What is Hotpot? China’s Most Popular Communal Meal
Hotpot (huǒ guō) is one of China’s top meals to share with family and friends. Boiling soup, which cooks vegetables and meat right in front of you, it is reminiscent of a Korean barbecue set-up.
While hotpot has been a mainstay within China for centuries, it has yet to take hold within the United States. As hotpot becomes more prevalent in big cities, we can expect their influence to grow, and more stores will open up soon.
Don’t know what hotpot is? Have you tried it and wondered, “wow, where has this been all my life?” Well, I’m going to break down hotpot’s extensive history, its popular iterations, and everything you need to know about hotpot.
I’m the perfect man for the job, as I’m possibly hotpot’s biggest fan. I eat it nearly once a week at restaurants and home. It’s one of the easiest yet tastiest dinners you can make; all you need is soup, water, and meat!
Hotpot’s 1000-Year History
It’s understood that hotpot originated within China more than 1,000 years ago during the Jin dynasty.
Most scholars understand that it originated from Mongol peoples within China’s land who would gather around a fire outside their tents to warm up in the freezing steppes. The fire, soup, and fresh ingredients of their hunting and gathering made for the perfect mobile dish during the cold nights of winter.
Although not confirmed, many believe the nomads used their helmets as pots to simmer the broth to cook their meat.
However, there is contention to this claim, as there is recordings from Chinese poet Zuo Si (250–305) about Chongqing creating traditional Sichuan hotpot in his work Rhapsody of the Three Capitals (三都赋).
Either way, throughout the years hotpot made its way farther south into China and the rest of Asia. The farther the culinary practice traveled, the more iterations were born.
Different Kinds of Hotpot
Depending on where you are in China, there are several different “types” of hotpot. These types differ in broth and ingredients, boasting an original taste for each region of China.
There are around 30 different types of hotpot known to man, yet I’ve pulled the eight most popular together for a short list to get a better grasp on the variations of the food:
Beijing Hotpot (老北京火锅): Typically considered the “original” hotpot as it is descendent from the Mongol theory, Beijing hotpot doesn’t use any spices or special oil as soup. Inside, their traditional Mongolian-styled pots boast water, spring onion, and ginger. The most prevalent ingredient to cook is mutton.
Sichuan Hotpot / Chongqing 重庆老火锅: Easily the most famous hotpot, it's often hard to tell the difference between the two. Chongqing uses beef tallow pre-fried with peppers, whereas Sichuan uses straight oil with numbing peppercorns and chili. The numbing sensation is the staple of this hotpot. Incredibly spicy, this is my go-to!
Chaoshan Beef Hotpot: With a similar soup base to Beijing hotpot, the difference for Chaoshan hotpot is the meat. They use all parts of the cow which need different cooking times for maximum flavor. Cooking Chaoshan hotpot is a dance with the flame!
Cantonese Hotpot (打边炉): Cantonese hotpot is based on seafood. The soup base is typically made from fish bones, shrimp heads, and fish blatter. Don’t shy away; it’s delicious!
Chinese Saurkraut White Meat Hotpot (酸菜白肉火锅): Hailing from northeast China, their pickled vegetables taste identical to sauerkraut. They pair their kraut with meats like pork, pig offal, pot blood tofu, and tons of vegetables.
Growth in the United States
Hotpot has begun to jump to the United States in the past few years. China supergiant chain Haidilao (which boasts over 1,700 restaurants worldwide) has made its way into multiple large cities across the United States.
Yet, there have been smaller family-owned places within the US for years. Haidilao’s success within the United States has boosted the popularity of hotpot, bringing more eyes and opportunities to non-franchise businesses.
Making Hotpot at Home
One of the best parts about hotpot is that it’s easy to make at home. All you need to do is visit a Chinese supermarket, buy the ingredients you want, and pop it in a pot!
Admittedly hotpot is an expensive meal when at a restaurant. Making it at home on a cold winter’s night is a beautiful way to
- save money
- Have a wonderful dinner with friends!
Overall no matter whether you eat hotpot at home or a restaurant, the communal aspects of the meal are the highlight. Sitting around the table cooking together and sharing food and drinks with your friends, that’s the best!
Did you enjoy this post? Well, you can find more like it at the links below:
My Medium Landing Page, my YouTube, my TikTok, and my Instagram
You may also enjoy these blog posts:
