A silky-smooth omelette with succulent shrimp and scallions. This easy Chinese shrimp omelette recipe uses minimal ingredients and is ready in 10 minutes! A tasty main or side dish that's family-friendly, better than takeout, and great for busy weeknights.
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My Chinese shrimp omelette features seasoned eggs scrambled with bouncy shrimp and fragrant green onions. It's so delicious and flavorful!
This is a common staple dish in many Chinese households as it comes together fast with simple ingredients in one pan! You can also make large batches if you're feeding a lot of mouths.
This Asian omelette is best served with steamed rice and vegetables. It's also a fantastic source of seafood protein!
My mother used to cook this dish for our family of five. It was the quickest way to get dinner on the table as she always had eggs and frozen shrimp in the freezer.
She would usually brown the omelette for more flavor, but I'm sharing the silkier version. Both are equally scrumptious!
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Large Eggs: For vibrant yellow yolks, get the kind with extra Omega-3s in them.
- Jumbo Shrimp: Or use large shrimp. Avoid using small or colossal shrimp. Get the easy-peel, deveined kind for convenience. Fresh or frozen shrimp both work.
- Green Onion: Or use ¼ cup finely chopped shallots or onions.
- Regular Soy Sauce: Or use low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce.
- Sesame Oil: Or use ½ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.
- Neutral Oil: Use a neutral oil like avocado, sunflower, grapeseed, peanut, vegetable, or canola oil. Avoid olive oil or any low smoke point oil.
Note: Asian ingredients are typically available at most Asian grocery stores, or you can check online.
Variation
- Gluten-free version: Replace the soy sauce with tamari sauce, coconut aminos, or gluten-free soy sauce.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh quality eggs as this is the star ingredient. I prefer using free-run eggs with omega 3’s for brighter yolks.
- Use a type of shrimp that you enjoy. I prefer using black tiger shrimp for a meatier bite and vibrant look.
- Buy peeled and deveined shrimp to make preparation faster and easier.
- If the shrimp isn't deveined: make a small slit along the back of the shrimp and pull out the black vein with a toothpick.
- Initially, fry the shrimp until 75% cooked as it'll remain in the pan with the eggs. Or you can also cook it through and remove it from the pan to add later.
- Reduce to low-medium heat while cooking the eggs and don't go beyond this or it will overcook the eggs.
- Give the egg mixture another stir before pouring it into the pan to evenly distribute the green onions.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make Chinese shrimp omelette:
- Prepare egg mixture: In a medium bowl, beat eggs, green onions, regular soy sauce, and sesame oil until smooth and combined, about 30 seconds.
- Cook shrimp: Then heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Fry the shrimp until slightly pink and slightly curled, about 75% cooked. Do not overcook.
- Add egg mixture: Reduce to low heat. Mix the egg mixture again before pouring it into the pan and let the eggs set in the pan, about 30-60 seconds.
- Scramble and cook eggs: Then slowly scramble the eggs with the shrimp until the eggs are shiny, moist, and cooked through. Or you can continue cooking until the omelette is golden brown for extra flavor. Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
- Chinese shrimp omelette can last up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge once cooled. To enjoy, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
- Chinese shrimp omelette is not ideal for freezing as the eggs and shrimp will become rubbery.
Pairing Suggestions
Chinese shrimp omelette pairs well with:
- Starters: Egg rolls, Crab rangoon, Egg drop soup, or Hot and sour soup.
- Rice Dishes: White rice, brown rice, or fried rice.
- Noodle Dishes: Chow mein, Lo mein, Plain noodles, or Soup noodles.
- Vegetable Dishes: Chinese Garlic Gok Choy, Spicy Garlic Bok Choy, Chinese Garlic Yu Choy, Chinese Garlic Gai Lan, Garlic Green Beans or Stir-fried Snow Pea Leaves.
- Protein Dishes: Soy Sauce Chicken, Oven-Roasted Char Siu or Air Fryer Char Siu, or Chinese Roasted Pork Belly.
FAQ
Chinese shrimp omelette can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To enjoy, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
Vegetables can be added to this shrimp omelette, and I suggest bean sprouts, sliced onions, carrots, garlic chives, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
📖 Recipe
Easy 10-min. Chinese Shrimp Omelette
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- ¼ cup green onion or onions/shallots, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil or sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat eggs, green onions, regular soy sauce, and sesame oil until smooth and combined, about 30 seconds.
- Then heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Fry the shrimp until slightly pink and slightly curled, about 75% cooked. Do not overcook.
- Reduce to low heat. Mix the egg mixture again before pouring it into the pan and let the eggs set in the pan, about 30-60 seconds.
- Then slowly scramble the eggs with the shrimp until the eggs are shiny, moist, and cooked through. Or you can continue cooking until the omelette is golden brown for extra flavor. Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy!
Zahra
Do you think this would work if I added sweetheart cabbage to the omelette mix?
Christie Lai
Yes, that could work.
Stephen Chetsas
I had about a cup of leftover cooked shrimp, and wanted to use them up. So I played with this wonderful sounding recipe and did the following. Scrambled two eggs in a bowl, mixed in 1/4 tsp sesame oil and 1 tsp soy sauce.
I finely chopped a scallion and added it into a heated pan with some oil. After a minute I added the cooked shrimp, then immediately poured the egg mixture over it. I covered and cooked it over low heat for about 5 minutes, then when it was done enough, I flipped it and cooked one more minute uncovered.
Let it cool and rest a few minutes, then devoured it! Sooo good. Thanks for this recipe Christie! You rock!
Christie Lai
I am so happy to read this positive review and experience! Thank you so much for making my recipe and for such kind words, Stephen.
I also appreciate you sharing how it worked out with details so others can also benefit if they want to cook it.
Have a fantastic day!
Wilma Haken
I’m going to make this tonight for my husbands birthday. He’s mad about prawns. Thank you it looks delicious.
Christie Lai
How wonderful! I hope your husband enjoys it for his special day and wishing him a very happy birthday! Enjoy!
Julie S
Perfectly simple yet elegant in taste! Just love it!
Christie Lai
Thanks so much for making it! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jean u.
01-11-24:
Re: shrimp omelette:
Light in calories, fast to prepare, a tasty aggressive rue of the browned crust formed over the omelette, followed by a fast, easy dish clean up, impressive!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing this positive review! I'm so glad you found it impressive and enjoyed it 🙂 Have a lovely day!
Lori
So yummy! Made it for breakfast this morning. I added fresh garlic because we can't get enough of the oniony flavor, lol. Thanks for sharing.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making it, Lori! Glad you enjoyed it with that extra yummy garlic flavor!
Pennapa Sukkasamesantikul
This is my favorite dish. Always spend almost $20 to get it from Chinese restaurant. It ll save me a lot if it comes out good. I ll cook it for dinner tonight.
christieathome
Thank you so much for sharing that! Yes and now with inflation, it'll probably cost even more! I hope this hits the spot for you and saves you some extra cash 🙂 Enjoy!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
This would be such a fun dish to serve for brunch. I love how it's both hearty and packed with amazing flavor!