Egg waffle facts for kids
Small ball-shaped egg waffle and large European-style waffles at a street food stand
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| Alternative names | Bubble Waffle, Egg puff, egg waffle, puffle, gai daan jai, egglet |
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| Type | Pancake or waffle |
| Place of origin | Hong Kong |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk |
| Egg waffle | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 雞蛋仔 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 鸡蛋仔 | ||||||||||||
| Jyutping | Gai1 daan6 zai2 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Chicken egg + [diminutive suffix] | ||||||||||||
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An egg waffle is a super popular snack from Hong Kong and Macau. It's like a special waffle made from a yummy batter with lots of eggs. This batter is cooked in a unique pan that makes small, round, bubbly shapes.
People usually eat egg waffles hot. They are often enjoyed plain, but you can also find them with tasty toppings like fruit, coconut, or chocolate. In Hong Kong, they are called gai daan jai (雞蛋仔). In English, you might hear them called an egg puff, bubble waffle, or eggette. Sometimes, in Chinatowns in America, especially in New York, they are called Hong Kong cakes. One egg waffle usually has about 20 to 35 small, round "balls."
Egg waffles are one of the most loved "street snacks" in Hong Kong. They were even ranked number one on a list of 100 popular Hong Kong street snacks! They have been a favorite since the 1950s. Back then, they were cooked over coal fires and sold from small street stalls.
Contents
History of Egg Waffles
The exact start of the egg waffle, or gai daan jai, is a bit of a mystery. The name gai daan jai literally means "little chicken egg." Even though no one knows for sure, these waffles are a big part of Hong Kong's history for many people.
How Egg Waffles Might Have Started
One popular story says that after World War II, people in Hong Kong were very clever. Eggs were expensive, so they made a special batter without many eggs. They used an egg-shaped mold to make the waffles look like they had more eggs.
Another story suggests that street sellers bought broken eggs cheaply. They used these eggs to make the batter, which gave the waffles their classic golden color. Some people also think that the special iron pan used for gai daan jai is Hong Kong's own version of the traditional European waffle maker. Today, you can often find both egg waffles and regular waffles sold at the same food stands.
There's also a tale that in the 1950s, a shop owner didn't want to waste broken eggs. So, they added flour and butter, then baked the mix in a mold. However, even earlier, in 1944, a man named Mr. Cheung started selling something called daan jai kau from a cart. This was an older version of the egg waffle. Daan jai kau were bigger and often divided into 30 pieces to sell.
Making Egg Waffles
Egg waffles are made from a sweet batter that is rich in eggs. This batter is cooked on a hot griddle. This special griddle has many small, round cells, like tiny cups.
The Cooking Process
The griddle is placed over hot coals or, more commonly, on an electric heater. The batter is poured into the small cups of the pan. As it heats, the little oval shapes of the egg waffles start to form.
A key trick to making a crispy egg waffle is to quickly flip the pan after pouring in the batter. This helps create a waffle that is crispy on the outside and soft like cake on the inside. Each bubble on the waffle is crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.
Different Types of Batter
Most egg waffle batters are "quick breads," meaning they don't use yeast and cook fast. However, some are made with a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Egg waffles can be enjoyed at any time of day, depending on local customs.
Modern Flavours and Toppings
While the traditional egg waffle comes from Hong Kong, it has become popular all over the world. People are now making new and exciting versions of this classic snack.
New Flavours and Desserts
It's common to find egg waffles in many different flavors today. You might see green tea, chocolate, cheese, or even purple sweet potato flavored waffles.
Egg waffles have also become a popular dessert. They are often served with different kinds of ice cream, making them an even more special treat.
