Soft scrambled eggs swimming in a delicious glossy sweet tomato sauce with tender tomatoes! This affordable and easy Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry is ready in 10 minutes with minimal ingredients in one pan. A healthy meal that you can work into your weekly rotation!
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Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry is made of scrambled eggs, tender tomatoes in a sweet and savory sauce! Best served over rice or even noodles.
It's a very common and humble dish from Northern China and ask any Chinese family and they will have a version of their own!
My mother often made this egg dish for our family of 5! Sometimes, swapping the eggs with beef (click here for the recipe). It's a great dish for large families if you multiple the quantity as it keeps everyone full!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Ripe Tomatoes
- Large Eggs: avoid using small eggs
- Green onions
- Water
- Sesame oil: for that nutty flavor but omit if you're allergic
- Neutral oil:like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil with a high smoke point. Avoid olive oil that has a low smoke point.
Best Tomatoes to Use
Ideally Roma Tomatoes, Beef Heart Tomatoes or a choose a tomato with a thin skin, vibrant in color and sweet in nature. We want a thin skin so it easily falls off as you stir-fry it in the sauce. If you can't find either, choose any large tomatoes and if they have a thicker skin, you can always peel it away. Avoid using cherry or grape tomatoes.
Sauce
- Ketchup: for that tangy and sweet taste
- Cornstarch: to help thicken the sauce
- White granulated sugar: to balance out the salty and tangy flavors. Do not skip!
- Ginger
- Salt
- Cold water
Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients
Expert Tips
- Use a large non-stick pan. This prevents the eggs and sauce from sticking to your pan and makes for easy clean up! You'll also want to use a larger pan to avoid overcooking the ingredients.
- Do not overcook the eggs. We want smooth silky eggs for this dish. So once the eggs form shape and are still glossy, remove them from the pan.
- Do not overcook the tomatoes. If you overcook them, they will release too much water into the pan and dilute the sauce mixture. You'll only want to cook them for 2-3 minutes until the skin softens and peels away from it.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry:
Make Sauce & Beat Eggs
In a small bowl, mix Sauce ingredients (as listed) and set aside.
In a separate bowl, crack your eggs and add sesame oil. Beat the eggs & sesame oil for 20-30 seconds.
Scramble Eggs & Fry Aromatics
Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of oil. Once oil is hot, add the beaten egg mixture. Scramble eggs until they take shape but are still glossy and moist looking. Remove cooked eggs from the pan.
Back into pan, add remaining oil and green onions. Cook for 5 seconds or until fragrant.
Cook Tomatoes & Add Sauce
Add tomatoes and water. Allow the tomatoes to cook for 2-3 minutes until they have softened, and skin begins to peel away.
Pour sauce over tomatoes. Allow sauce to simmer & thicken slightly, about 1-2 minutes.
Mix in Eggs
Once sauce is slightly thicker, add eggs and gently fold them into the sauce and tomatoes. Remove from heat. Serve & enjoy. Optional: garnish with more green onions.
Storage
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat microwave for 60-90 seconds or reheat in a large pan on the stovetop on medium high heat.
- Freezer friendly? No unfortunately, it's not recommended to freeze this dish as the eggs and tomatoes change in texture due to the freezing action.
Pairing Suggestions
This serves well with egg drop soup, white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, plain noodles, or any Asian-style greens like garlic bok choy, or choy sum.
FAQ
Yes, this dish can be made in advance (up to 3 days) and can be refrigerated and reheated for later.
Sure, thinly sliced or ground beef, chicken, pork, or diced tofu could work well.
Yes, feel free to add white pepper or black pepper, shaoxing wine or dry sherry to the sauce mixture.
Yes, tomato egg stir-fry is naturally gluten free as cornstarch does not contain gluten.
Other recipes you may like
📖 Recipe
Easy 10-min. Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 4 ripe roma tomatoes sliced into quarters (or sub with 2 large sized tomatoes)
- 6 eggs
- 1 green onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil or any neutral tasting oil
Sauce:
- 3 tablespoon ketchup
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ginger thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup water
Optional Garnish:
- 1 green onion finely chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix Sauce ingredients (as listed) and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, crack your eggs and add sesame oil. Beat the eggs & sesame oil for 20-30 seconds.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once you have a hot pan, add 1 teaspoon of oil. Once oil is hot, add egg mixture. Scramble eggs until they take shape but are still glossy and moist looking. Do not overcook them. Remove cooked eggs from the pan.
- Back into the pan, add remaining oil and green onions. Cook for 5 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and water. Allow the tomatoes to cook for 2-3 minutes until they have softened, and skin begins to peel away.
- Pour sauce over tomatoes. Allow sauce to simmer & thicken slightly, about 2 minutes.
- Once sauce is slightly thicker, add eggs and gently fold them into the sauce and tomatoes. Remove from heat. Serve & enjoy. Optional: garnish with more green onions.
Shireen
I have always wondered how the eggs in this dish taste so silky smooth and now I know! Thanks to you Christie this is a much loved recipe in our family 💞
Christie Lai
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Shireen! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it and glad I could share this one with your family 🙂
Ananda
I have made this dish frequently and come to really love it. It is absolutely delicious and so easy to whip up!
Christie Lai
This makes me super happy to read, thank you so much for making it so often! Have a lovely day!
Mary Ann Wolfe
Loved, loved this recipe. Sesame oil added special flavor.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe! So glad you enjoyed it!
GTPONY
I peel and cook the tomatoes with a crushed clove of garlic, then add sauce ingredients and set aside... cook the eggs half done, add back tomatoes and sauce, heat through, shut off before fully done as it keeps cooking. Garnish with green onions.
Sandra
This was so good! We bought a 1/2 bushel of tomatoes and was looking for recipes other than sauce to use up some of the tomatoes. My family ate this up and this dish will definitely become part of our regular rotation!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing your kind review, Sandra! I'm so happy your family enjoyed it and glad it will be apart of your rotation 🙂
Collin Chin
I was looking for a tomato & eggs recipe today and came upon yours. It looks easy to prepare. I always wondered what are the other ingredients that goes into this dish. I hope to try it tonight.
christieathome
I hope you enjoy my recipe, Colin!
Jojo
Can i use canned tomato puree instead of fresh tomato?
christieathome
I wouldn't recommend that as a substitute as I'm afraid the tomato puree may be too overpowering over fresh tomatoes.
Maria
Really easy and delicious! My only adjustment was adding a tablespoon of siracha in place of a tablespoon of ketchup. I've made this sans siracha before and it's still great but would definitely recommend a little chilli sauce for a kick.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe! Glad you enjoyed it!
jaclyn
I made it!!! and it was delicious! Easy to make, quick and delicious. I posted it on my blog with your name and web on it. Thanks for the recipe!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe and I appreciate you providing a backlink to my website.
Laura Rybak
This is just so easy and delicious. My boyfriend said it was just like he remembered from his childhood. Thank you!
christieathome
Awesome! Thanks for making my recipe, Laura! Happy it could bring back childhood memories for your boyfriend.