Spicy Tomato Hotpot in a Jar

When I want hotpot but I don't want to set up the whole thing, the pot, the electric burner, all the ingredients laid out, this is what I make instead. Glass noodles, napa cabbage, bean sprouts, enoki mushrooms, tomato chunks, Spam, and little hotpot base. 6–8 minutes. Done.

Ingredients (1 serving)

•     50g glass noodles 粉丝, soaked in cold water 10–15 minutes until soft, drained

•     1 cup napa cabbage, roughly chopped

•     ½ cup bean sprouts

•     ½ cup enoki mushrooms

•     1 medium tomato, cut into chunks

•     4–5 slices Spam (or any luncheon meat, canned, pre-sliced)

•     2  small cubes hotpot base 火锅底料( store-bought ),  small tubs or individual packs

Instructions

1.  Soak glass noodles in cold water for 10–15 minutes until soft and pliable. Drain well.

2.  Layer in jar in this exact order: glass noodles → napa cabbage → bean sprouts → enoki mushrooms → tomato chunks → Spam slices on top.

3.  2 small cube hotpot base(you can cut the size fits in your jar on top of the Spam.  Then add hot water 2/3 of the jar. 

4.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Poke 3–4 holes to vent. 

5.  Microwave on high for 6–8 minutes.

6.  The tomatoes will have melted into the vegetables creating a rich broth. Let sit 1 minute. Eat directly from the jar.

Chinese Mom Tips

•     The jar looks very full before cooking, this is normal and correct. Napa cabbage, bean sprouts, and enoki mushrooms compress to about half their raw volume when heated. Do not try to adjust the amounts. Follow the recipe exactly.

•     Hotpot base (火锅底料) is at any Chinese grocery store, small individual packs or a tub. I like the mild tomato-based version for this recipe. Want it spicy? Use the Sichuan version. Both work perfectly.

•     Spam is a classic Chinese mom shortcut and it belongs here. Already seasoned, already cooked, just needs to warm through. The slight sweetness balances the tomato acidity. Do not substitute fresh pork or raw meat, it will not cook properly in this recipe.

Safety

  Poke 4–5 vent holes in the plastic wrap before microwaving. Use a kitchen towel to handle the hot jar. Wait 1 full minute before opening, tilt the lid away from your face. Never use a thin repurposed jar. See full safety guide in the hub post. 

Cook time: 6–8 minutes

 Freezer friendly: Not recommended

Part of my Raw to HOT in a Jar series, see all 7 recipes here: [LINK TO HUB POST]