Got a few minutes spare, and you want to enjoy a delightful egg drop soup authentic recipe? You are in the right place! This dish is so easy to make, and delicious every single time you make it.
The simplicity really adds to the overall appeal, so you can rest easy knowing that anyone can make this dish.
If you have ever had egg drop soup before, it was probably at a Chinese restaurant, right? You are likely already familiar with enjoying warm bowls of bright yellow soups, topped with scallions or something else.
The thing is, this dish is so easy to make, you can do it at home. The best part is you probably already have everything you need to make it.
So, all you need to do is gather the ingredients, and get making it! It only takes a few minutes, so you have nothing to lose.
Egg drop soup only requires a handful of ingredients like stock, cornstarch, white pepper, salt, sesame oil, scallions, and the all-important eggs.
You need to simmer your stock and add your cornstarch mixture to thicken it, then slowly pour in the egg and cook it as it simmers, swirling it through the thickened stock until it is cooked, then serve!
Red House Spice’ Egg Drop Soup Authentic Recipe
We will go through everything you need to know about this delightful recipe in the sections below.
From what this dish actually is and how to make it to some useful tips and tricks that you might want to keep in consideration when making it.
What Exactly is Egg Drop Soup?
“Egg drop” soup is the English name given to a classic Chinese dish 蛋花汤 (Dàn Huā Tāng). This literally translates to “egg flower” soup, which sounds even more delicious!
The name comes from the fact that the main component of the dish involved dropping beaten eggs into a delicious broth to create ribbons or flowers.
This result is achieved by the chef slowly pouring the egg into the broth. This soup is surprisingly quick and requires minimal effort, especially when compared to other popular Chinese dishes like Hot and Sour or Wonton soup.
The ingredients you need are probably already sitting in your kitchen, too, so there is no downside to this recipe at all!
Many Chinese people consider this dish to have healing properties, much like their traditional Chinese rice porridge (congee).
It’s the perfect dish to turn to when you want something that won’t overpower you and is pleasantly light, and it can even be adapted to be vegetarian-friendly!
What Ingredients Will You Need?
Stock or broth – this is one of the most important ingredients of the dish! Chicken broth is ideal, but beef will also work, or you can use vegetable broth to make it more vegetarian-friendly. Make your own bone broth, or purchase some from the store. You could also simply use stock if you want to make your life easier and dissolve stock cubes to use.
Cornstarch – this is crucial as it will help to thicken the soup to be the perfect texture. Without it, the soup will be too watery and unpleasant. A slightly thickened soup will also make the egg ribbons float instead of sinking right to the bottom.
White Pepper – add white pepper according to your taste, but be careful not to overpower the dish
Salt – add salt according to your taste, but be careful not to overpower the dish
Sesame Oil – be careful not to use too much sesame oil, or you can overpower the dish very easily
Scallions – this will act as a garnish, and you can also use some other garnishes if you would like to!
Eggs – this is the star of the show! You will need to thoroughly beat your eggs until the whites and yolks are properly combined before slowly pouring them into the pot to cook.
Step-By-Step Instructions For Making Authentic Egg Drop Soup
Although egg drop soup is incredibly easy to make, you do need to pay special attention to the process if you want things to come out perfectly.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make the perfect egg drop soup:
In a small pot or saucepan, add your broth and heat it up. Bring it to a boil before reducing the heat and allowing it to simmer. You do not want it to be boiling violently!
Next, you will need to season your broth however you prefer! If you want to stick to the recipe, simply add in some salt, pepper, and sesame oil and stir it all together. It’s a good idea to take your broth to make sure you don’t add too much salt to it!
Add your cornstarch mixture to thicken your broth slightly. To do this, all you need to do is mix some cornstarch and water (or more broth) together in a small bowl and stir it until it is combined and liquid. Then, add the mixture to the broth and quickly stir it together. You will want to do this quickly so that you don’t end up with small blobs at the bottom of the soup! The soup shouldn’t be thick, it should just not be watery.
