Enjoy this hot and sour beef soup made with beef mince, green beans, peas, and fresh lemon. This easy hot and sour soup recipe is perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight meal, packed with flavour and ready in 20 minutes.

Ingredients for Hot and Sour Beef Soup

200 g beef mince

150 g green beans, trimmed and sliced thinly

2–3 tbsp frozen peas

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1 small leek, white/light green parts only, julienned

1 small carrot, julienned

1–2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small piece ginger (about 2 cm), grated

500 ml chicken stock

1½ tbsp soy sauce

Juice of ½ fresh lemon

½ tsp sesame oil

¼–½ tsp white pepper

½ tsp honey (optional)

1 tbsp cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp water (optional, for thicker soup)

Spring onion, finely sliced, for garnish

Fresh coriander, if available

Red chilli flakes or fresh chilli slices (optional)

How to Make Hot and Sour Beef Soup

1. Brown the Beef for Beef Mince Soup

Heat a small splash of oil in a saucepan. Add the beef mince and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.

2. Sauté Aromatics for Easy Hot and Sour Soup

In the same pan, add onion, garlic, ginger, and leek. Cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Add carrot briefly.

3. Add Stock and Seasonings

Pour in the stock, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and optional honey. Bring to a gentle boil.

4. Add Vegetables and Beef Mince

Add green beans, frozen peas, and browned beef. Simmer 5–6 minutes until beans are tender but still slightly crisp.

5. Add Lemon and Thicken (Optional)

Stir in lemon juice at the end. For a thicker broth, slowly add cornflour slurry and simmer 1–2 minutes.

6. Taste and Adjust

Adjust soy sauce, lemon, honey, or pepper to achieve a perfect hot and sour balance.

7. Serve Your Hot and Sour Beef Soup

Ladle into bowls and garnish with spring onion, coriander, or chilli slices. Serve immediately.

💡 Tips for Easy Hot and Sour Soup

Add lemon juice gradually to control tanginess.

Frozen peas cook quickly—add them just a few minutes before serving.

Adjust chilli to your preferred heat.

Honey balances the acidity of the lemon and soy sauce naturally.

This recipe is part of my Soup Recipes collection. It joins 25 other soups — from chilled gazpacho to hearty broths and Asian-inspired bowls — in my complete Soup Recipes hub.

Wonky photos, proper soup, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef