This flavorful keto egg drop soup is made without cornstarch, yet it's very rich and wonderfully satisfying.
Don't worry about getting the eggs just right - the soup is delicious even when imperfect!
There's something so comforting about this delicious soup. I find the combination of a rich broth and delicate egg ribbons, all flavored with soy sauce and green onions, irresistible.
While I enjoy many soup recipes (this onion soup is wonderful and so is this cabbage soup), egg drop soup is my favorite soup to eat when I'm under the weather.
Classic chicken broth is great too, but the addition of eggs makes this one extra satisfying. And the Asian flavors are just wonderful and can penetrate through the stuffiest of noses.
Jump to:
Ingredients
You'll only need a few ingredients to make this tasty soup. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Eggs: I use large eggs in most of my recipes, this one included.
Kosher salt and garlic powder: I use them to season the eggs.
Chicken broth: Store-bought or homemade - both work. See the detailed discussion below on what broth to use.
Soy sauce: I use reduced-sodium soy sauce in most of my recipes. I find that traditional soy sauce is too salty. Obviously, you can also use a gluten-free alternative.
Green onion: I only use the green parts in this recipe. They add flavor and color to the soup.
Instructions
Making egg drop soup is so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
You start by heating the broth and soy sauce.
While the broth is heating up, in a spouted measuring cup, you whisk the eggs with salt and garlic powder.
When the broth starts to boil, use a non-slotted spoon to stir the soup. Slowly drip the egg mixture into the broth, continually stirring as you pour. Make sure you stir in the same direction.
As soon as you're done pouring the eggs in, remove the soup from the heat and pour it into soup bowls. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve.
Expert tip
In traditional recipes, corn starch is usually added to the broth to thicken it.
In my version, I skip the corn starch. While the soup is not as thick as the ones you'd get at a restaurant, I find that the egg ribbons provide plenty of thickening and the soup is wonderfully thick and creamy.
Frequently asked questions
This is a traditional Chinese soup. It's sometimes called "egg flower soup" which is a literal translation of its Chinese name.
Not really. Before I made this soup for the first time, I conducted some online research, and boy, you would think that dropping a raw egg into a hot broth was rocket science! They really scared me into thinking it would be impossible.
But I found it quite easy actually. Sure, you should expect to have to practice the technique a couple of times until you get it just right. But hey -- relax! Even when the consistency of the eggs is not exactly perfect, this soup is still delicious. I should know. 😉
If you don't have homemade chicken broth on hand, it's fine to use a store-bought one. My favorite store-bought chicken broth brand is Pacific Foods. It's very tasty, and the list of ingredients is fairly short.
Whatever broth you choose, it's best NOT to use a low-sodium one in this recipe. While great as a base in many other recipes, it lacks flavor, and in this recipe, it's going to be noticeable.
Serving suggestions
This soup is perfect as a first course. It naturally works with Asian-style meals such as sweet and sour meatballs, but it's versatile enough to be served with almost any meal.
You can also serve a bowl of this soup as a light lunch, especially if you add tofu cubes to the soup after you've stirred the eggs into it. Another way to make it into a complete meal is to add cooked chicken cubes or tiny cooked meatballs.
Storing leftovers
You can keep this soup in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days and reheat it, covered, in the microwave.
The leftovers should be thoroughly reheated to 165° F before serving. And you should be aware that the eggs might end up rubbery after reheating. So while keeping the leftovers is possible, it's probably best to only make as much as you can finish right away.
Related recipes
Foodie Newsletter
I send out a weekly newsletter with a recipe and tips. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.
Recipe Card
Keto Egg Drop Soup
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth - not low-sodium (I use Pacific Natural)
- 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce - (or a gluten-free alternative)
- 2 large eggs
- Pinch Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- Pinch garlic powder
- 1 large green onion - chopped (green parts only)
Instructions
- Heat the broth and soy sauce in a medium pot over medium-high heat.
- While the broth is heating up, in a spouted measuring cup, whisk the eggs with the salt and garlic powder.
- When the broth starts to boil, use a non-slotted spoon (such as a wooden spoon) to stir the soup. Slowly drip the egg into the broth, continually stirring as you pour the eggs. Make sure you stir in the same direction.
- As soon as you're done pouring the eggs in, remove the soup from the heat and pour it into soup bowls. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve.
Video
Notes
Whatever broth you choose, it's best NOT to use a low-sodium one in this recipe. While great as a base in many other recipes, it lacks flavor, and in this recipe, it's going to be noticeable.
Nutrition per Serving
Disclaimers
Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
nascar4433
Hello Vered! Hope you're having a great weekend. I'm wondering if I'm missing a link or something, because in most of your recipes it shows lots of Comments (100+), however I'm unable to see any of them. I'm going to try this, as well as your homemade chicken broth, cauliflower, and broccoli/cheddar/parm, but I always love reading other people's experiences so I know if I should try any helpful hints or variations. I've already saved a number of your recipes to Pinterest and look forward to making them. I'm currently undergoing major dental work, and am on the hunt for soups, etc. that I don't have to chew. Will be looking through all of your other great-looking recipes in a few months when I can eat normally again. Keep up the great work! looking forward to your subscription emails. Thanks.
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi! Readers can rate each of my recipes or leave a comment. Most choose to leave a star rating. In addition, I only opened the comments section on this website a few months ago. For years, comments were disabled, so people could only leave star ratings. So, no, you're not missing anything. Wishing you a quick and complete recovery from the dental work!