Peter Aitken wrote:
> > wrote in message
> ...
> >: On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 21:58:59 -0400, "Hal Laurent"
>
> > : wrote:
> >
> > :>
> > :>"Rusty" > wrote in message
> > . ..
> > :>> On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:57:13 -0400, "Hal Laurent"
>
> > :>> wrote:
> > :>>
> > :>>>That said, chili paste is not really an appropriate ingredient
for Hot
> > and
> > :>>>Sour Soup, at least if you're talking about Chinese Hot and
Sour Soup.
> > :>>>
> > :>>
> > :>> Chili peppers and/or oil are used in many Hot and Sour Soup
recipes
> > :>> and also by famous chefs.
> > :>
> > :>I didn't say anything about chili peppers and/or oil, although I
> > wouldn't
> > :>put them in a Chinese Hot and Sour Soup either.
> >
> >
> > : Chili products in Hot and Sour Soup?!! NO SOUP FOR YOU, 1
YEAR!!!!
> >
> >
> > If you don't put chile products in Hot and Sour soup, then you
won't
> > have the "Hot"!!!
> >
> > Chinese Hot and Sour soup MUST HAVE Chile peppers and vinegar in
them,
> > otherwise it won't be Hot nor Sour.
> >
>
> Absolutely not. Authentic Chinese hot and sour soup gets the hot from
black
> pepper. There are no chilis involved.

I don't think so, not unless the Chinese have some kind of secret super
hot black pepper... or you eat some wussy soup. Every one of the
recipes I've used call for hot red pepper flakes, and none even call
for black pepper, not white pepper either. Now if by "authentic" you
mean from before there were any capsicums available in the Orient, then
could be.

Sheldon