Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (2024)

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This easy Chinese egg drop soup is ready in less than 15 minutes and tastes just like the soup at your favorite Chinese restaurant! It's made with eggs, ginger, green onions, and mushrooms.

By

Garrett McCord

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (1)

Garrett McCord

Garrett has been writing about food and sharing recipes for 15 years. He is the author of Melt: The Art of Macaroni and Cheese.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated September 07, 2023

34 Ratings

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (2)

In college one of the dishes I relied on was my own version of egg drop soup. It was simple, tasty, comforting and (most importantly) budget friendly.

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (3)

An Inexpensive Crowd Pleaser

As I started to make it more and more I began to notice that friends started to drop by for dinner with increasing frequency.

This was fine as all I had to do was add a bit more chicken stock and soy sauce and toss in another beaten egg. I could feed my guests cheaply and enjoy their company.

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (4)

Just Like Restaurant Egg Drop Soup!

For years I ate what I thought had been faux egg drop soup cobbled together by a hungry student, however, it was only recently I discovered that my recipe was actually quite accurate.

With the addition of some cornstarch and the use of white pepper, this homemade soup is dead ringer for the soup at your favorite Chinese-American restaurant.

How to Make Egg Drop Soup

As mentioned above, making a quick batch of this soup couldn't be easier.

  • First, make a quick slurry of cornstarch and a little stock—this helps dissolve the cornstarch so that it doesn't clump up when you add it to the soup. Set this aside so that it's ready when you need it.
  • Second, combine the bring the broth to a boil with all the flavoring ingredients: ginger, soy sauce, green onions, white pepper, and mushrooms.
  • Third, whisk that cornstarch slurry into the broth.
  • Last but not least, add the beaten eggs while gently stirring the soup so they fan out in ribbons.

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (5)

Tips for Making Egg Drop Soup

The cornstarch is key to this endeavor. It not only thickens up the soup just enough to give it body, but it also helps keep the eggs silky and tender. Don't skip it! (FYI, you can add a little extra cornstarch if you'd like a thicker soup.)

Also important is to stir the pot slowly—not rapidly—as you add the eggs. You want enough movement to make ribbons, but not so much that the egg just dissolves into barely-there wisps.

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (6)

Eat Right Away!

Egg drop soup is a meal that is best served as soon as it's ready, so tell your guests to be at the table with spoons in their hands!

This is also not a soup that keeps or reheats very well, so make only what you will eat right away.

Looking for More Chinese Recipes?

  • Hot and Sour Soup
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  • Ginger Beef Stir Fry
  • Chicken Soup with Ginger and Shiitake Mushrooms
  • Kung Pao Chicken

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (7)

Quick and Easy Egg Drop Soup

Prep Time7 mins

Cook Time13 mins

Total Time20 mins

Servings4 servings

Homemade chicken stock is the best for this. Also, if you can't locate any of the mushroom types indicated in the recipe, crimini (aka: baby bellas) will do just fine. Or, you can just leave them out all together.

Ginger is what makes the soup hot and spicy. Dial it down to 1/4 teaspoon if you want a more mild soup.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken stock,homemadepreferred, divided

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 3/4 cup enoki mushrooms or sliced shiitake mushrooms

  • 3 green onions, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce if cooking gluten-free)

  • Scant 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Method

  1. Make the cornstarch slurry:

    Measure out 1/2 cup of the stock and mix with the cornstarch until dissolved.

  2. Bring the soup ingredients to a boil:

    Place the remaining chicken stock, mushrooms, green onions (reserving a few for garnish), ginger, soy sauce, and white pepper in a pot and bring to a boil.

    Stir in the cornstarch slurry and reduce the heat to a simmer.

    Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (8)

  3. Stir in the beaten eggs:

    Slowly pour in the beaten eggs while stirring the soup slowly. The egg will spread out into ribbons.

    Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (9)

    Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (10)

  4. Serve:

    Turn off the heat and garnish with a few more chopped green onions. Serve immediately.

