Keto Egg Drop Soup (Grandma’s Recipe, Authentic)
by Learn how to make the best Egg Drop Soup in minutes with my grandma’s secret seasonings! You’d be amazed that the most flavorful Chinese egg drop soup recipe is from your own kitchen! I guarantee it tastes much better than the restaurants’. Stovetop and Instant Pot instructions, plus Keto Low Carb! #hooray!
Authentic Chinese Egg Drop Soup
Can I say Egg Drop Soup is probably the most iconic Chinese soup in the restaurants? Who doesn’t love a bowl of warm and comforting soup that takes no effort to make and tastes silky smooth and oh so-nourishing!
But wait, I’m not talking about the thick gloopy egg drop soup we get in the takeouts but a pot of silky smooth authentic egg drop soup, made by grandma.
Warning! Once you taste my grandma’s version, you’ll not want to make it any other ways! I’m here to share her secret seasonings and how to make the best egg drop soup keto, low carb, and FAST!
What is egg drop soup
A light fragrant soup is a must-have on Chinese family dinner tables. They are often served as a starter. Egg drop soup is the most basic and simple soup, made with chicken bone broth, scallions, ginger, and fluffy delicious egg “ribbons” and a touch of toasted sesame oil.
There are many different versions of this iconic soup. For example: Tomato egg drop soup or with a small amount of minced meat in this Paleo egg drop soup.
What are the ingredients in Egg Drop Soup Recipe
- A good quality of chicken bone broth – homemade Chinese chicken bone broth will be my first choice. The next best thing is a great store bought bone broth such as kettle and fire and other great choices on the market.
- Chicken thighs (with skin on and bone-in) – Before you wonder why using chicken thighs? Let me tell you this is the secret to set your Egg drop soup apart from others, plus the juicy flavorful shredded chicken makes the soup extra nutritious and more satiating!
- Ginger and Scallions – they are used to fragrant the broth and are discarded afterwards.
- Turmeric powder – A small amount of turmeric powder adds extra golden color to the soup!
- A thickener – Traditionally people use cornstarch to make a slurry. In the Paleo/Whole30 world, we use arrowroot or tapioca starch. And if you are on low carb/Keto, skip the thickener or sprinkle ¼ tsp of xanthan gum to thicken the soup.
- Eggs – fluffy silky whisked egg ribbons make the soup extra comforting.
- Toasted sesame oil – a little finishing touch to make the soup taste extra authentic. If you can’t have sesame oil, don’t worry. My grandma’s egg drop soup is so flavorful even without the sesame oil.
How to make the best keto egg drop soup
- Sear the chicken thighs in a big soup pot. This little step adds so much more flavor to the broth.
- Bruise the scallion. Lightly pound the pale/white scallion parts, using a knife handle – this will bring out more flavor. Add it to the pot with ginger slices.
- Add chicken bone broth and bring it to a gentle boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Discard the ginger and scallions and shred the chicken.
- Bring the broth back to a gentle simmer. Add the chicken and the thickener, if using.
- Slowly drizzle in the whisked eggs from high up to make egg ribbons.
- Garnish with toasted sesame oil and chopped scallions.
How to make egg ribbons?
- Whisked the eggs in a cup with spout. (don’t over whisk it)
- Bring the broth to a gentle simmer. (the soup needs to be hot or the eggs won’t form ribbons)
- Slowly drizzle in the beaten eggs from higher up by using a fork or chopsticks to stream and control the flow.
- Do not stir the eggs. Let the eggs sit for a few seconds, then gently whisk with a pair of chopsticks to break them apart.
Can you freeze Egg Drop Soup? How to make ahead?
Yes but with some tips. Make the broth ahead of time and freeze. When you are ready, bring the broth back to a gentle simmer then add-in the whisked eggs. If you freeze the soup with egg ribbons, the egg texture won’t be as good.
If you are adding a thickener to the soup, same as above. Only thicken the soup before serving.
Is egg drop soup good for you when you are sick
Homemade egg drop soup made from scratch with real chicken and fluffy egg ribbons are light, fragrant, and nourishing when you aren’t feeling well. The warm broth can help clear stuffy nose, give you more energy, keep you rehydrated.
What can you do with leftover egg drop soup
You can freeze the soup and reheat it over a stovetop. A better way to freeze the soup is by freezing the broth only and add-in the egg flower ribbons after the broth is reheated.
