This Homemade Egg Drop Soup Recipe is just like your favorite Chinese takeout soup. With just a few simple ingredients and about 10 minutes, you can have warm and comforting egg drop soup at home. This post has been sponsored by Eggland’s Best. All thoughts and reviews are my own
My family has a thing for Chinese takeout, we just can't quit it. I do try to limit how often I order, though, because it's not the healthiest dining option. A few years ago I tried making my favorite Chinese takeout entree, Egg Foo Young, and it was an incredible success— it's not an authentic recipe, but it's super delicious and easy to make! It also satisfies most of my takeout cravings!
That leads me to a new recipe that I made, inspired by another favorite Chinese takeout item— Egg Drop Soup.
I have no idea why it took me so long to try to make my own Egg Drop Soup because it's the most basic recipe ever. I almost feel dumb ordering it out now that I know easy it is to prepare, and I actually think my version tastes better. Oh, and did I mention this is10 Minute Egg Drop Soup!? Yes! It's ready in only 10 minutes!
The great thing about homemade egg drop soup is that you can season the broth to taste before you drop the eggs in. For example, we're big Sriracha fans, so we add a couple of drops to our broth (again, not authentic— but so good!). You can also make egg drop soup with corn, chicken, noodles, cabbage, and other veggies or additional spices....it's totally customizable!
Egg Drop Soup Recipe
Egg Drop Soup Ingredients:
- 2 Eggs
- 4 cups chicken stock - I used a good bone broth!
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- ¼ tsp. garlic salt
- ⅛ tsp. Black Pepper
- 3 scallions, sliced
Omit cornstarch is youlike a thinner egg drop soup, alternatively, add an additional ½ tablespoon if you like a thicker soup.
How to Make Egg Drop Soup:
1. Mix 3 ½ cups chicken stock, ginger, garlic salt, and pepper in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir cornstarch into the remaining ½ cup chicken stock and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk 2 Eggland's Best eggs. Set aside.
3. When seasoned chicken stock comes to a boil, add in cornstarch mixture. Stir. Add sliced green onions.
4. Bring broth to a rolling boil. Once achieved, stir the broth with a non-slotted spoon in one direction. While stirring, slowly pour in eggs. Eggs will cook as soon as they hit the broth. Top with extra green onions, if desired.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 Eggs
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- ¼ tsp. garlic salt
- ⅛ tsp. Black Pepper
- 3 scallions, sliced
Instructions
- Mix 3 ½ cups chicken stock, ginger, garlic salt and pepper in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir cornstarch into the remaining ½ cup chicken stock and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk 2 Eggland's Best eggs. Set aside.
- When seasoned chicken stock comes to a boil, add in cornstarch mixture. Stir.Add sliced green onions.
- Bring broth to a rolling boil. Once achieved, stir broth with a non-slotted spoon in one direction. While stirring, slowly pour in eggs. Eggs will cook as soon as they hit the broth. Top with extra green onions, if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 135Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 480mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 9g
Can Egg Drop Soup Be Frozen?
Technically, yes, egg drop soup can be frozen— but I wouldn't recommend it after cooking as the eggs can get rubbery. Instead, make and freeze the egg drop soup broth and then add fresh eggs after it has thawed on the stovetop.
Is Egg Drop Soup Keto?
This egg drop soup recipe is not keto as written. For keto egg drop soup, you would have to omit the cornstarch, which thickens the soup. Flavorwise, egg drop soup should taste the same with or without cornstarch.
Is Egg Drop Soup Healthy?
Good news! Egg drop soup is healthy and low in fat and calories per 1 cup portion size. If you're watching your salt intake, choose a low-sodium chicken broth and omit garlic salt, or substitute with garlic powder.
Other Recipes You Might Like:
- Egg Foo Young Recipe
- Copycat Chinese Takeout Recipes
More Soup Recipes:
- Tom Yum Soup
- Slow Cooker Taco Soup
- Instant Pot Kale Soup
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Copycat)
FAQs
A substitute for MSG in egg drop soup is to use umami-rich ingredients like soy sauce, fish sauce, nutritional yeast, or chicken or mushroom bouillon for added depth of flavor without MSG.
