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5.0 from 48 votes

Homemade Egg Drop Soup

Egg Drop Soup is so easy to whip up in 15 minutes in one pot, with no sautéing and practically no prep. You can achieve a bright yellow color with turmeric instead of food dye, and this version has corn added for a heartier texture and sweet flavor that enhances its beautiful color.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 204 kcal
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth for vegetarian
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger, see notes)
  • 3 green onions thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch (or 3 tablespoons for extra-thick)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt plus more if needed
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper (optional, for a slightly spicy flavor)
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric (optional, for color and peppery flavor)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (plus more for garnish, if desired)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat chicken stock (4 cups), minced ginger (1 tablespoon), white and light green parts of the green onions, and frozen corn (1 cup) in a large pot over high heat until just boiling, then turn heat to low.
  2. In a separate small cup or bowl, mix ¼ cup of water with the cornstarch (2 tablespoons), garlic powder (1 teaspoon), salt (¼ teaspoon), white pepper, if using (¼ teaspoon), and turmeric, if using (¼ teaspoon) until smooth and no lumps remain. Stir mixture into the soup and continue heating on low until thickened.
  3. In a small bowl or glass measuring cup (preferably with a pouring spout), beat the eggs (6).
  4. Stir the hot broth to create a slow swirl. While you are stirring and the broth is swirling, SLOWLY pour in the eggs. If using a bowl without a pour spout, place two chopsticks or the tines of a fork over the rim of the bowl as you pour to separate the egg and gently add it to the soup to create nice egg ribbons. After a few seconds, you can break the eggs up as necessary with a spoon.
  5. Turn off the heat. Stir in most of the dark green parts of the green onions and the toasted sesame oil, reserving some to garnish each bowl. Taste and add more salt if needed. Serve.

Notes

  • For the ginger: I love to peel fresh ginger and freeze it. Then, when I need to use it for a recipe like this, I use a microplane zester to grate it. It's easier to grate when it's frozen and it lasts for so long like this! You can use a microplane zester or small grater to mince fresh ginger unfrozen as well, or just mince it with a knife into very small pieces.
  • 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).
  • If you have extra egg whites leftover from baking feel free to use them up in this soup in place of one or two of the eggs!
  • For a vegetarian version, be sure to use vegetable broth instead of chicken.
  • For a low-carb version, omit the corn.
  • You may need more salt depending on how much is in the broth you use - taste and adjust as needed.

Nutrition Information

Calories 204kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 15g (30%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0.03g Cholesterol 246mg (82%) Sodium 315mg (13%) Potassium 460mg (13%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 448IU (9%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 57mg (6%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 204

% Daily Value*

Calories 204kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 15g 30%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.03g 2%
Cholesterol 246mg 82%
Sodium 315mg 13%
Potassium 460mg 10%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 448IU 9%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 57mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.