Steamboat, also known as hotpot, is a beloved dining tradition in Malaysia — perfect for family gatherings, Chinese New Year celebrations, or casual dinners with friends. With a bubbling pot of flavourful broth in the centre and a variety of fresh and frozen ingredients to cook at the table, it’s both a meal and an experience.
If you’re planning your next steamboat night and want to include vegetarian-friendly options, we’ve put together a complete guide to the must-have ingredients, along with Everbest’s plant-based products to make your hotpot healthier and just as delicious.
So, how do you prepare a yummylicious steamboat meal? And what are the must-have ingredients for steamboat in Malaysia?
Read on to find out!
Before getting started, make sure you have everything you need.
Here is a list of what you need for a complete steamboat meal:
Don’t forget to have extra broth hot and ready for replenishing. You will also need lots of plates and bowls for each of the steamboat ingredients.
Now that you have everything you need for a delicious meal, it is time to prepare the steamboat ingredients you and your guests will enjoy.
There are different types of steamboat depending on which ingredients you add. The Malaysian dish will include some variation of the following, depending on what you and your guests like.
Protein is the heart of every satisfying steamboat. For vegetarian hotpot lovers, soy-based and meat-free options bring the same texture and flavour without the meat.
Top Picks from Everbest:
Fresh Soy Sticks – Perfect for absorbing broth flavours.
Veg. Fish Slice – Soft, savoury, and great in clear or spicy soups.
Japanese Tofu Puff – A Malaysian steamboat classic, light and spongey.
Veg. Seaweed Fish – Adds a crispy, umami-rich bite.
Tip: Cook plant-based proteins last to let the broth soak up flavours from the vegetables and sauces.
A healthy addition to your steamboat is tofu. You can add all types of tofu such as vegetarian seafood tofu, tofu skin, silken tofu, and pressed tofu.
No matter which variety of tofu you choose to add, it is always a healthy option for your steamboat. Tofu is high in protein and easily digestible, plus it is great for the whole family, including babies and toddlers.
Malaysia vegetarian food manufacturers provide high-quality tofu for your steamboat.
To make the steamboat soup creamier and thicker, you can add eggs. All you have to do is crack the eggs and pour them in when the broth is boiling.
If you want a vegetarian steamboat, go for egg tofu.
Vegetarian fish balls are a healthy option to add to your steamboat. Vegetarian food manufacturers in Malaysia, such as Everbest provides excellent fish balls that are low in calories and fat.
Vegetables bring colour, texture, and nutrients to your steamboat spread.
Popular choices include:
Tip: Keep vegetables bite-sized so they cook quickly without turning mushy.
Mushrooms are a great addition to the steamboat. They cook fast in the broth and they are both healthy and delicious.
Mushrooms are a steamboat favourite for their earthy flavours and satisfying texture.
Try:
Noodles are another favourite ingredient that is added in every steamboat.
No steamboat is complete without something to fill you up.
Options include:
Besides all the above ingredients, it is common in Malaysia to add soybean products to the steamboat, such as:
These soy-based products can be found with a soya bean supplier in Malaysia, such as Everbest.
The broth is the foundation of flavour.
For vegetarian steamboat, go for:
The right sauce can take your hotpot to the next level. Mix and match:
✅ Plant-based proteins — Everbest Soy Sticks, Veg. Fish Roll, Tofu Puff
✅ Fresh vegetables — bok choy, cabbage, corn
✅ Mushrooms — enoki, shiitake, oyster
✅ Noodles — glass noodles, rice vermicelli
✅ Broth — vegetable, tom yum, herbal
✅ Sauces — soy garlic chilli, sesame paste, satay sauce
Everbest has been crafting high-quality vegetarian products using non-GMO soybeans for years. Our plant-based proteins are versatile, nutritious, and perfect for steamboat — giving you all the taste without the guilt.
Absolutely! With plant-based proteins, vegetables, and vegetarian broths, you can enjoy a fully meat-free hotpot.
Our products are available at major supermarkets, vegetarian specialty shops, and online platforms in Malaysia.
Most are suitable for vegans. Check our packaging for full ingredient information.
As you can see, it is effortless to prepare a steamboat meal, and you can add as many ingredients as you want. The best thing is that it is now easier to find all the ingredients you need, including food products made from soybeans in Malaysia.
Lastly, remember to provide all the cutlery you and your guests will need to enjoy a delicious steamboat dish.
Bon Appetit!
No. of packet/carton: 15
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Unit m3/carton: 0.0135
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Weight/packet: 350g
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