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 like jelly? ›
This collagen in the bones is what is causing your soup to gel. It's completely natural, and it only happens in rich, well-made chicken stock. It can be a little freaky, though, if you're not expecting it! The good news is that this thick, gelled stock is extra-rich.
What 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.
What ingredient can replace MSG? ›
Soy sauce and other commercial sauces
Soy sauce is a good substitute, rich in umami. As with broth cubes, first check the list of ingredients to ensure that there is no MSG added. Oyster sauce, fish sauce (nam pla), and Worcestershire sauce can also be used to enhance the taste of dishes.
Is egg drop soup healthy from Chinese restaurants? ›
On the other hand, egg drop soup is made simply with ribbons of cooked egg in chicken broth. Both soups are low in calories — containing only 65–90 calories per 1-cup (240 mL) serving — and you can make them even healthier by avoiding the fried lo mein noodles that are often offered as a topping ( 2 , 3 ).
Is egg drop soup unhealthy for you? ›
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.
Should egg drop soup be thick? ›
The best egg drop soup, on the other hand, should have a clear, ever-so-slightly thickened broth with the intense flavor of chicken, supported by a hint of the sweet depth of Chinese ham.
Why did my egg drop soup not make ribbons? ›
In order to get those signature ribbons, you have to pour your whisked eggs very, very slowly (but consistently) into the soup in a thin stream while whisking continuously. Use a whisk, or get authentic and stir continuously and fairly speedily with chopsticks.
Is egg drop soup a laxative? ›
A: No, but you may want to have two or three bowls of egg drop soup per day. The eggs it is made with are rich in albumin, a protein that is easily digested and absorbed into the bloodstream. Albumin helps maintain the balance of water in the bloodstream and body tissues.
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.
How do I make my egg drop soup thicker? ›
Cornstarch: This is for thickening the soup base. One note here: you should use as much or as little cornstarch as you need to get the consistency of the soup to YOUR liking – if you prefer a thinner, runnier soup, use less cornstarch.
How long does homemade egg drop soup last? ›
In the Refrigerator: Egg Drop Soup will last about 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. It warms up nicely on the stove top for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the Freezer: If you are needing to freeze this soup, you will want to only freeze the broth. The eggs will become rubbery when reheating.
Is egg drop soup good for your stomach? ›
This soup has so many healing benefits and is a great option for when you're feeling a cold coming on, inflamed from eating too much junk food, to help alleviate sinus pressure, cramps and many other uncomfortable situations. The bone broth is also great for your gut health and helps with digestive issues.
What goes well with egg drop soup? ›
Proteins
- Shrimp Egg Rolls. These shrimp rolls are amazing as an appetizer or as part of a spread! ...
- Chicken Dumplings. What goes with egg drop soup on special occasions? ...
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns) ...
- General Tso's Chicken. ...
- Beef with Broccoli. ...
- Shrimp with Lobster Sauce. ...
- Bok Choy in Ginger Sauce. ...
- Garlic Green Beans.
This homemade version of Egg Drop Soup tends to be thinner than the restaurant version. Restaurants almost always add more starch to make the soup a lot thicker. They also add a lot of MSG to give the soup more umami flavor.
Can you substitute salt for MSG? ›
MSG contains less sodium than salt does. About 39% of salt is sodium while about 12% of MSG is sodium. So, if MSG was substituted for an equal amount of salt in a dish, the dish would contain about one-third less sodium.
How to get umami without MSG? ›
Foods such as soy sauce, kimchi (fermented vegetables), miso (soybean paste), and natto (fermented whole soybeans) are fermented. The fermentation process, like the curing process, also breaks down glutamate into free glutamate and gives a stronger umami taste.
What does MSG do to soup? ›
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer that improves the savoury experience of foods and is the prototypical chemical associated with the 'umami' taste(, 1 – 3 ).
