Description
This Easy Egg Drop Soup recipe delivers a comforting and quick Chinese classic made with simple ingredients. Silky ribbons of egg cook gently in seasoned chicken broth, enhanced with fragrant ginger, garlic, and a hint of sesame oil. Perfect for a light meal or appetizer, this gluten-free soup is ready in 15 minutes and can be customized with optional add-ins like tofu or chicken for extra heartiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (or black pepper)
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- Salt to taste
Egg Mixture
- 2 large eggs
Thickening Slurry
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Garnishes and Optional
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- Soy sauce (optional, for serving)
- Chili oil (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare broth: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a gentle boil over medium heat.
- Make slurry: In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water to form a slurry, then whisk it into the simmering broth to slightly thicken.
- Season broth: Add grated fresh ginger, garlic powder, white pepper, and sesame oil to the broth, then reduce the heat to low.
- Beat eggs: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly until smooth.
- Create egg ribbons: While gently stirring the broth in one direction with a spoon, slowly drizzle the beaten eggs in a thin stream into the broth to form silky ribbons.
- Finish cooking: Turn off the heat once the eggs have fully cooked, which should take about 1 minute.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and add salt as needed.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve with optional soy sauce or chili oil if desired.
Notes
- For a heartier soup, add diced tofu, cooked chicken, or peas during the seasoning step.
- If you prefer a thinner broth, you can omit the cornstarch slurry.
- Use white pepper for a more authentic flavor, but black pepper works as a substitute.
- Stir the broth gently and in one direction while adding the eggs to create delicate egg ribbons.