Prepare your egg by beating it in a bowl until it is thoroughly combined.
Once beaten, slowly start to pour the egg into the broth. This is the most difficult part of the recipe, so take extra care when doing it to get it right! We will go through some tips and tricks for doing this in one of the sections below.
Once the egg is cooked and in ribbons, you can serve it! This process doesn’t take long at all (almost immediate), so get your favorite bowl out and dish up
Sprinkle over some finely chopped scallions or some other garnishes you like, and enjoy.
Variations Of Egg Drop Soup
There are lots of different variations to try out besides the classic egg drop soup we have talked about here.
You could try adding some of your favorite ingredients to the broth to try something a little different.
Some popular egg drop soup variations include adding the following ingredients:
Dried seaweed
Soft tofu
Spinach
Peas
Corn
Mushrooms
Shredded chicken
Options like Tomato Egg Drop Soup have a delightfully tangy flavor to it mixed with umami, so that could be a great option, too!
Basically, if you love something, and you think it could work, try it out. What’s the worst that could happen?
Tips And Tricks
To help you through the cooking process, we have put together a few useful tips and tricks that you might want to take into consideration.
Again, this dish is super simple, but you could still fall short in a few areas, so let’s cover some of the basics.
The Egg Pouring Method
To get the egg ribbons just right, it’s best to use a jug that has a pouring spot. This will keep the stream thin and controlled, giving you better results.
All you need to do is (carefully) drizzle the egg into the gently simmering broth and swirl the soup with your spoon.
Be careful not to do this too quickly or violently, or else the egg will turn more into a paste and not create the classic ribbons you are looking for.
Simply keep doing this gently and slowly until you run out of eggs to pour, and you are done! The eggs should essentially cook immediately, so you do not need to wait around for the soup to be ready.
If you would like larger “egg flowers” in your soup, do the same as above, but do not swirl the soup as you pour. This will allow the egg to form larger pieces as it cooks.
Add Some Turmeric To Get A Bright Color
If you would like to create the classic egg drop soup color you might be familiar with from restaurants, the trick is to add some turmeric! Just a pinch goes a long way, so use it sparingly.
Be careful when using turmeric, though. It will stain your clothing in an instant, and you bet it – that stain will stay there. Work with it gently and don’t stir or scoop too violently with your spoon to splash it anywhere.
It will also stain countertops, chopping boards, cutlery, and just about anything else (skin stains are not permanent, so don’t worry about that!).
You Can Make Your Own Broth
Did you know that you can easily make your own broth with just a handful of ingredients? You can simmer bones for an extended period of time to make your own bone broth and get fantastic results.
It could come in really useful, and you will be surprised to find out just how easy it is! Homemade stuff always tastes better, and the process is very hands-off, so anyone can do it.
Care Careful With The Cornstarch
Another place where you might go wrong is with cornstarch. The point of cornstarch is to only slightly thicken your soup, not make it slimy and gooey.
As such, you need to be careful with how much cornstarch you add. It’s easy to go overboard, so if you are uncertain, it is better to add a little at a time.
Just remember that you need to create a mixture of cornstarch and water to pour in.
If you have never worked with cornstarch, you’re in for a treat. It can act like a solid if you suddenly move it, and it turns into a liquid when it is still.
You need to make sure you have enough water with it, and thoroughly mix it (and continue to mix it) up until you pour it – then stir the broth.
Don’t Be Afraid To Add More Ingredients
As we mentioned before, there can be lots of delicious variations of egg drop soup. You can add lots of different things to make your egg drop soup exactly how you like it.
Some of the best additions include things like sweetcorn, peas, and even shredded chicken.
Feel free to sprinkle some red pepper flakes on the top as a garnish, too. Anyone who likes a little kick will be a fan!
What Can You Serve Egg Drop Soup With?
The best part of this dish is that you can enjoy it with a variety of different sides and dishes.
