Homemade Hotpot for the Win

So yummy in my tummy: homemade hotpot.

Dear friends, I gotta be honest with you, these days wanderlust kicks in quite a lot again. 😪
But I have a great tip for driving it away at least a little bit: And this is with the help of a delicious homemade meal. One of the best dishes for that is authentic hotpot. ❤️‍🔥

My partner’s mum is making the best Vietnamese hotpot eveeerrrrr, and every time we’re eating it, it feels like being thrown right back into the streets of Hà Nội with its delicious restaurants. Seriously, she’s a great cook and her hotpot meals are always beloved and comforting. This sociable dish, also known as lẩu, is a feast for the senses, featuring an array of fresh ingredients cooked in a flavorful broth. Let’s explore the art of making homemade Vietnamese hotpot, from preparing the broth to selecting the tasty ingredients, and discover why this dish is a must for Vietnamese culinary tradition.

Serving Hospitality

Hotpot holds a special place in Vietnamese culture, serving as a symbol of togetherness, hospitality and celebration. Whether enjoyed on special occasions (we have it for example during Tết, Vietnamese new year) or as a casual meal with loved ones, hotpot brings people together around the table to share stories, laughter and, of course, delicious food. Sharing the food, looking out for each others bowles being filled, helping out one another with the ingredients - I really love the sociable character of hotpot.

At Its Heart: The Broth

At the heart of any Vietnamese hotpot is the broth, which serves as the foundation for the entire meal. It’s very complex to make a delicious one: Made with a combination of aromatic herbs, spices and meat bones, the broth simmers for hours to develop its rich, wonderful flavor. Common ingredients used to flavor the broth can be for example lemongrass, ginger, shallots, and star anise, along with chicken, beef, or seafood to add richness. The result is a savory broth which forms a perfect base for cooking the other hotpot ingredients.

Let’s Select the Ingredients

One of the joys of homemade hotpot is the opportunity to customize the meal with preferred ingredients easily portion by portion. From thinly sliced meats and seafood to an assortment of fresh vegetables and noodles - the possibilities are endless when it comes to selecting ingredients for the hotpot feast. Popular choices include beef, chicken, shrimps, squid, fish balls, tofu, mushrooms, pak choy and bean sprouts. For me, I could always stuff my face especially with fish balls and squishy tofu, haha. xD I recommend you to feel free to get creative, experiment with different flavors and textures, and to just try out something new. :)

Be Ready for the Feast

Once the broth is prepared and the ingredients are ready, it's time to gather around the table and start cooking! Each person selects their preferred ingredients and adds them to the simmering broth, cooking them until they are tender and flavorful. As the meal progresses, the broth becomes richer and more flavorful, infused with the essence of the ingredients. The way I experienced it, that’s why you’re not eating the noodles right from the beginning. You at first have a couple of rounds with the ingredients mentioned above. When you feel like slowly getting full, the last rounds of your bowls contain the noodles, as well, which you’re now mixing with the even richer broth. Damn, I’m drooling. :D

Full Tummy, Happy Heart

Homemade Vietnamese hotpot is more than just a meal - it's a culinary experience that celebrates the rich flavors and communal spirit of Vietnamese dishes. Enjoyed with family, friends and loved ones, hotpot brings people together to experience the pleasure of cooking, eating, and spending quality time with one another. It serves not only as a way to fill your tummy, but your heart, too, because you spend valuable hours with your favorite people.
So gather the ingredients, fire up the stove, and get ready for yummy hotpot, that warms your soul.