Chinese hot and sour soup is a light meal or accompaniment that can be enjoyed at any time of day. This recipe combines mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, soy sauce, hot sauce, vinegar, garlic, green onions, and chili oil, resulting in an authentic dish that vegans and vegetarians (or anyone else for that matter) can enjoy. It's warm, nourishing, and oh-so-delicious. Make a batch the next time you're in need of warming up with something hot on a cold day. It's especially welcome if you've got a head cold as it can really help open your sinuses. If you order hot and sour soup at a restaurant, it will often be made with meat stock and may contain shredded or minced pork or chicken. Vegan vegetable broth or stock is a great substitution and the soup has plenty of flavor without meat. If you want to boost the protein or simply make the soup more hearty, add in some fried tofu or seitan.