Since you can have this at any point in the day, you can pair it with things like the following classic options:
Scallion pancakes
Singapore rice noodles
You Tiao
Sheng Jian Bao
Mentou
Clay pot rice
Pork fried rice
Chicken chow mein
Steamed rice
The point is, you can pair this with absolutely anything and it will work. Try out different options and see which combinations you like the most!
How To Store Egg Drop Soup
The great news is, egg drop soup is great for storing, and can stay in the refrigerator for up to two days. Sure, this is not a lot of time to enjoy leftovers, but it shouldn’t be difficult to finish it!
Simply allow it to reach room temperature, then store it in an airtight container and put it in the fridge.
Freezing is not recommended for this dish because the egg’s texture typically changes and becomes less pleasant.
You will find that the egg develops a rubber texture, so if you want to avoid that, it would be better to freeze the seasoned broth without the egg.
Then, when you want to reheat it, you can cook the egg as the broth simmers.
Reheating Egg Drop Soup
Reheating your leftover egg drop is very simple – all you need to do is reheat it on the stove!
Allow it to gently simmer away for a few minutes, then enjoy. It should only take a couple of minutes, so you can enjoy your leftovers in no time at all.
Final Thoughts
This easy and delicious egg drop soup is always a winner, and so easy to make. While you might run into some struggles with pouring the eggs into the broth, with some practice you will be a pro in no time.
Nothing about this recipe is difficult, anyone can make it. You also only need a few minutes to put everything together, and the results will never disappoint.
Remember to add some of your favorite ingredients like sweetcorn, peas, or shredded chicken if you want to add some extra body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Flour To Thicken Egg Drop Soup?
Technically you could, but it would change the appearance of the soup and make it cloudy.
This makes it less appetizing and strays from the authentic feel. As such, flour is not a thickening agent we would recommend using for this recipe.
Can You Use Cornstarch To Thicken Egg Drop Soup?
Cornstarch is perfect for thickening your egg drop soup and is actually the recommended method.
While there are other options such as arrowroot powder, potato starch, and tapioca starch, stick to cornstarch if you can!
Is Soy Sauce Used In Egg Drop Soup?
You could add soy sauce if you really wanted to, but the addition is not necessary. Egg drop soup tastes fantastic as-is, and you don’t mess with perfection!
Why Isn’t My Soup The Same Color As The Ones From Chinese Restaurants?
Lots of restaurants will either add in some turmeric (which has lots of health benefits) or even food coloring. You can easily do the same if you like.
In a small pot or saucepan, add your broth and heat it up. Bring it to a boil before reducing the heat and allowing it to simmer. You do not want it to be boiling violently!
Next, you will need to season your broth however you prefer! If you want to stick to the recipe, simply add in some salt, pepper, and sesame oil and stir it all together. It’s a good idea to take your broth to make sure you don’t add too much salt to it!
Add your cornstarch mixture to thicken your broth slightly. To do this, all you need to do is mix some cornstarch and water (or more broth) together in a small bowl and stir it until it is combined and liquid. Then, add the mixture to the broth and quickly stir it together. You will want to do this quickly so that you don’t end up with small blobs at the bottom of the soup! The soup shouldn’t be thick, it should just not be watery.
Prepare your egg by beating it in a bowl until it is thoroughly combined.
Once beaten, slowly start to pour the egg into the broth. This is the most difficult part of the recipe, so take extra care when doing it to get it right! We will go through some tips and tricks for doing this in one of the sections below.
Once the egg is cooked and in ribbons, you can serve it! This process doesn’t take long at all (almost immediate), so get your favorite bowl out and dish up.
Sprinkle over some finely chopped scallions or some other garnishes you like, and enjoy.
Hey! I’m Lana, the original Soup Chick! I decided to create this website as I am a massive soup fan. I will literally make soup for every occasion. Whether a friend is under the weather, has the flu, or I just want to try out something new in my slow cooker!
I hope that you can find some really interesting and different soup recipes to try out with my site. I know I’ve had a lot of fun curating and trying them all, and I hope that you do too!
