This spicy mala beef hotpot brings all the fun of hotpot into a simple, single-serving meal. It combines a rich, spicy broth with tender beef, juicy shrimp, mushrooms, cabbage, and chewy vermicelli noodles. Best of all, you can make the whole thing in one pot without preparing a large spread of ingredients.
The broth creates the heart of this recipe. Start by sautéing onions until they soften and become fragrant. Then add cumin, dashi, oyster sauce, mala sauce, and mirin. The cumin adds warmth, while mala sauce brings the signature spicy and numbing flavor. Dashi and oyster sauce build a deep layer of umami, and mirin adds a touch of sweetness to balance the heat.
Next, add three cups of bone broth. The broth creates a rich base while keeping the hotpot light enough for a single serving. Add cabbage, shrimp, wood ear fungus, and shiitake mushrooms. Each ingredient brings a different texture, so every bite feels a little different.
The noodles cook directly in the broth and soak up all those spicy, savory flavors. After about two minutes, add the thinly sliced beef and frozen dumplings. The hot broth cooks the beef quickly while the dumplings simmer until tender.
Once everything comes to a boil and the dumplings cook through, finish the hotpot with a drizzle of chili oil. The extra oil adds another layer of heat and gives the broth a glossy, aromatic finish.
This spicy mala hotpot for one makes an excellent weeknight dinner when you want something comforting without cooking for a crowd. You can also change the ingredients based on what you have in your refrigerator or freezer. Add tofu, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, fish balls, or your favorite dumplings to make the hotpot your own.
Unlike a traditional hotpot meal, this recipe does not require a table full of ingredients or a portable burner. Everything cooks together in one pot, so you can enjoy the flavors of hotpot with much less preparation and cleanup.
Nutrition & Key Ingredients
This spicy mala hotpot for one packs protein, vegetables, and plenty of flavor into one satisfying bowl.
Bone broth: Creates a rich, savory base while adding protein and collagen.
Thinly sliced beef: Adds high-quality protein and cooks quickly in the simmering broth.
Shrimp: Provides lean protein and a naturally sweet flavor that works well with spicy broth.
Dumplings: Make the hotpot more filling and add a comforting, chewy texture.
Cabbage: Adds fiber and a subtle sweetness that balances the spicy broth.
Shiitake mushrooms: Bring earthy flavor and natural umami.
Wood ear fungus: Adds a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the soft noodles.
Vermicelli: Soaks up the mala broth and makes the hotpot hearty without feeling too heavy.
Mala sauce and chili oil: Create the spicy, aromatic, and numbing flavor that makes this hotpot so addictive.
Dashi and oyster sauce: Add layers of savory umami to the broth.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
Make this spicy mala hotpot for one when you want a cozy meal without the work of traditional hotpot. You get tender meat, seafood, dumplings, mushrooms, vegetables, and noodles in one flavorful bowl.
It also makes a great clean-out-the-fridge meal. Swap the vegetables, change the protein, or add your favorite hotpot ingredients. The bold mala broth ties everything together.
Heat a pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened and fragrant. Add cumin, dashi, oyster sauce, mala sauce, and mirin, then stir until fragrant.
Pour in the bone broth and bring to a boil. Add the cabbage, shrimp, wood ear fungus, and shiitake mushrooms.
Add the vermicelli noodles and cook for about 2 min until they begin to soften. Add the thinly sliced beef and frozen dumplings.
Bring the broth back to a boil and cook until the beef is cooked through and the dumplings are fully cooked. Drizzle chili oil over the hotpot. Serve hot.
