Authentic Hot and Sour Soup

Directions

1. 1
   Place the shiitake and wood ear mushrooms in a glass bowl and pour boiling water over them. Soak for 20 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the mushroom liquid, discard the rest. Squeeze the liquid from the mushrooms. Slice the shiitakes and chop the wood ear mushrooms.
2. 2
   While the mushrooms are soaking, quickly rinse the dried day lilies and soak them in hot water for 20 minutes. Discard the liquid, squeezing any excess from the lilies, cut the hard tips off the bottoms, slice the lilies lengthwise and chop into 1 inch lengths.
3. 3
   While the mushrooms and day lilies are soaking, place the pork in a small bowl and combine it with the ginger and teaspoon soy sauce. Set aside while you're preparing the other ingredients.
4. 4
   Bring the chicken broth and the reserved cup of mushroom liquid to a boil in a stock pot.
5. 5
   Add the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, chile oil, hot sauce (adding more according to desired level of heat), and pepper.
6. 6
   Add the pork, stirring to prevent the pork from sticking together, the bamboo shoots, and mushrooms. Simmer for 2 minutes.
7. 7
   Add the day lilies and the cornstarch mixture. Return to a boil and simmer for another minute until slightly thickened.
8. 8
   Add the tofu and simmer for another minute.
9. 9
   Pour the egg mixture in a steady stream into the simmering soup, remove from heat, and let sit for 20 seconds to let set in fine strands. Stir gently.
10. 10
    Add the sesame oil and green onions.