Is egg drop soup really Chinese?
Yes. Egg Drop Soup 蛋花湯 is a stable Chinese soup recipe that can be found in households and restaurants. There are several versions of egg drop soup with different ingredients – vegetables, ground meat, or tomatoes are commonly incorporated into egg drop soup.
What makes Chinese egg drop soup thick
Cornstarch is used to thicken the soup. In authentic Chinese cooking, the soup is thickened with cornstarch in small amounts. The soup shouldn’t be too thick or slimy. In paleo cooking, use tapioca starch or arrowroot starch to thicken the soup.
What to serve with Keto Egg Drop Soup
Try my Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad, Paleo Egg Rolls, Low Carb Scallion Pancakes, Daikon Pan Fried Dumplings, Mandarin chicken salad, Chinese broccoli recipe with garlic sauce, or Rice paper dumplings for a takeout feast!
More quick and easy Chinese restaurant favorites
Paleo sesame chicken, Orange chicken, Cashew chicken, Mongolian beef, Mongolian chicken, Cumin beef, Hunan beef, Kung pao chicken, Sweet and sour chicken, black pepper chicken, and Beef stir-fry in oyster sauce.
See all healthy takeout recipes, made Paleo friendly!
More Chinese or Low Carb Soup Recipes You’ll Love!
Instant pot bone broth, Chicken meatball soup, Easy wonton soup, Keto chicken ramen, Quick chicken pho soup, Chicken cabbage soup, Roasted butternut squash soup, hot and sour soup, or Chicken kale soup.
Browse all of my paleo soup recipes.
Friends! This Chinese Egg Drop Soup recipe is seriously one of the best soup recipes I’ve shared on the blog. One sip you’ll be able to tell the difference! If you give this recipe a try, be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe.
And add this soup to my Low Carb Meal Plan with Shopping List – It’s free and I have a feeling that You are going to love it!
Chinese Egg Drop Soup (Authentic, Keto, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
For the egg drop soup base:
- 1.25 lb chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- 1 tbsp avocado oil, 2 tbsp for instant pot
- Coarse sea salt, sprinkle and to taste
- 4 bulbs scallions, 2 whole and 2 chopped
- 0.5 oz ginger, sliced, scrub clean and no need to peel
- 6 cups chicken bone broth
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos, optional. See notes.
For the slurry:
- 2 tbsp arrowroot starch, omit for keto or use ¼ tsp xanthan gum
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper, or black pepper
- ⅛ tsp turmeric powder
- 2-3 tbsp water
Other:
- 4 large eggs, whisked
- Toasted sesame oil, drizzle
Instructions
- Pat dry the chicken and lightly sprinkle salt all over. In a well-heated large soup pot or Dutch oven, add the oil. Sear the chicken over medium-heat for 3 minutes per side.
- Bruise 2 whole scallion bulbs. Lightly pound the pale/white scallion parts with a knife handle so they are slightly flattened. This will bring out more flavor. Add them to the pot with ginger slices.
- Add the broth. Cover with a lid and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, prepare the slurry. Mix well in one bowl. Whisked the eggs in a large measuring cup with spout for easy pouring.
- Discard the ginger and scallions. Scoop out the chicken, remove the skins and bones and shred the meat to pieces. Taste the broth. If you need more salt, add 1 tbsp coconut aminos.
- Bring the broth back to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Add the chicken. Stir the thickener one more time before adding it to the broth. Stir for 30 seconds.
- When the soup is hot and simmering, slowly drizzle in the whisked eggs from high up by using a fork or chopsticks to stream and control the flow.
- Do not stir the eggs. Let the eggs sit for a few seconds, then gently whisk with a pair of chopsticks to break them apart.
- Garnish with toasted sesame oil and chopped scallions. Serve hot or warm.
Notes
- Yes but with some tips. Make the broth ahead of time and freeze. When you are ready, bring the broth back to a gentle simmer then add-in the whisked eggs. If you freeze the soup with egg ribbons, the egg texture won’t be as good.
- If you are adding thickener to the soup, same as above. Only thicken the soup before serving.
