Chinese Egg Drop Soup

5 from 9 votes

This silky quick and easy Chinese egg drop soup with tofu is inspired by the egg drop soup served at my parent's restaurant. Silken tofu is cooked in a sweet chicken broth flavored with shrimp and crab for a boost of umami, and a cornstarch slurry gives the soup a smooth texture.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings: people

Calories: 75kcal

Author: Dana

Ingredients

2 egg whites or whole egg
1 can unsalted chicken broth 14 ounces
1 ½ cups water
½ block soft tofu cut in small cubes
½ teaspoon salt add ½ teaspoon more if needed
5-6 shrimp peeled and de-veined
3-4 sticks imitation crab or real crab meat
¼ teaspoon sesame oil
corn starch slurry 2 tbs corn starch + ¼ cup water

garnish

green onion
cilantro
white pepper powder optional

Instructions

Prepare ingredients by cutting tofu in small cubes. Then, chop shrimp and imitation crab in pieces.
½ block soft tofu, 3-4 sticks imitation crab or real crab meat, 5-6 shrimp
Make corn starch slurry by mixing 2 tbs corn starch with ¼ cup water.
corn starch slurry
Separate your egg whites from your egg yolks and then whisk the egg whites a few times. (You can use a whole egg if you like ◡̈ )
2 egg whites or whole egg
In a pot on medium heat, add chicken broth and water. Once the water is boiling, gently add tofu and salt. Then, add shrimp and imitation crab.
1 can unsalted chicken broth, 1 ½ cups water, ½ block soft tofu, 5-6 shrimp, 3-4 sticks imitation crab or real crab meat, ½ teaspoon salt
Slowly pour your cornstarch slurry in the soup while mixing with the spoon. Boil for a minute and you will see that the soup has thickened.
corn starch slurry
Next, pour your slightly beaten eggs in the soup while mixing with the spoon. Boil for one more minute and add your sesame oil.
¼ teaspoon sesame oil
Garnish with green onions, cilantro, and white pepper powder. Hope you enjoy!
green onion, cilantro, white pepper powder

Video

@cookwithdana
egg drop soup is the definition of #goodsoup 🙌🏼 #chinesefood #foodtiktok #asianrecipes
♬ original sound - athena *ੈ✩‧₊˚

Notes

Expert Tips:

- Cutting Your Ingredients. For the best texture, try to cut the tofu, shrimp, and crab into similar sizes.

- Don't Forget to Stir. As you're adding the egg whites, it's important to stir continuously to avoid clumping and achieve the right consistency for the soup.

- Choose the Right Tofu. Silken or very soft tofu is the best option for a silky egg drop soup with tofu.

- Adjust the Salt to Your Tastes. You may need more or less depending on the sodium level of your chicken broth. Add ½ teaspoon salt to 1 teaspoon more if needed to the soup.

- Use Egg Whites. The egg white makes the dish tastes lighter with a smoother texture. If you use the egg yolk, the dish will have a slightly heavier taste and the dish will be a darker yellow color.

Nutrition