broth will have absorbed all sorts of flavors from meat, fish, vegetables, and mushrooms.

Add udon, glass noodles, or rice noodles and let them cook briefly.

You'll then have a delicious bowl of noodles as a finisher, with a broth that has become richer throughout the evening.

An example menu for 4 people

Want to make it easy for yourself? The combination below provides a complete hotpot evening.

Broth

Mild: Tomato broth

Spicy: Sichuan broth

Meat and fish

• 400 g thinly sliced beef
• 300 g shrimp

Vegetables

• 1 bok choy
• ½ Chinese cabbage
• 2 carrots
• 200 g shiitake
• 100 g enoki

Extras

• 250 g tofu
• 200 g dumplings
• 250 g udon

Dipping sauce

Place soy sauce, sesame paste, sesame oil, garlic, spring onion, chili, and lime on the table.

This way, everyone can make their own favorite sauce.

What do you need for a hotpot evening?

You actually need surprisingly little:

Hotpot pot
The pot is central on the table and must keep the broth warm throughout the meal.

Heat source
An electric hotpot is very practical for this.

Cooking utensils
Cooking chopsticks, a hotpot ladle, or a small strainer.

Tableware
A bowl, chopsticks, and a dipping dish for each guest.

Ingredients
Broth, meat or fish, vegetables, tofu, noodles, and dipping sauces.

That's all.

How long does a hotpot evening last?

Expect approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

But there's no fixed end time.

That's the beauty of hotpot. You can continue eating as long as there are ingredients and broth on the table.

This makes it ideal for birthdays, dinners with friends, or a relaxed weekend evening.

Ready to organize your own hotpot evening?

With an electric hotpot, you already have the most important base covered.