Galentine's Day Hot Pot

Hot pot is one of my favorite dinner party types for big groups: very little prep, communal cooking, unique from other weekday meals. I love celebrating galentine's day, and this dinner party is easy even for a week night.

It can be fun to do an activity before dinner -- my favorite has been card-making for your galentine(s): roomies, co-workers, sisters, friends. We just set up scrap paper, markers, sissors, glue and were AMAZED at our friends' creativity.

Set-up:

1. (2) instant pots / pressure cookers: I typically do two hot pots - 1 is gluten free, vegan, and the other is anything-goes. I only own one, so early in the week, I send out an ask for someone to bring a second pressure cooker.

2. table setting: I find hot pot for a big group is easiest enjoyed on the ground, so I'll just throw a few table clothes on the ground. Each person will need a bowl, chopsticks, spoon, napkin.

3. serving platters: you'll set up (chop, prep, etc.) ingredients for the hot pot on several dishes. I typically serve like ingredients together: greens, mushrooms, meats, noodles, tofus, other veggies.

4. ladle, slotted spoon, spaghetti spoon: I like to keep a variety of tools on-hand for serving soup + goodies from the hot pot.

5. grocery shop: some of these ingredients may not be available at your normal grocery store, so make a plan to go to a Korean / Asian specialty shop. In the SF, H-Mart is a great option.

6. apps: depending on how much time you have to prep, you can put together some small bites as people arrive and are crafting.

7. dipping sauces: to enhance the flavor, guests can add sauces to their bowl before serving broth. I typically do two sauces, but there are many variations here:

   1. sesame paste (creamy): recipe

   2. spicy garlic sauce (hot): recipe ideas

App Ideas:

At Korean hot pot restaurants, they will often assorted pickled veggies and sides with the soup. Other app ideas: edamame (frozen, thawed, salted), crispy rice cakes, kale chips, cucumber kimchi.

Dessert:

• Vegan chocolate cheesecake with coconut whipped cream (Minimalist Baker)

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Ingredients:

• hot pot soup base (one per pot) - make sure to check spice level. I'd recommend mild and let guests adjust to their liking with add-ons.

Pick a few from each category that sound exciting:

• greens: napa cabbage (shredded), chinese broccolli, bok choy

• noodles: fresh noodles, rice noodles (gluten free option)

• meat/fish: fish balls

• tofu: tofu skins, fried tofu

• mushrooms:

• other: kombu (seaweed), lotus root, japanese sweet potatoes (cut into 1/4" circles, then halved to half-moons)

Hot Pot Instructions & Tips:

1. Fill pot(s) to 3/4 full with regular tap water.

2. Transfer to floor, plug into outlet.

3. Mix in 1 packet of hot pot mix per pot.

4. Turn on "saute" mode.

5. Once water is boiling, begin putting in ingredients!

6. Once ingredients are fully cooked, ladle servings into bowls.

7. Continue adding ingredients in phases until everyone is full.

Tips:

• Add noodles last, when people are finishing up, as they'll get overcooked if they stay in the whole time

• Go wayyy light on the kombu / seaweed, it expands a shocking amount