Step 1

Pour the chicken broth/water into a large pot. Bring to a boil and add the pork neck bones. Add red dates, ginger,white parts of green onion, and seasonings. Bring back to a boil and then lower the heat to let them simmer and partially covered over medium-low heat for 2 hours. Have a taste and adjust to your liking. Strain the stock and discard the solids

Step 2

Pour the chicken broth/water into the inner pot of Instant pot. Add pork neck bones, red dates, ginger,white parts of green onion, and seasonings. Close the lid and turn the pressure release valve to sealing. Press pressure cooker and make sure it's on high pressure. Set the timer to 45 minutes and then do natural release. Have a taste and adjust to your liking. Strain the stock and discard the solids

Step 3

You need to use tofu that is packed in a tray with water in it. This method won’t work with tofu packed in carton material. Extra-firm tofu works best as it gives you the best spongey texture

Step 4

Place the whole block of tofu in the freezer and let it freezes for 24 hours or longerThis gives the best result versus cutting them into cubes and then freeze th

Step 5

Simply thaw them overnight in the fridge. Drain off the water and the defrosted tofu is ready to be used

Step 6

Transfer the soup base to the hot pot. Put the portable stove and hot pot on top of the stove. Put this in the middle of the table where everyone can easily get to it

Step 7

Arrange ingredients in a similar category in one plateFor example meat with meat and seafood with seafood. Don’t mix raw food with vegetables

Step 8

Arrange the plates of steamboat ingredients around the stove. Only put out enough food for everyone. Keep the rest in the fridge and replenish as neededPrepare sets of utensils like chopsticks to pick up raw food and sets of utensils for guests to use for eating. So you don’t want to mix to prevent cross-contamination

Step 9

When the soup base comes to a simmer, maintain the heat level. everyone can start putting ingredients they want to eat into the soup base. Remember, the ingredients do not take long to cook so you want to remember what you put in

Step 10

In case something get lost in the soup, use a separate clean ladle to fish them out, don't use your personal chopstick or spoon that you use to get things out