Easy Egg Drop Soup
A 10-minute Chinese takeout classic — silky egg ribbons in a garlicky chicken broth, thickened lightly with cornstarch and finished with sesame oil and scallion.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 3 Egg
- 750 ml Chicken stock
- 5 g Salt
- 2 cloves Garlic
- ½ g White pepper
- 12 g Cornstarch
- 5 ml Toasted sesame oil (optional)
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Crack the eggs into a small bowl, add a pinch of salt, and beat well with a fork. Set aside.
- Mince the garlic.
- Thinly slice the scallions on a bias for garnish.
- Make the cornstarch slurry by whisking the cornstarch with a little cold water in a small cup until smooth.
- Add the chicken stock to a pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Stir in the minced garlic, white pepper, and salt. Reduce the heat to a low simmer.
- Pour the beaten eggs into the pot in a slow, steady stream while stirring gently in one direction with a chopstick or fork, which creates the signature silky ribbons.
- Give the slurry a quick re-stir, then pour it into the soup while stirring. Keep stirring until the soup thickens to your liking.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning. Drizzle in the sesame oil and stir.
- Ladle into bowls and top with the sliced scallions. Serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Easy Egg Drop Soup
Easy egg drop soup is a streamlined take on the Chinese restaurant staple known as egg flower soup, in which beaten egg is streamed into hot broth so it sets into delicate, feathery ribbons. It's one of the simplest hot soups in the Chinese repertoire, built on a foundation of good chicken stock rather than a long list of ingredients, and it comes together in about ten minutes from start to finish. The defining move is textural: the egg is poured slowly into simmering, gently swirling broth so it blooms into silky strands instead of clumping.
The flavor is clean and comforting — a savory, lightly garlicky broth warmed with white pepper, given body by a small amount of cornstarch slurry, and finished with the toasty aroma of sesame oil and fresh scallion. The cornstarch does quiet but important work here, thickening the stock just enough that the egg ribbons stay suspended rather than sinking. Light and low in calories, it works as a starter before a larger Chinese meal or as a quick, soothing bowl on its own when you want something warm and easy on the stomach. The whole thing depends far more on technique than on shopping, which is what makes it such a reliable everyday soup.
Easy Egg Drop Soup: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Easy Egg Drop Soup?
One serving of Easy Egg Drop Soup has about 200 calories, with 13g of protein, 15g of carbs, 9g of fat and 1g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Easy Egg Drop Soup gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Easy Egg Drop Soup has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Easy Egg Drop Soup?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out toasted sesame oil, scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Easy Egg Drop Soup make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.