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!
Jump to:
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.
sandra
made this today it was very delicious. thank you
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Sandra! I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 Have a lovely day!
John
Wonderful flavor. Easy to prepare. Thank you!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, John! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Lynn
We really enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing! My husband asked me to cook it again 🙂
christieathome
So happy to read this Lynn! Thanks for making my recipe and glad you both enjoyed it 🙂
D
Thank you for this great recipe, we really enjoyed it.
christieathome
So happy to hear this! Thank YOU for making and rating my recipe 🙂
MS
This is such a good recipe!! Such a classic and so delicious!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
This looks so scrumptious... and without the beef it makes for a really frugal weeknight dinner. It's so quick and easy too!! 😋
Sherri
Such a beautiful dish! Love the colors and love the inspiration behind it! So nice to remember and be able to recreate childhood dishes. 🙂
Alex
Absolutely delicious and so full of flavour - this is a favourite recipe of yours, and that is hard - I love them all! 😀
Never Ending Journeys
I have never tried tomato in a stir fry before! This looks so irresistibly delicious, thanks for sharing!
Josiah - DIY Thrill
This Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry looks like such a perfect weeknight meal!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This classic dish looks so yummy and I love how quick it is to prepare!
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
Mmm so comforting, love this classic dish!
Kim Lange
Sounds so intriguing! I'm going to have to try this yummy dish!
Lilly
This was really delicious and quick to make. I will be making this again and again. Thanks for the recipe Christie!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Yum, Christie! This would be a great dish for lunch. Eggs are one of my go-to's for when I'm short on ingredients and time!
Katerina | Once a Foodie
Ohh yum! This meal looks so easy, quick and so delicious! I love the combo of eggs and tomato any day - and I think your version would go down so well in our house. I might give it a go tomorrow! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