Xian Dou Jiang Savoury Soy Milk

Ingredients

• 600ml fresh unsweetened soy milk
• 2 tsp Chinese black vinegar
• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp dried baby shrimp
• 3 tbsp preserved mustard stem (zha cai), finely chopped
• 1 youtiao (Chinese fried cruller)
• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp chilli oil
• 1/4 tsp ground white pepper

Before you cook

• Soak the dried shrimp in a little warm water for ten minutes, then drain them.
• Finely chop the preserved mustard stem and rinse it briefly.
• Slice the spring onions.
• Divide the black vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, white pepper, drained shrimp and chopped mustard stem between two deep bowls.

Steps

1. Toast the youtiao in a dry pan over medium heat for two minutes a side until it crackles.
2. Tear or cut the toasted cruller into bite-sized pieces.
3. Pour the soy milk into a saucepan and set it over medium heat.
4. Heat the soy milk until it steams and just begins to tremble at the edges, but do not let it boil.
5. Take the pan off the heat straight away.
6. Pour the hot soy milk into each bowl from about 20cm above, in one steady stream.
7. Leave the bowls completely undisturbed for one minute so the milk sets into soft flakes.
8. Scatter the torn youtiao and sliced spring onion over the top.
9. Add a spoon of chilli oil to each bowl and eat immediately with a spoon.