Tips for Organising a Hot Pot Party
The aromatic whiff of bubbling broth, the camaraderie and the satisfaction when you prepare your delicious meal. What's not to love about hot pot? This East Asian communal dining tradition is more than an easy sit-down dinner, it is an experience; a party, if you will.
Sometimes the long lines outside Hai Di Lao may leave you stunned, and after the meal, you may be surprised by the bill amount. Fret not, as you can make your hot pot party at home and it'll be just as good.If it’s your first time hosting a hot pot party and you’re clueless to how and where to start, we have prepared some helpful tips and tricks on the essentials for organising a hot pot party.
Utensils Needed for the Hot Pot Party
- Pot and Burner
First things first—the pot and burner. You can’t have hot pot without the pot, or the hot (source of heat). A 12-inch wide and 6-inch deep pot can cater up to six people, so it depends on your number of guests. Some pots come with a built-in divider, giving you the option to serve two different kinds of broths.
As for the burner, you can get a portable gas stove that allows for heat control, and even have your hot pot party outdoors. Or, you can also get an electric or induction burner that doesn’t require the replacement of gas canisters.
Tip: Keep in mind the number of guests attending, as too many people sharing a pot may lead to a whole mess of spills and crossed dipping chopsticks. If it’s a large group, get a second pot for the other end of the table.
- Kitchenware and Cutlery
Next, you’re going to need ladles, tongs and slotted spoons, which in other words are ladles with holes. These utensils will make fishing your cooked ingredients out of the pot easier. You may also use chopsticks to do this, but it will be easier and faster to use strainer spoon ladles.
If you’re inviting a large group of people, make sure that you have enough cutleries, plates and cups. You can also buy napkins, trash bags and reusable containers (for any leftovers) from shops that deliver to your doorstep like Slowood and parknshop on pandamart.
What to prepare:
- The Broth
So many broths to choose from, yet so few pots to fill. Since Asians love feeling the thrill of spicy foods, the usual go-to flavour is the Sichuan-style Mala soup. Other flavours for hot pot include tomato, miso, chicken soup and more. You can choose to make the broths from scratch or get pre-packaged soup bases from stores. The popular brand, Hai Di Lao has even started selling their soup bases!
Tip: Prepare a large batch of broth beforehand so that you can easily refill the pot. To ensure easy dipping and cooking, make sure the pot is always 2/3 full.
- Ingredients
The ingredients are the heart of any hot pot party. There’s a wide variety of ingredients to choose from, all of which can easily be picked up at stores. Some popular foods for any hot pot include pork belly slices, sliced beef and chicken, seafood, mushrooms, fried bean curd, vegetables, cheese tofu, fish balls, dumplings and more.
Pretty much anything from vegetables and frozen foods aisle at the grocery store will taste fantastic in a hot pot. What’s even better is that you can order fruits and vegetable delivery from pandamart! Now you can have more time to clean up and make sure everything is ready for when your guests arrive. You can also add in some carbs to fill the bellies of your guests more quickly, like rice noodles, glass noodles, or ramen noodles. Some even prefer to enjoy hot pot with a bowl of rice.
Tip: For extra flavour, you can marinate your sliced meat before serving. To flavour the broth, throw in some pumpkin and potatoes while it’s simmering, and cook the meats first.
- Dipping Sauces
No hot pot is complete without the extra kick that dipping sauces bless us with. Some of the main dipping sauces include chilli oil, sesame oil, sesame sauce and ponzu sauce. You can also mix everything in a ramekin and form your sauce, like how you'd typically do in restaurants.
Tip: Chop up some bird’s eye chilli, green onions and cilantro beforehand. Top your sauce with the herbs for more fragrance.
- Drinks
Last but not least, the drinks. Gathering around a boiling pot and consuming piping hot foods is sure to make you perspire. Not to mention the Mala soup burning on your tongue. It’s essential to prepare a nice selection of cold drinks that will help reduce the spiciness level and keep everyone hydrated.
You can pair the hot pot with some alcohol, like beer or even soft drinks. It’s a party, after all. If you’re not a drinker, you can also go with green tea to cleanse your palate.
If you don’t have time to go grocery shopping for ingredients, grocery delivery is a convenient alternative. Next time you're planning to have people over for a hassle-free night in, consider having hot pot since everyone practically does the cooking themselves!