Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (2024)

In my parents’ Chinese restaurant, we used to make three soups every day withoutfail, and it was always the first thing we would do when we opened the restaurant. Wonton soup, hot and sour soup, and egg drop soup––the classic trio offered on every Chinese menu.

Making these soups during the winter months would help warm up the kitchen as we started our day, and, oftentimes, I would have a small cup of wonton soup broth or egg drop soup to start the day.

Of the three classics, everyone has their favorite, and a nice cup of soup before your favorite Chinese lunch special is always a welcome starter. My personal favorite is classic wonton soup, but I do like a good egg drop soup! We also added the newly popular Chicken Corn Egg Drop Soup to the takeout menu, which is also another favorite of mine.

Note: This recipe was originally published in November 2015. We’ve taken new photos, re-tested and improved the recipe (reduced the amount of cornstarch slightly and added an extra 1/4 teaspoon salt), and added nutrition info and a recipe video!

What Is Egg Drop Soup?

The name “Egg Drop” comes from how the soup is made—dropping raw egg into hot soup. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.

But actually, the direct translation in Chinese is egg flower soup, because the egg creates large and small swirls in the soup in a flower-like pattern (scroll down to the recipe video below to see that in action).

There are many variations of egg drop soup, but this recipe is a classic restaurant-style egg drop soup that you can make at home.

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (1)

Why Make Egg Drop At Home?

So the 300-pound gorilla in the room is why make it at home when you can buy a small order for a buck fifty?

Well, since this recipe only takes 15 minutes, it’s actually faster than ordering it and picking it up!

Also, monosodium glutamate is used liberally to make these soups in most restaurants. (Though some restaurants these days do limit their use of MSG.)

We don’t have a problem with MSG, but if you want to be sure to skip it, you’re safest bet is to make your own. Use homemade chicken broth, store-bought organic chicken broth, or even vegetable broth. You can also season your egg drop soup to taste and even use organic eggs!

This restaurant-style egg drop souprecipeis so quick and easy to make that you probably could have made a bowl for yourself in the time it took me to write this post! (Although I have to admit, I am a very slow typist.)

Hope you enjoy this one!

Egg Drop Soup Recipe Instructions

Bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a medium-sized soup pot.

Stir in the sesame oil, salt, sugar, and white pepper.

Add in the turmeric or yellow food coloring, if using. Using turmeric or yellow food coloring gives the soup that rich restaurant-style yellow color but this is optional.

Taste the soup, and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (2)

Next add the cornstarch slurry.

Make sure to mix the cornstarch and water well, as the cornstarch settles very quickly. Stir the soup continuously as you drizzle in the slurry. Otherwise, you’ll get unpleasant clumps of cooked starch in your soup.

Use more or less starch if you like a thicker or thinner soup. You can also add the starch in a couple small batches. Let the soup simmer for a couple of minutes, then check to see if the consistency is to your liking.

For more detailed information on the many ways to use cornstarch to get authentic results at home with our recipes, see our post onHow to Use Cornstarch in Chinese Cooking.

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (3)

Now we’re ready for the most exciting part: the egg.

This recipe calls for the egg to be slightly beaten, which results in both white and yellow egg swirls. The speed at which you stir the soup when adding the egg also determines whether you get large “egg flowers” or small egg flowers (i.e. swirly bits of egg).

This is more a matter of personal preference than correctness. If you vary the speed at which you stir the soup, you’ll get both.

Some people even prefer chunks of egg in their soup, so do whatever suits your preferences!

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (4)

Once the soup’s consistency is to your liking, use a ladle to stir the soup in a circular motion, and slowly drizzle in the egg until you have added it all.

Ladle the soup in a bowl, top with scallions, and serve!

We served ours with a few fried wonton noodles:

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (5)
Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (6)

Watch video!

Looking for more authentic recipes? Subscribe to our email list and be sure to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube!

4.94 from 431 votes

Egg Drop Soup

This easy egg drop soup recipe will taste just like your favorite Chinese restaurant's egg drop soup (maybe a little better). It's delicious, and can be made in minutes.

by: Bill

Course:Soups and Stocks

Cuisine:Chinese

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (7)

serves: 6

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

Print

Rate

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken stock (about 1 liter, organic or homemade preferred!)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (Or 5 drops yellow food coloring. Optional, but if you want "the look…")
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed with 1/3 cup water)
  • 3 eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1 scallion (chopped)
  • 1/4 teaspoon MSG (increase amount to personal preference)

Instructions

  • Bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a medium soup pot. Stir in the sesame oil, salt, sugar, white pepper, and MSG (if using). Add in the turmeric or 5 drops of yellow food coloring, if using. This will give the soup that rich restaurant-style yellow color, but it is optional. Taste the soup, and adjust the seasoning if needed.

  • Next add the cornstarch and water mixture. Make sure the cornstarch and water is mixed well, as the cornstarch settles very quickly. Stir the soup continuously as you drizzle in the slurry, or you'll get clumps of cooked starch in your soup. Use more or less starch if you like a thicker or thinner soup. You can also add the starch in a couple small batches, let the soup simmer for a couple of minutes, then check to see if the consistency is to your liking.

  • Now we're ready for the most exciting part: the egg. This recipe calls for the egg to be lightly beaten, which results in both white and yellow egg swirls. The speed at which you stir the soup when adding the egg also determines whether you get large “egg flowers” or small egg flowers (i.e. swirly bits of egg). Use a ladle to stir the soup in a circular motion, and slowly drizzle in the egg until you have added it all.