  • Easy Soups
  • Eggs
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chinese
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
159Calories
7g Fat
13g Carbs
12g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories159
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g8%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 147mg49%
Sodium 619mg27%
Total Carbohydrate 13g5%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 3mg13%
Calcium 38mg3%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 397mg8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Easy Egg Drop Soup {15 Minute Recipe} (2024)

FAQs

Why is my egg drop soup not yellow? ›

The bright yellow color is achieved naturally in this recipe with turmeric. Restaurant-style egg drop soup often uses yellow food dye to achieve that color. You can get a brighter yellow color naturally by adding more turmeric, and using pasture-raised eggs (which have a brighter yellow yolk).

Why is my egg drop soup so thin? ›

It's okay if you have to adjust while cooking – if it's too thin, add more cornstarch. If it's too thick, add more water, stock, or broth.

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

How long does homemade egg drop soup last? ›

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.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch for egg drop soup? ›

Yes, you can substitute flour for cornstarch in egg drop soup, but it may slightly alter the texture and clarity of the broth. It's also not a common substitute used in Chinese soup recipes, Use less flour as it's denser.

Why is my egg drop soup so thick? ›

Egg Drop Soup is a chicken broth based Chinese soup often thickened with cornstarch and seasoned with soy sauce, ginger, and green onions. A beaten egg is stirred in the hot soup and makes the soup thick with beautiful egg ribbons.

What broth is egg drop soup made of? ›

Egg drop soup is a popular takeout staple at Chinese restaurants made with wispy beaten eggs in chicken broth. It's normally seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper, thickened with a cornstarch slurry, and garnished with chopped green onions.

Is egg drop soup supposed to be jelly like? ›

In Cantonese imperial courts, egg drop soup was used as a way to showcase a chef's finesse: the fine swirl of eggs, when done right, was meant to mimic the gelatinous texture of a clear stock fortified with rooster and Jinhua ham.

Is egg drop soup bad for a diet? ›

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.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

What makes homemade soup taste better? ›

Use aromatic vegetables, like carrots, celery and onions. Adding some egg noodles or pasta can make the soup more thicker and turn it into a complete meal as well. Add some fresh herbs of your choice to add another layer of flavour to your dish.

What to pair with egg drop soup? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Egg Drop Soup are beef and broccoli, garlic bread, ham and cheese pinwheels, twice baked potatoes, potstickers, shrimp pad Thai, fried rice, mango Kani salad, bok choy, Peking duck pancakes, chicken satay, Asian slaw, spring rolls, teriyaki chicken wings, stir-fried noodles, and ...

How do you get the ribbon in egg drop soup? ›

Once you've made your egg mixture, just follow these steps.
  1. Turn off the heat.
  2. Slowly drizzle in your egg mixture with a soup spoon in a circular motion.
  3. Let it sit for one minute.
  4. Stir to break up your glorious egg ribbons.
Jun 21, 2023

Can I drop a raw egg in soup? ›

The egg may be poached then added to the soup just before serving or lightly baked atop a crouton. Occasionally the raw egg is added to the hot soup in which it gently cooks. Most of these soups rely heavily on garlic for flavor. The following are three personal versions of soups that call for egg drops or egg threads.

Why is my boiled egg yolk not yellow? ›

When an egg is cooked for too long and/or at too high a temperature, the sulfur in the egg white combines with the iron in the yolk and creates ferrous sulfide, which has a green tint,” she explains. Unfortunately, this chemical reaction—which scientists call denaturation—isn't limited to hard-boiled eggs.

What if egg yolk is not yellow? ›

As the colour of the yolk is related to the hen's diet, it has little to do with the freshness of the egg. Whether the yolk is a vibrant or pale yellow, or even an orange deep in colour, all of these eggs are fresh and safe to eat.

Why is my egg yolk not very yellow? ›

The food a hen eats affects the yolk colour of her eggs. Generally speaking, if she eats a wheat-based diet, she lays eggs with pale yellow yolks. Feed that contains corn or alfalfa produces eggs with medium or darker yellow yolks. Learn more.

How to get yellow color in chicken soup? ›

Ingredients like onions, carrots, and celery can contribute to a yellowish hue. Turmeric, a common spice used in some stock recipes, can also lend a yellow color. Cooking Time: The length of time the stock is simmered can influence its appearance.

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