Egg drop soup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Egg drop soup

Type	Soup
Place of origin	China
Main ingredients	Eggs, chicken broth, condiments (black pepper or white pepper), scallions, tofu

Egg drop soup is a yummy Chinese soup. It's made with thin, wispy pieces of egg floating in a tasty chicken broth.

This soup gets its name because the eggs are "dropped" into the hot broth. People often add things like black or white pepper. Sometimes, they also add chopped scallions and tofu to make it even better.

To make it, cooks slowly pour beaten eggs into boiling broth. This creates thin, silky strands or flakes of cooked egg. These beautiful egg pieces float in the soup, making it look like "egg flowers."

Egg Drop Soup in America

A bowl of egg drop soup in the United States.

In the United States, egg drop soup is very popular. You can often find it on the menu at American Chinese restaurants. Some places even call it "egg flower soup." This is a direct translation of its Chinese name.

Sometimes, a special ingredient called cornstarch is used. It helps make the soup a bit thicker. This gives it a richer texture that many people enjoy.

Egg Drop Soup in China

In China, egg drop soups are usually a bit thinner. They are not as thick as the versions you might find in Western countries.

Depending on where you are in China, the soup might have different toppings. These can include tofu, scallions, bean sprouts, or even corn. These additions make each regional version unique and delicious.

Egg Drop Soup Around the World

Egg drop soup has inspired similar dishes in many other countries. Here are a few examples:

Italy's Stracciatella

In Italy, there's a soup called stracciatella. It's made with egg and parmesan cheese. The egg is added in a similar way to egg drop soup.

France's Tourin

In France, a garlic soup called tourin is popular. It uses egg whites that are drizzled into the soup. This creates a similar look to traditional egg drop soup.

Spain's Sopa de Ajo

Spain has a traditional soup called sopa de ajo, or "garlic soup." It also uses egg whites. They are added to thicken the broth in a way that looks like egg drop soup.

Austria's Eierflockensuppe

In Austria, they have Eierflockensuppe. This simple soup is often made for young children or people who are not feeling well. It's made by mixing scrambled eggs with flour. This mixture is then poured into boiling soup to make small egg dumplings.

Poland's Kluski Lane

Poland has a similar recipe called kluski lane. This means "poured noodles." The egg-flour mixture is poured into soup or boiling water. For kids, it's often made with simmering milk and sometimes sugar.

Russia's Egg Soups

In Russia, people often add semolina to chicken stock. This makes the soup more filling before the eggs are whisked in. It's often flavored with chopped scallion and black pepper. Sometimes, small egg dough dumplings are added, especially in southern regions.

Greece and Cyprus' Avgolemono

In Cyprus and Greece, the egg is beaten and slowly stirred into the soup. This stops it from curdling. Lemon and rice are also added to chicken stock to make avgolemono. This soup originally came from Jewish cuisine.

Images for kids

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  Mee ka tee is a Laotian egg curry noodle soup.

See also

In Spanish: Sopa de huevo para niños