Egg Drop Soup. A delicious soup made of hot broth with wispy eggs seasoned with sesame oil and green onions. Ready in 10 minutes!
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What is Egg Drop Soup?
Egg Drop Soup is a delicious hot soup consisting of chicken broth, sesame oil, chicken stock powder, salt, white pepper, cornstarch and water. The yellow color comes from the very thin stream of beaten eggs poured into the simmering broth. This Chinese authentic egg drop soup is served at many Chinese restaurants and originates from China. There is also a Japanese and French version of the classic egg drop soup recipe but I will be teaching the Chinese version.
It's a great soup recipe that serves as a starter or first course, side dish, or with your favorite main course for the entire family to enjoy if you love Chinese food. Also, it's one of my husband's favorite Asian recipes to date! I love making this for him especially when he's under the weather as it's comforting, quick and easy.
Ingredients
Please scroll down to the below Recipe card for full measurements
- Chicken stock: Unsalted Chicken broth is my go-to for a good egg drop soup. Or use store bought or homemade chicken broth, beef bone broth, vegetable stock or vegetable broth for a vegetarian egg drop soup.
- Eggs: For a golden yellow soup, use free range eggs with Omega 3s. We'll be pouring these raw eggs into the soup in a thin stream to make ribbons.
- Green onion: Ensure to separate the green part from the white parts of the onions. The greens will be used as a garnish for your bowl of egg drop soup.
Seasoning
- Chicken stock powder aka Chicken bouillon powder or chicken stock base. This adds more depth to the soup because it contains a little bit of MSG.
- Salt
- Sesame oil: This adds a nutty aroma to our homemade egg drop soup. If allergic, you may omit.
- White pepper
Cornstarch Slurry
- Cornstarch: You can also sub with potato starch or tapioca starch if you don't have corn starch.
- Cold water
How to Make Egg Drop Soup
Beat Eggs
First in a bowl, beat your eggs until smooth.
Create Cornstarch Slurry
Then in a separate small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until starch has dissolved.
Boil Chicken Stock with Scallion Whites
In a medium size pot, add chicken stock and scallion whites only (reserve the green parts as a garnish for later). Cover and bring to boil over medium high heat.
Thicken with Cornstarch Slurry
Uncover and lower heat to medium heat. While stirring, pour in cornstarch water mixture. Do not pour in without stirring or it’ll become clumpy. Let this boil uncovered, over medium heat, for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
Season Stock
Season stock with chicken stock powder, sesame oil, salt and white pepper. Mix well.
Pour Eggs While Stirring
For a small egg flowers, pour in whisked eggs in a thin stream while stirring in a circular motion. Or for a large egg flower, pour eggs in a circular motion without stirring and let it set for 20 seconds. Then gently stir. Allow your soup to bubble for 1 minute. Remove off heat.
Garnish
Garnish with scallion greens. Enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
It'll last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat this simple soup, re-boil over the stove top or microwave with a cover until warm.
Great Additions
- wonton strips
- diced tomatoes
- peas
- diced carrots
- fresh ginger
- silken tofu
- cooked crab meat
- shredded cooked chicken
Expert Tips
- Before pouring cornstarch slurry. Lower to medium heat while stirring, pour in the cornstarch slurry. By lowering the heat and stirring with a large spoon, this prevents cornstarch clumps
- Allow soup to boil after adding cornstarch mixture. The boiling action activates the cornstarch slurry. If you don't allow the soup to reach boiling point, it won't activate and thicken. In Chinese cuisine, cornstarch is commonly used to thicken stir fry sauces.
- Beat eggs in a measuring cup with a lip. I like using a measuring cup with a lip as it makes pouring the eggs into a thin stream very easy and mess free!
- Small vs. Large Egg Flowers. For small egg flowers, make sure to pour a thin stream of the whisked eggs and stir in a circulation motion with enough movement. This creates small egg ribbons. For larger egg ribbons, do not stir and pour a thicker stream of the egg mixture in a circulation motion. Then let it set for 20-30 seconds and gently stir.
FAQ
Why aren't my eggs ribboning?
To ensure the egg ribbon, as you pour the eggs in a thin stream make sure you're simultaneously stirring.
Why is my egg drop soup not yellow like yours?
It's the eggs. I'm using omega 3 free range eggs. These eggs are packed with nutrients resulting in bright yellow-orange yolks creating for that vibrant yellow color.
Other recipes you may like!
- Wonton Noodle Soup
- Miso Soup
- Hong Kong Tomato Macaroni Soup or plain Hong Kong Style Macaroni Soup
- Fish Ball Udon Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Chinese Watercress Soup
- Satay Beef Noodle Soup
📖 Recipe
Easy 10-min. Egg Drop Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken stock unsalted (or sub with vegetable or beef broth)
- 3 eggs beaten
- 1 green onion finely chopped with scallion whites and greens separated
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (aka chicken stock powder)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper (or sub with black pepper)
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch (or sub with potato starch or tapioca starch)
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- First in a bowl or measuring cup with a lip, crack and beat your eggs until smooth. Set aside. (Tip: the measuring cup with a lip makes pouring your eggs into a stream more easier)
- In a separate small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until starch has dissolved. Set aside.
- In a medium size pot, add chicken stock and scallion whites only (reserve the green parts as a garnish for later). Cover and bring to boil.
- Once boiled, uncover and lower heat to medium heat. While stirring, pour in cornstarch water mixture. (Do not pour in without stirring or it’ll become clumpy). Let this boil uncovered, over medium heat, for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
- Season stock with chicken stock powder, sesame oil, salt and white pepper. Mix well.
- Slowly pour beaten eggs in a thin stream while stirring for small egg flowers. Alternatively, for large egg flowers, without stirring pour eggs in a thin stream in a circulation motion, let it set for 20 seconds and gently stir. Allow your soup to bubble for 1 minute. Remove off heat.
- Serve & garnish with scallion greens. Enjoy!
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Mary
This was so comforting and delicious! I appreciated how easy it was as well. The whole family really enjoyed it.
christieathome
Thank you Mary! I'm so glad you and the whole family enjoyed it!
Pilar Williams
Just curios why add sesame oil?
christieathome
For that nutty flavor!
Carol
My husband and I love Egg Drop Soup! This recipe is the closest I’ve come to restaurant quality! Delicious 😋
christieathome
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing this kind review with me, Carol! So happy it's close to restaurant quality 🙂
Harry
Add corn and crab to make crab and corn soup! Thank you for this recipe.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Harry! Yes, those are great add-ons and glad you enjoyed it!
Mahboo
Me loved this recipe so much. It's my favorite thing to drink on a cold autumn day.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Mahboo! I am so glad it's your favourite thing to drink on a cold day.
Laarni
So easy and always comforting!
christieathome
Thanks so much for sharing your kind review, Laarni! Happy you enjoy it every time 🙂
Diane
Excellent! Better than most restaurants!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Diane! So happy you found it better than most restaurants 🙂 Have a great day!