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!

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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

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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.

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

FAQs

Why is Chinese egg drop soup so thick? ›

Beating the eggs with cornstarch before adding to the broth thickens them so they will be evenly distributed throughout the broth.

What are the ingredients in Chinese egg drop soup? ›

Egg drop soup ingredients are pretty straightforward! In addition to eggs, my dad adds shrimp, tofu, and carrots. Canned chicken broth is used to form the soup base and potato starch helps thicken it. It's seasoned with salt, white pepper, and a bit of sugar to harmonize the flavors.

Why is my egg drop soup so yellow? ›

Sesame Oil: This is an optional garnish. I like to drizzle sesame oil at the end for the nutty flavor. Turmeric or Yellow Food Coloring: Most restaurants use yellow food coloring or turmeric to make the Egg Drop Soup look more appetizing.

How long does homemade egg drop soup last? ›

How to Store 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.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch to thicken 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.

How do I make my egg drop soup thicker? ›

Thicken with cornstarch (add more cornstarch if you like it nice and thick as we do). Stir broth while simmering in clockwise directions. Add beaten eggs (I use 6 eggs for 4 or 5 cups broth) in slow steady stream and let cook undisturbed (important) until cooked (about a minute or so).

Is egg drop soup healthy? ›

Yes. It's very low calorie and packed with protein. One bowl of soup (about 1 cup) is only 71 calories. This recipe is provided to New England Cooks by Chef Curtiss Hemm, author or Pink Ribbon Cookbook.

Is egg drop soup healthier than wonton soup? ›

Choosing the Healthiest Soup

Both egg drop and wonton soups are among the better options if you are trying to eat healthy at a Chinese restaurant. A cup of egg drop soup contains 65 calories and only 1.5 grams of fat, while a cup of wonton soup provides 71 calories but only 0.6 grams of fat.

Why is egg drop soup gelatinous? ›

Why is my egg drop soup so thick? If prepared properly, egg drop soup should be thick with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. It shouldn't, however, be so thick that it's practically gelatinous. A soup that's too thick likely means you used too much cornstarch or the swirl-and-pour technique was done incorrectly.

Why is my egg drop soup so slimy? ›

Do not use hot water. Hot water activates the corn starch and will result it slimy chunks of starch in your soup.

Does egg drop soup have raw eggs? ›

So What Is Egg Drop Soup? In case this recipe is new to you, egg drop soup is a staple at Chinese restaurants across the United States. It's typically made with lightly-seasoned chicken or veggie broth, and filled with delicious egg “ribbons”, which are created by whisking raw eggs into the simmering broth.

Can you leave egg drop soup out overnight? ›

On most occasions, you shouldn't leave soup out overnight. This is because when the stock in the soup cools below 130°F, dangerous bacteria can multiply. If you do decide that you want to leave soup out overnight, it's recommended that you boil the soup for 10 minutes to kill any active bacteria.

Is egg drop soup good warmed up? ›

It's the perfect light meal that comes together in a flash, which is great because this isn't a soup that keeps well, as the eggs don't maintain the same texture when reheated. This soup is properly an appetizer.

Is egg drop soup good for an upset stomach? ›

is egg drop soup good for upset stomach? Yes, egg drop soup is often considered soothing for an upset stomach. Its mild flavor and easy-to-digest ingredients, like eggs and broth, can provide comfort and nourishment.

Is egg drop soup good for a cold? ›

It's especially perfect when you're sick and trying to rest up and recover. It takes minimal effort, is soothing on your throat, and actually provides some nutrients to help keep your energy up. Please don't wait to make this until your next head cold, you really need egg drop soup in your life immediately!

Why is egg drop soup so gelatinous? ›

Why is my egg drop soup so thick? If prepared properly, egg drop soup should be thick with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. It shouldn't, however, be so thick that it's practically gelatinous. A soup that's too thick likely means you used too much cornstarch or the swirl-and-pour technique was done incorrectly.

What do Chinese restaurants use to thicken soup? ›

Much like French food, which relies on a roux for a perfect bechamel sauce or beef bourguignon and involves butter cooked with flour, Chinese and Cantonese cuisines use cornstarch to thicken sauces. However, it's predominantly added at the end of the cooking process rather than at the start.

Is Chinese takeout egg drop soup healthy? ›

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.

What makes Chinese soup gloopy? ›

To make a thick Chinese soup, all of the ingredients required tend to be added into a pan at once and cooked slowly, allowing the flavours to infuse each other. The soup is further thickened by adding in a thickener such as tapioca starch or cornstarch.

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