- Press “manual” and when the pot indicates “hot”, season the chicken with salt. Add the oil and sear for 3 minutes per side. Press off. Add the ginger, bruised whole scallions, and the broth. Seal the valve – Manual set for 10 minutes – wait for 5 minutes before quick pressure release. Then follow the rest of the cooking steps above. To thicken the soup and make egg ribbons, bring the soup back to a gentle simmer by using the “manual” button.
Nutrition
This recipe is so easy and delicious!!! I’ve had it pinned for a while but have been too intimidated to try. Something about not knowing what scallions are and trying to whisk the eggs right.. SO GLAD I TRIED IT! This was truly so easy, and tastes better than take out! I’m sad I waited to long to try. Will be adding this to the weekly meal plan.
So yummy, full of flavor and easy!
Absolutely phenomenal recipe and I agree on the thighs having the most flavor! Didn’t need coconut aminos, the slurry worked perfectly and so did the eggs. Loved it! My husband had a piece of leftover pizza first and said he was sorry he did.
Haha why sorry? He’s super cute. Please say hi to him for me. And thank you for making the soup!
I made this soup in my instant pot tonight. It is so easy, comforting and delicious! My family loved it!
Thank you! So happy to hear!
This recipe was delicious & super simple to make! Family loved it! Will definitely be making again!
This was delicious! Just picked up ingredients to make a second batch.
Lovely! So happy to hear!
This is the second time I’ve made this soup. It’s so simple and delicious. My husband loves it. My 3 year old loves it. Will make again and again!
So happy to hear! Absolutely love this Chinese egg drop soup!
Another fantastic recipe. Me and my husband love egg drop soup! This recipe is so easy, quick, and delicious, dinner is ready in no time. We don’t even buy it from restaurants anymore. 😀
I make this soup often without chicken although I love making my own broth. Usually when I need a quick absolutely delicious soup. Sometimes I add vermicelli noodles. What a treat!! Thank you!
This egg drop soup is absolutely delicious! Growing up I would always get egg drop soup when we would order Chinese takeout. Now I can’t even order it from restaurants because I prefer this homemade, healthy, flavor bursting version instead!! I’ve also made it with shredded chicken breast I had in the fridge and extra step of searing your chicken thighs is definitely the way to go for a deep delicious flavor – however it was still delicious using the leftover chicken. This soup is like a hug in a bowl – a bowl of comfort for sure!
Fabulous! Thanks for sharing!
This is so delish and nourishing. My kids loved it.
This recipe was super simple, takes only a few ingredients and was the perfect bowl of comforting soup for when I was not feeling good. Definitely keeping it in the rotation. I like ginger and would probably add more to suit my tastes next time. Topped with chili oil along with the toasted sesame. So good!
We LOVE this soup in our home and make it regularly!! So easy and delicious and healing.
So much flavor! The husband declared it was the BEST chicken soup and had two bowls 😂. This came together fairly quickly and was delicious. I used low sodium soy sauce instead of aminos and thickened mine with xanthan gum, as that was what I had. Otherwise, no changes! Will definitely make again and again!
Absolutely delicious!
My family absolutely loves this recipe! The egg drop soup is so delicious. It tastes much better than any egg drop soup I have gotten at a Chinese food restaurant. Perfect winter dinner!
Thank you, Mindy!
Of all your recipes I’ve tried, there’s not been a single one that I haven’t absolutely loved, including this delicious egg drop soup. It’s perfect for when I want something a little lighter, or when I’m not feeling well and need a bowl of comfort food that’s also nutritious. Thank you ChihYu!
Thank you, Christine. So very welcome! Glad I can be a bit helpful!
I have boneless/skinless thighs to use… Will it still work? I understand there will be less chicken flavor but would still use bone broth or chicken stock. No? Is there a better recipe you’d recommend for boneless thighs? Love all your recipes! Thanks!
HI Cheri, you are right. Without the bones the soup might not be as flavorful and rich in flavor. I have many boneless/skinless thighs recipes on my blog. Here are some: https://iheartumami.com/thai-chicken-satay/ or these recipes use cooked chicken (either breasts or thighs) – https://iheartumami.com/hot-sour-soup/ or https://iheartumami.com/asian-chicken-noodle-soup/
This soup is amazing! I have made this recipe twice and my family loves it!!! My husband was so impressed with the ribbons. He is a trained chef and always struggled with this part. Your instructions made it so clear and delicious.
Wow! I’m so flattered! Please say hi to him and your family for me!