Egg Drop Soup (Better than Restaurant Quality!) (2024)

Believe it or not, you can make restaurant-worthy egg drop soup at home with this top-rated recipe!

What Is Egg Drop Soup?

Egg drop soup (or egg flower soup) is a Chinese soup that features silky strands of eggs in chicken broth. The beaten egg is whisked into the boiling broth at the end of cooking, creating delicate strands or flakes that float on top of the broth. It often has seasonings (like salt and white pepper), tofu, and/or some sort of green garnish.

Traditional Chinese egg drop soups tend to have a thinner consistency than Western versions.

How to Make Egg Drop Soup

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Egg Drop Soup Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this egg drop soup recipe:

  • Broth: Use store-bought or homemade chicken broth.
  • Sauces and oils: Soy sauce and sesame oil lend savory, umami-rich flavor.
  • Water and cornstarch: A water and cornstarch slurry is optional, but it slightly thickens the soup (this is typical of Western variants).
  • Egg: It wouldn’t be “egg drop soup” without an egg!
  • Food coloring: You can make the yellow hue more vibrant with food coloring, but it’s not necessary.
  • Seasonings: Simply season the egg drop soup with salt and white pepper if you like.
  • Chives: Garnish each serving with fresh chives for a pop of bright flavor and color.

How to Make Homemade Egg Drop Soup

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this restaurant-quality egg drop soup at home:

  1. Boil the broth with the soy sauce and sesame oil.
  2. Pour the slurry and food coloring into the boiling broth (if using).
  3. Slowly pour in the beaten egg and season.

What to Serve With Egg Drop Soup

Egg drop soup works well as a light entrée, but it is traditionally served as a side dish or appetizer with other Chinese or Asian fare. Try one of these delicious ideas:

How to Store Egg Drop Soup

Store your leftover egg drop soup for up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“This was quick, easy, and delicious,” raves one Allrecipes community member. “Sometimes I triple the ingredients and add some Filini to it (but any small pasta will work) to make it a little more hearty and my family loves it!”

“Very tasty and so easy,” according to Bj King. “I did not use food coloring and I added powdered bullion for extra flavor.”

“This is a go-to recipe,” says Lisa Russ-Hiatt. “Easy and you can adjust the added ingredients to your taste. It tastes just as good as takeout, especially when I make homemade Crab Rangoon in my air fryer!”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Egg Drop Soup (Better than Restaurant Quality!) (2024)

FAQs

Is egg drop soup from a Chinese restaurant healthy? ›

Egg drop soup is quite healthy. Egg drop soup calories and carbohydrates are low, which makes the dish good for people watching their weight. While the chicken broth and eggs are nutritious, this soup has the drawback of being high in sodium. However, you can reduce the saltiness by making the dish at home.

Is egg drop soup healthier than hot and sour soup? ›

With the egg drop soup, you get cholesterol and saturated fat from the eggs in high-sodium chicken broth. The hot and sour soup has tofu and vegetables, but is loaded with sodium-rich soy sauce. Which is worse? At about 100 calories per cup, "calorically, they're okay," says Klatell.

Do Chinese people eat egg drop soup? ›

In Chinese cuisine, egg drop soups have a thinner consistency than most common Western variants. Depending on the region, they may be garnished with ingredients such as tofu, scallion, bean sprouts and corn.

What is healthier, egg drop soup or wonton soup? ›

Choosing the Healthiest Soup

Both egg drop and wonton soups are among the better options if you are trying to eat healthy at a Chinese restaurant. A cup of egg drop soup contains 65 calories and only 1.5 grams of fat, while a cup of wonton soup provides 71 calories but only 0.6 grams of fat.

What is the healthiest soup from a Chinese restaurant? ›

Egg Drop Soup

Of the soups commonly found on Chinese restaurant menus, egg drop is the healthiest. Totally starving when you walk into a Chinese restaurant? Order soup as an appetizer, and egg drop is tops. "It's really made with eggs, so it does offer quite a bit of protein," says London.

What is the healthiest Chinese food to order? ›

13 Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout Options
  1. Steamed dumplings. Dumplings offered at a Chinese restaurant are pockets of dough filled with seasoned meat and vegetables, usually pork and cabbage. ...
  2. Hot and sour soup or egg drop soup. ...
  3. Moo goo gai pan. ...
  4. Beef and broccoli. ...
  5. Chop suey. ...
  6. Chicken and broccoli. ...
  7. Baked salmon. ...
  8. Happy family.

Is egg drop soup good for your stomach? ›

is egg drop soup good for upset stomach? Yes, egg drop soup is often considered soothing for an upset stomach. Its mild flavor and easy-to-digest ingredients, like eggs and broth, can provide comfort and nourishment.

Why is my egg drop soup so slimy? ›

Do not use hot water. Hot water activates the corn starch and will result it slimy chunks of starch in your soup.

Is egg drop soup good as leftovers? ›

You probably won't have leftovers if you're making one serving, but if you make a big batch you can store the leftover soup in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

Why is Chinese egg drop soup so thick? ›

Beating the eggs with cornstarch before adding to the broth thickens them so they will be evenly distributed throughout the broth.

Does egg drop soup contain MSG? ›

Once the soup is thickened and the eggs are nicely flowered, now it is time to add the final seasonings. Add the white pepper, MSG, and salt to taste. Add the chopped scallions and if desired, a teaspoon of sesame oil to taste for the final garnish.

Is egg drop soup full of sodium? ›

One potential downside of egg drop soup is its sodium content. Broth, especially chicken broth or even vegetable broth, is high in sodium. One cup of egg drop soup can contain up to 800 milligrams of sodium, which is about one-third of the recommended daily intake for most adults.

What is the least healthiest soup? ›

Clam chowder nutrition

And Walsh agrees, “Clam chowder is one of the worst soups a person can eat. It's high in fat, calories and sodium.” There is 180 calories in a cup of clam chowder. The macronutrient breakdown in a cup of clam chowder is 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.

Is egg drop soup good for sick? ›

It's especially perfect when you're sick and trying to rest up and recover. It takes minimal effort, is soothing on your throat, and actually provides some nutrients to help keep your energy up. Please don't wait to make this until your next head cold, you really need egg drop soup in your life immediately!

Is restaurant soup healthy? ›

You may consume a lot of sodium.

"Although soups can be a healthy choice, they tend to contain high levels of sodium, especially when you buy them from a restaurant instead of making them yourself," Burak explains.

What is Chinese egg drop soup made of? ›

So What Is Egg Drop Soup? In case this recipe is new to you, egg drop soup is a staple at Chinese restaurants across the United States. It's typically made with lightly-seasoned chicken or veggie broth, and filled with delicious egg “ribbons”, which are created by whisking raw eggs into the simmering broth.

Is egg drop soup high in sugar? ›

Egg drop soup contains 66 calories per 244 g serving. This serving contains 1.5 g of fat, 2.8 g of protein and 10 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 0.2 g sugar and 1 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.

Is soup from Chinese healthy? ›

Made with natural ingredients such as herbs, plants and meats, Chinese soups are filling and tasty, and can help maintain your weight. You can drink Chinese soups in place of snacks, or simply have them as meal replacements.

References

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