5-Min Egg Drop Soup Recipe
Egg Drop Soup is a classic Chinese soup made with silky egg flowers suspended in lightly thickened chicken broth.
Ingredients
- 6 cups unsalted chicken stock
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch, for slurry
- 9 tablespoons water, for slurry
- 5 large eggs
- Pinch of white pepper
- Dash of sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons scallions, finely chopped
Instructions
- To prepare, in a bowl, whisk the eggs until well combined. In another bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth.
- To heat the broth, in a pot over high heat bring the chicken stock and salt to a simmer. Stir in the slurry and continue stirring until the soup thickens slightly and reaches a full boil.
- To create the egg flowers, reduce the heat to medium so the soup maintains a gentle boil. Slowly drizzle the eggs into the pot in a thin stream in one direction. For thinner egg ribbons, stir gently as you pour in the eggs. For larger egg ribbons, wait a few seconds before stirring so the eggs have time to set.
- To finish the soup, bring the heat back to high briefly and add the white pepper, sesame oil, and scallions. Serve immediately while hot.
Video
Notes
Use a high-quality stock: Since egg drop soup is very simple, the chicken stock plays a big role in the final flavor. Homemade or a good-quality store-bought stock works best.
Mix the slurry well: Always whisk the cornstarch and water until completely smooth before adding it to the soup to prevent lumps.
Thicken the soup first: Adding the slurry before the eggs helps create a slightly thickened broth so the egg flowers suspend nicely instead of sinking.
Maintain a gentle boil: The soup should be gently boiling when the eggs are added. If the broth is too cool, the eggs will disperse, and the soup may turn cloudy.
Control the egg ribbons: For thinner egg ribbons, stir gently while pouring in the eggs. For larger egg ribbons, wait a moment before stirring so the eggs have time to set.
Adjust the thickness: You can use less cornstarch for a lighter soup or more if you prefer a thicker, silkier texture.
Customize the soup: Corn, tofu, shrimp, chicken, spinach, or mushrooms can be added to make the soup more filling.