What ingredients do you need for hotpot?

A good hotpot doesn't just start with a tasty soup base. It's the combination of different ingredients that makes every hotpot evening special. From thinly sliced beef and juicy shrimp to crunchy vegetables, tofu, dumplings, and noodles: you can customize your hotpot exactly to your liking.

But if you're making hotpot at home for the first time, it can be tricky to know exactly what you need.

Which ingredients are suitable? How much do you need? What should always be on the table and what's fun to try out?

In this guide, we list the most important hotpot ingredients for you, so you can easily set up your own hotpot table.

What are the basic necessities for hotpot?

A hotpot meal actually consists of four parts:

1. A soup base
2. Ingredients to cook in the broth
3. A dipping sauce
4. A hotpot pot and eating utensils

The soup base forms the flavorful foundation of your meal. Then you choose various ingredients that you cook in the broth during the meal.

The fun part is that you don't have to follow a fixed list. You can make your hotpot as elaborate or as simple as you like.

1. Meat for hotpot

Meat is an important part of hotpot for many people. The most important thing is to slice the meat thinly enough so it cooks quickly in the hot broth.

Beef

Thinly sliced beef is one of the most popular choices for hotpot.

For example, you can use ribeye, sirloin, or another tender cut of beef. The meat is cooked briefly in the broth and remains deliciously tender.

Tip: Preferably buy meat that is already thinly sliced. Asian supermarkets often sell special hotpot or shabu-shabu slices.

Chicken

Chicken is also suitable for hotpot. For example, use thinly sliced chicken breast or thigh.

Since chicken needs to be cooked thoroughly, it takes a bit longer than thinly sliced beef.

Pork

Thinly sliced pork also pairs well with various hotpot broths.

Especially with a mild or slightly spicy soup base, pork is a delicious combination.

2. Fish and seafood

Hotpot is not just for meat lovers.

Shrimp, fish, and other seafood can be excellently prepared in the broth.

Shrimp

Shrimp cook quickly and also add extra flavor to the broth.

Fish

Firm types of fish are most practical for hotpot, as they are less likely to fall apart during cooking.

Squid

Squid can be added in thin rings or pieces. Be careful not to cook it for too long, otherwise it can become tough.

Tip: Seafood pairs particularly well with fresh, mild, or slightly spicy broths.

3. Vegetables

Vegetables are indispensable in a good hotpot.

They provide different textures and also release flavor into the broth.

Good choices include:

• bok choy
• Napa cabbage
• spinach
• corn
• carrot
• broccoli
• lotus root
• baby corn
• bean sprouts

You don't have to use everything, of course.

For example, choose three to five different vegetables with varying textures. This keeps your hotpot interesting.

Lotus root

Lotus root is a classic Asian hotpot ingredient. The round slices are crunchy and remain relatively firm even after cooking.

Bok choy

Bok choy cooks quickly and has a fresh, slightly sweet taste. This makes it an easy choice for almost any hotpot.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms actually deserve a separate category.

Shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, and common mushrooms are all suitable for hotpot. They add a lot of umami to the broth and provide a soft or firm texture.

4. Tofu

Tofu is an excellent choice for hotpot, and not just for vegetarians.

Tofu absorbs the flavor of the broth well, making it a great combination with both mild and spicy soup bases.

You can use regular tofu, but also, for example, fried tofu. The latter absorbs even more broth.

Tip: Cut tofu into larger pieces so it's less likely to fall apart during cooking.

5. Dumplings and other dough products

Dumplings are a fun addition to almost any hotpot.

You can choose meat, chicken, shrimp, or vegetarian dumplings.

Wontons and other filled dough products can also be cooked in the broth.

Note that filled products often take a bit longer to cook through completely.

6. Noodles

For many people, noodles are part of a good hotpot meal's grand finale.

You can use different types, for example:

• udon
• glass noodles
• ramen
• rice noodles
• Chinese wheat noodles

The advantage of noodles is that they absorb the flavor of the broth well.

Tip: Preferably add noodles later in the meal. By then, the broth will have absorbed a lot of flavor from the meat, vegetables, and other ingredients.

7. Dipping sauce and flavorings

A good dipping sauce completes your hotpot.

You can make a simple sauce with, for example:

• soy sauce
• sesame oil
• garlic
• scallions
• chili oil
• sesame paste

Everyone can then create their own sauce.

That's one of the fun parts of hotpot: the same ingredients can taste completely different with a different dipping sauce.

8. Which soup base do you choose?

Besides the ingredients you cook in the pot, you naturally need a good soup base.

Your choice of broth largely determines the ambiance and flavor of your hotpot.

Spicy

A spicy Sichuan or Chongqing broth is suitable for lovers of chili and strong flavors.

Mild

A chicken or vegetable broth is a good choice when you want the flavor of your ingredients to be central.

Tomato

Tomato broth is full-bodied, slightly sweet, and accessible. This base pairs well with meat, tofu, vegetables, and noodles.

Miso

A miso broth has a soft, savory umami flavor and combines well with tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables.

Of course, you can also use two different soup bases simultaneously with a hotpot that has two compartments.

How many ingredients do you need?

You don't need to buy a huge amount of food.

For approximately 2–4 people, you can roughly estimate:

• 300–500 g meat, fish, or a combination
• 300–500 g vegetables
• 150–250 g tofu and/or dumplings
• 100–150 g noodles
• 1 soup base
• dipping sauce to taste

These are guidelines. How much you need naturally depends on how many people are eating and how many other ingredients you offer.

With hotpot, it's fun to serve multiple types of ingredients in smaller quantities.

Putting together the perfect hotpot table

A good hotpot doesn't have to consist of twenty different ingredients.

For a simple hotpot evening, you could choose, for example:

Soup base:
Tomato

Meat:
Thinly sliced beef

Vegetables:
Bok choy, Napa cabbage, and corn

Extra:
Tofu and shiitake

Dumplings:
Shrimp dumplings

Noodles:
Udon

Dipping sauce:
Soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and chili oil

With that, you already have a varied meal with different flavors and textures.

Most importantly: choose what you like

There is no fixed list of ingredients for hotpot.

That is precisely one of the great advantages of this way of eating. Everyone at the table can choose their own favorite ingredients and prepare them exactly how they like them.

So feel free to use this list as inspiration.

Craving beef? Add beef. Prefer vegetarian? Choose tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables. Are you crazy about seafood? Then make that the centerpiece of your hotpot.

Hotpot is all about freedom.