Mushroom Hot Pot

Ingredients

• 4 cups mushroom broth (or vegetable broth)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (regular vegetable oil will do, too)
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 big pinch salt
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced lemongrass
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 star anise
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 -2 ounce dried shiitake mushroom (or a mix)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari to make it gluten free)
• 1 roughly chopped tomato
• fresh black pepper
• 1 (15 ounce) can light coconut milk
• juice of half a lime
• Optional add ins
• cooked rice noodles or jasmine rice
• fresh cilantro
• fresh basil (thai basil if you can find it)
• grilled tofu (seasoned simply with sesame oil, black pepper and salt)
• roasted cashews
• cooked aduki beans
• thinly sliced sauteed seitan
• steamed broccoli or cauliflower
• finely sliced bok choy
• extra lime wedge