In my cozy German apartment, I’ve found a fresh way to put my Instant Pot to good use: hot pot!

There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of Chinese hot pot to warm you up on a chilly winter day.

Can the Instant Pot be used for hot pot?

Definitely! Though it’s a bit deeper than your typical hot pot, the Instant Pot works wonders for simmering up that savory broth.

As someone who likes to keep my kitchen efficient, the Instant Pot is my top choice. It’s quick, effective, and exactly what I need when I crave hot pot.

A handy trick is utilizing the “Sauté” mode on the Instant Pot.

What is Hot Pot?

Hot pot is a beloved culinary tradition throughout East and Southeast Asia. It’s a communal meal where a bubbling pot of broth sits atop a heat source, inviting everyone to dip and dine together.

Around the pot, there are various food items that each diner can cook in the broth. After cooking, the food is typically dipped in sauces to enhance the flavors.

Hot Pot has different names in different countries.

In China, it is known as “Huo Guo” (火锅) or “Fire Pot”.
In Korea, it is called “Jeongol” (전골).
In Japan, it is referred to as “Nabe” (鍋) (it’s worth noting that Shabu Shabu is a specific type of hot pot and not a general term for hot pot).
In my home country, Vietnam, we call it “Lẩu”.

To me, hot pot is more than just a meal—it embodies the communal spirit ingrained in Asian cultures, much like the rice paper platter of Vietnamese spring rolls.

It’s a gathering where everyone contributes to cooking their own food, fostering connection and camaraderie as we share the joy of dining together. It’s a delightful tradition that brings people closer while savoring a delectable feast.

Equipments

An Instant Pot (or any specialized Electric Pot designed for Hot Pot): This will serve as the main cooking vessel for your hot pot.
Chopsticks: Essential utensils for picking up food items in the hot pot (I’ve experienced eating hot pot without chopsticks and it’s a nightmare lol).
- I recommend to use wooden chopsticks as they are heat-resistant, unlike plastic chopsticks, and they do not conduct heat like metal chopsticks.
Bowls: You will need bowls and plates to hold the cooked food items and dipping sauces.
Ladles: If you plan to have noodles in your hot pot, having ladles will come in handy for scooping the broth and serving it alongside the noodles.

Hot Pot Broth

This recipe features Chinese-style hot pot since their soup bases are easy to find at any Asian market. My dear friend Annie from Beijing taught me how to prepare Chinese hot pot at home.

In Vietnam, people rarely use instant soup bases. When making hot pot, the older generation, like my mom, prepares bone broth in advance and combines it with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, pineapple, and lemongrass to create the soup base.

However, as a student abroad, whenever I leave Vietnam for Germany, I always try to bring as much Vietnamese hot pot soup base and seasonings as I can since they’re hard to find here.

If you travel to Vietnam and love dishes like Phở, Bún Chả Hà Nội, Bún Bò Huế, or Hot Pot, I highly recommend these seasoning packages as worthwhile souvenirs from Vietnam.

Ingredients

Broth

My favorite Chinese hot pot soup base brand is Haidilao.

For a spicy broth, choose Sichuan spicy hot pot and tom yum broth. If you prefer a milder flavor, go for tomato broth, mushroom broth, or sea food broth.

Food items

When preparing a Chinese hot pot, you can select ingredients from three categories (choose at least 3 from the protein and vegetable categories and 1 from the noodles and dumplings category):

Protein (choose based on your dietary preferences):

Meat: thinly sliced beef, lamb, and pork specifically for hot pot.
Seafood: sliced fish fillets, shrimp, cuttlefish, beef balls, pork balls, fish balls, fish tofu, fish cake
Tofu and soy products: tofu puffs, frozen tofu, dried bean curd rolls, fresh or dried tofu skin (Yuba).

Vegetables:

Leafy greens: napa cabbage, bok choy, baby bok choy…
Asian Mushrooms: oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, shimeji mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, wood ears, button mushrooms.
High-carb vegetables: sweet corn, lotus root, potatoes, sweet potatoes.

Noodles and Dumplings:

Noodles: sweet potato glass noodles, wheat noodles, egg noodles, rice noodles.
Dumplings: homemade or store-bought dumplings or wontons.

Dipping Sauce

Here are some recommended ingredients to create hot pot dipping sauces:

Flavor: soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar
Richness: Chinese sesame paste, peanut butter
Aroma: Chinese chili oil, sesame oil
Herbs: minced garlic, chopped scallions, chopped cilantro

My simplified version of dipping sauce with what I have in the kitchen:

2 tbsp Japanese sesame sauce (Goma Dare)
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ tbsp Chinese black vinegar
1tsp Lao Gan Ma chili oil

Helpful Tips

Add food items when the broth starts boiling: Wait for the broth to reach a boil before adding your food items. This ensures that they cook properly and maintain their desired texture.
Avoid overcrowding the pot: Do not put too much food into the pot at once, as it can drastically reduce the broth’s temperature. Add ingredients in small batches to keep optimal cooking temperature.
Cook ingredients for the appropriate time: Different ingredients require different cooking times.
- Delicate items (meat, fish, seafood…): should only be cooked for a short period to avoid becoming tough or chewy.
- Starchy ingredients (sweet corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potato glass noodles…): take take longer to cook fully.
Maintain hygiene with your chopsticks: To ensure hygiene, briefly dip the tips of your chopsticks into the boiling broth for a few seconds after handling raw food. This helps kill any bacteria and keep your hot pot experience safe.
Lazy single hot pot: Sometimes, when I feel like enjoying hot pot alone and don’t want to go through the hassle of setting up a full hot pot table, I create a hot pot-inspired noodle soup. All I need is the hot pot base and a few ingredients from my fridge.

More Asian recipes with Instant Pot

a bowl of Pho Ga (Chicken Pho) — **Instant Pot Chicken Pho**
(Hanoi-style)

Bowl of Hu Tieu Bo Kho: A delicious Vietnamese beef stew served with Hu Tieu noodles, carrots, and onions. — **Instant Pot Bò Kho**
(Vietnamese Beef Stew)

Delicious and aromatic Instant Pot Hainanese Chicken Rice, served with juicy chicken, fluffy rice, and delectable sauces. — **Instant Pot Hainanese Chicken Rice**

Steaming hot cooked sticky rice served on a plate. — **Instant Pot Sticky Rice**

Thanks a bunch for giving my recipe a shot! If you enjoyed it, I’d truly appreciate a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating or a comment to let me know your thoughts.

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