Keto Egg Drop Soup (Grandma’s Recipe, Authentic)
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
Every recipe ChihYu writes is amazing and this is no exception. Simple and so flavorful, this will become a go to. Love how easy and protein packed it is!
Thank you! My grandma would be so happy!
As many others have noted, you can never go wrong with a recipe from ChihYu. This chicken egg drop soup is no exception. Simple, tasty and comes together quickly. Love the toasted sesame oil to finish, add a wonderful flavor. And plenty left over for the week! A win-win!
Thank you so much! Love this soup, too! Super flavorful, healthy, nourishing, and easy to make!
So much flavor! I had to add some extra salt but one I did oh man! Absolute perfection!
Awesome! Thank you!
This was so great and easy! Thank you!
Discovered iheartumami during the early days of Covid. My sons and I made many recipes, but this is our favorite, easy and delicious. Threw mushrooms in this batch and it took it to the next level!
That’s awesome! Thank you, Kathy!
Just made a batch of this soup yesterday and wowow! It was delicious freshly made with the suggested drizzle of sesame oil and scallions. I can vouch for it holding up in the fridge, too – great as leftovers. This soup is hearty and nostalgic; I’ll definitely be making this again.
I did not have coconut amino’s , and mine just had the flavor of the salt not really flavorful like everyone else’s review.
Do the amino make that much of a difference?
You don’t need coconut aminos to make this dish, if you follow the steps with the ingredients listed. Did you use chicken thighs with bone-in and skin on? Chicken breasts will not make the broth base flavorful. Did you sear the chicken thighs before adding the chicken bone broth? Did you add fresh sliced ginger roots and pound the white scallions parts before adding them to the broth? What’s the added liquid ratio to the chicken ratio? Too much liquid and not enough chicken will change the balance quantity. Coconut aminos is optional in this recipe, as listed. You can definitely make it without it. 🙂
This was so easy and so delicious. It was so flavorful and honestly tasted better than takeout and made my body feel much better after eating! I have an autoimmune disease and so many “healthy” meals still upset my stomach. This one felt so healing and I felt so good about all the nutrients it was filling my body with. Thank you!
Wow! Amazing Taste
This is my third time trying one of your recipes. This egg drop soup was like the others, absolutely perfect. Not only perfect but easy. I just can’t believe how simple your recipes are but they taste like they are so extravagant and complicated. The egg drop soup was absolutely delicious.
Thank you! So happy to hear!
This recipe has been made weekly, sometimes more, in my house since it was posted! We have had guests say it’s the only egg drop they have ever enjoyed homemade. And I personally have loved it during this cold weather and through my family all having colds! It’s soul healing deliciousness 💜🤤.
Yay! So happy to hear!
I made this for my family last night, and it was a HUGE hit!
Just made this for lunches for the week. So easy! Delicious and satisfying and better than greasy take out!
Toddler approved. My kid hates eggs. The only dish with eggs she would eat. also less sodium is less. I used only 2 eggs and came out perfectly.
Lasted in fridge for a week!
Absolutely amazing and delicious! Super easy to make and perfect for lunches.
This was SO easy to make and it was SO much better than take-out because it wasn’t salty or greasy. I highly recommend this recipe!
Easy, delicious and saved me from food boredom during Whole30!
Yum! It’s soup season and this will be on heavy rotation! Delicious, filling and light!
Delicious and so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this recipie. Had it for dinner a couple of nights ago.
This is one of my favorite of your recipes!! Thank you for the tip about pouring the eggs from higher up and waiting a moment to stir. This is just how I love broth: high in fat from chicken thighs with the ginger and added sesame oil. SO delicious. 🙂
Thank you, Megan!