  • Ladle the soup into bowls, top with scallions, and serve!

nutrition facts

Calories: 109kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 10g (3%) Protein: 7g (14%) Fat: 4g (6%) Saturated Fat: 1g (5%) Cholesterol: 87mg (29%) Sodium: 551mg (23%) Potassium: 198mg (6%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 140IU (3%) Vitamin C: 0.7mg (1%) Calcium: 17mg (2%) Iron: 0.8mg (4%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

Did You Make This?Tag us on Instagram @thewoksoflife, subscribe to our email list, and be sure to follow us on social for more recipes!

@thewoksoflife

Egg Drop Soup: Authentic 15-Minute Recipe | The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

Is egg drop soup authentic Chinese? ›

Egg drop soup, also known as egg flower soup, (Chinese: 蛋花湯; pinyin: Dànhuātāng) is a Chinese soup of wispy beaten eggs in chicken broth. Condiments such as black or white pepper, and finely chopped scallions and tofu, are commonly added to the soup.

Why is Chinese egg drop soup so thick? ›

A small amount of cornstarch slurry whisked into it will thicken it to the right consistency and prevent the eggs from turning rubbery. The best way to drizzle in the egg is to hold either two chopsticks or a fork across the top of a small bowl and drizzle the egg slowly through the tines.

Is egg drop soup healthy to eat everyday? ›

Egg drop soup is quite healthy. Egg drop soup calories and carbohydrates are low, which makes the dish good for people watching their weight. While the chicken broth and eggs are nutritious, this soup has the drawback of being high in sodium. However, you can reduce the saltiness by making the dish at home.

Why is my egg drop soup not yellow? ›

The bright yellow color is achieved naturally in this recipe with turmeric. Restaurant-style egg drop soup often uses yellow food dye to achieve that color. You can get a brighter yellow color naturally by adding more turmeric, and using pasture-raised eggs (which have a brighter yellow yolk).

Is Chinese egg drop soup healthy? ›

Yes, egg drop soup can be beneficial for weight loss. It's low in calories and carbs, high in protein, and can be very filling, making it a good diet-friendly option.

What is a substitute for MSG in egg drop soup? ›

A substitute for MSG in egg drop soup is to use umami-rich ingredients like soy sauce, fish sauce, nutritional yeast, or chicken or mushroom bouillon for added depth of flavor without MSG.

Is egg drop soup good for your stomach? ›

This soup has so many healing benefits and is a great option for when you're feeling a cold coming on, inflamed from eating too much junk food, to help alleviate sinus pressure, cramps and many other uncomfortable situations. The bone broth is also great for your gut health and helps with digestive issues.

Can egg drop soup help you lose weight? ›

Yes. It's very low calorie and packed with protein. One bowl of soup (about 1 cup) is only 71 calories.

Are there any benefits to egg drop soup? ›

Provides Warmth and Comfort: Warm soups, including egg drop soup, can be soothing and comforting, especially during colder weather. The warmth may also help relieve nasal congestion and provide relief from cold or flu symptoms.

What is healthiest Chinese food to order? ›

13 Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout Options
  • Chicken and broccoli. ...
  • Baked salmon. ...
  • Happy family. ...
  • Buddha's delight. ...
  • Moo shu vegetables. ...
  • Eggplant with garlic sauce. ...
  • Kung pao chicken. ...
  • Shrimp with lobster sauce. Despite its name, shrimp with lobster sauce does not actually contain lobster.

Can you eat left over egg drop soup? ›

Store your leftover egg drop soup for up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

What are the benefits of egg drop soup when sick? ›

It's hot, and soothing, and steams the sinuses. It tastes good, and promises some nutritional reward. My first choice for “Invalid Food” is Egg Drop soup: easy to make, easy to eat, and a nice change from scrambled eggs for dinner. It fills you up without weighing you down.

Which is better for you egg drop soup or hot and sour soup? ›

With the egg drop soup, you get cholesterol and saturated fat from the eggs in high-sodium chicken broth. The hot and sour soup has tofu and vegetables, but is loaded with sodium-rich soy sauce. Which is worse? At about 100 calories per cup, "calorically, they're okay," says Klatell.

Why does my egg drop soup look like scrambled eggs? ›

Ensure the egg is being poured in a THIN, EVEN stream into the soup! This will also ensure the egg does not form into clumps and turn into scrambled eggs in the soup. If you see the soup getting cloudy after pouring in a small amount of the egg, stop and let the broth cool down.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch for egg drop soup? ›

Yes, you can use flour to thicken egg drop soup. You will want to use about half the amount of flour, so about 1.5 tablespoons. You still whisk it together with the water, soy sauce, etc. Your soup will have a cloudiness to it rather than that clear glossy look that cornstarch give.

What culture is egg drop soup from? ›

Egg drop soup (or egg flower soup) is a Chinese soup that features silky strands of eggs in chicken broth. The beaten egg is whisked into the boiling broth at the end of cooking, creating delicate strands or flakes that float on top of the broth.

What's the origin of egg drop soup? ›

But even though the soup is humble, its origins are not. In Cantonese imperial courts, egg drop soup was used as a way to showcase a chef's finesse: the fine swirl of eggs, when done right, was meant to mimic the gelatinous texture of a clear stock fortified with rooster and Jinhua ham.

Who invented egg drop soup? ›

Description. Egg drop soup was invented by a woman named Xia Liu, whose husband Rong, a chef of a small-time walk-up restaurant who would often boast to younger women that he knew every possible way to prepare an egg.

What country is egg drop from? ›

Golden Hind Overview

Golden Hind is a young and innovative company that advocates “Food Venture” as a restaurant franchise corporation established in 2017 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Currently, EGGDROP is the leading business and incubating various other brands.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5503

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.