10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Aida

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Simplest and fastest egg drop soup recipe without cornstarch. Only 5 ingredients and 10 minutes are needed for this keto, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, and gluten-free soup! Shall we?

10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (1)
Jump to:
  • Background
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Comforting Soups
  • Thoughts?
  • Egg-drop Soup (Without Cornstarch)
  • More Recipe 💙

Background

We have a thing for soups (see: Semolina Noodle Chicken Soup, Beef Noodle, and Minestrone). But this one holds a very special place in our hearts!

To prepare it, you'll whisk a beaten egg in the hot broth until small ribbons or ‘flowers’ are formed. This process is how the soup got its name.

It’s hard to know exactly where it originated as soups with eggs and egg drop noodles are widespread. There is the Chinese flower soup, Italian Stracciatella, and more.

However, regardless of how many versions exist, our egg ribbon soup is the simplest and possibly tastiest of them all!

Why This Recipe Works

  • For a soup made so quickly, it’s absolutely delicious! It'll be the best 10 minutes you'll spend this week!
  • You probably already have all the ingredients on hand.
  • This soup has LESS THAN 2% CARBS per serving. That's as low carb as it gets!
  • It's also keto, paleo, vegetarian and gluten-free!
  • No cornstarch, which means the soup doesn't become slimy or gelatinous. Instead, the broth is light and incredibly smooth.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients for our egg drop soup.

10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (2)
  • Stock: Sub with different broth or bouillon (cubes, cubed stock, or stock granules all work). All flavors work! We prefer chicken as it naturally goes well with eggs.
  • Egg: Sub with duck, goose, or quail egg.
  • Additional seasonings: Paprika, ginger, or Vegeta.
  • Parsley: Sub with green onion.
  • Thickening agents: For a thicker broth add a tablespoon of flour to the melting butter before adding the broth. This will make a light roux.

Instructions

Here's how to make this soup!

10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (3)

1. Heat the oil. Add butter.
2. Add stock. Stir. Bring to a boil.

10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (4)

3. Beat an egg. Add salt.
4. Add egg to soup. Whisk. Cook.
5. (Optional) Garnish.

Expert Tips

  • Taste: While egg ribbons taste like delicious, steamed scrambled eggs, the overall soup flavor depends on your choice of soup stock or broth. Take note that this is the kind of soup that tastes best when made, and for up to a couple of hours.
  • Storing & Reheating: While we don't recommend it at all, if you do choose to keep the soup overnight, keep it in the fridge. In this case, you MUST boil it before serving, not only reheat it. The taste of the egg will definitely change.
  • Thickening: A light roux or cornstarch will thicken it. However, cornstarch is broken down by enzymes which later causes sliminess. So, if you want a thicker egg drop soup make sure to go with the roux.

Recipe FAQs

Is egg drop soup bad for you?

Not at all. It's nourishing and tasty. You'll probably be putting it in your regular rotation.

Can egg drop soup go bad?

Yes. We recommend you eat this soup within a few hours of making it. If it tastes sour when you try it, discard it. While there are sour egg drop recipes, this soup isn’t supposed to be sour at all.

Is egg drop soup good for you when you’re sick?

Like most warm liquids, egg drop soup feels great to eat when you’re down with a cold. We don’t claim any medicinal properties though.

More Comforting Soups

  • Potato Soup
  • Dive Bar Veal Stew
  • Cream of Spaghetti Squash
  • Bey's Soup
  • Meaty Minestrone Soup

Thoughts?

If you make today's egg-drop soup without cornstarchandlike it, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5-star) rating. This will help others find the recipe more easily!

You can also leave a comment, I read EVERY one! Finally, if IG is more your thing, consider tagging us@balkanlunchbox.

Prijatno, Dobar Tek, and Bon Appetit!

10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (5)

Egg-drop Soup (Without Cornstarch)

Aida

Amazing 10-minute, 5-ish ingredients, no cornstarch egg-drop soup! Keto, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, and gluten-free.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 minute min

Cook Time 9 minutes mins

Course Soups & Stews

Cuisine Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Servings 3

Calories 188 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cups chicken broth hot
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Optional 2-3 tablespoons parsley (minced)

Instructions

  • In a medium pot heat up butter and oil over high until butter melts.

  • Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.

  • (Parallel to step 2) In a small bowl beat an egg and salt until the egg yolk and egg white are completely integrated.

  • Lower the temperature to low. Slowly pour the beaten egg into the broth while whisking (1-2 min). Cook another 3-4 minutes.

  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Notes

  • Substitute chicken broth with vegetable or beef broth, or bouillon. If using bouillon use 2 teaspoons of powder, or 2 cubes, per 4 cups of water. Furthermore, you can substitute parsley with green onion, or omit it completely.
  • For a thicker soup make a light roux. This is done by adding a tablespoon of flour to the melted butter and whisking it together until it turns dark yellow. Then add the broth.
  • It’s best to consume this soup within a few hours of making it as the egg changes consistency after a while. Otherwise, keep it in the fridge and bring it to a boil before serving. Be aware the taste won't be the same as when you first made it.

Nutrition information is a rough estimate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 3Sodium: 1455mgSugar: 1.1gFiber: 0.1gCholesterol: 65mgCalories: 188kcalSaturated Fat: 4.6gFat: 16.2gProtein: 8.5gCarbohydrates: 1.6g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Recipe 💙

  • Ajvar
  • Meat Pie Recipe with Ground Beef (Ćoravi Burek)
  • Easy Baked Chicken Over Rice Casserole (Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks) [4 Ingredients, 1 Pan]
  • Savory Crepes [Layered, Spinach and Cheese Filling]

« Sarajevo Pizza Recipe

Baked Zucchini Slices with Breading [Casserole, Side Dish, Main Course] »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. E. Dominick says

    10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (10)
    I have been meaning to post a comment for years in order to thank you for this recipe! I stumbled upon it while I was a college student in the middle of final exams. Though my kitchen wasn’t abundant in ingredients, I always had the eggs, butter, and chicken broth on hand to make this soup. This soup fueled many late nights of studying, some pre- and post- party sessions, and even my graduation. Five years later and I still make this on quiet nights thinking back on how much I have grown and the many times I made this soup for myself, friends, and families. Wonderful memories and an amazing soup. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Reply

    • Aida says

      Erin,
      Thank you for stopping by to leave this comment. It made us teary eyed! These kinds of stories are the reason why we do what we do.
      Hope you have many more moments of quiet reflection of how far you've grown, and what a wonderful life you're leading.
      Best,
      Aida and Aleksandra

      Reply

  2. Maria Korunich says

    10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (11)
    I think this is going to be my new go-to recipe. I am a terrible Croatian because I just don't like soup. Very Rarely will I eat or make soup. However, I was in the mood for soup today but didn't want to mess up my entire kitchen before the weekend, and have something simmering forever, or anything too rich or thick. I came across this recipe and was very hesitant, but the 10-minutes and less than half a sink of dishes sold me. It tastes amazing. I didn't have to leave the house to get more ingredients.
    5 Stars for convenience
    5 Stars for taste
    5 Stars for how easy it was
    5 Stars for a quick to clean kitchen
    Absolutely love it.

    Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!

    Reply

    • Aida says

      Maria,
      You are most certainly not a terrible Croatian 🙂
      Glad the recipe is to your liking. I know what you mean about having to leave the house for ingredients...
      Have a lovely rest of the weekend.

      Reply

      • Nada says

        10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (12)
        Saw this recipe for egg drop soup and had to make it. The flavors brought back so many memories. Dad would make this "fancy" soup only once a year for Slava so it was considered a special treat. Didn't realize all those years ago that it was so easy to make. Tastes so good. So I will be making this again many times. Thank you for the recipe.

        Reply

        • Aida says

          Nada,
          It's an honor for us to help you bring back good memories. Your dad sounds like he was/is a special guy.
          Wishing you a happy Slava!

  3. Angela Orr says

    I'm not a very good cook, and one of the reasons is because I struggle with vague instructions. "Whisk energetically" was not clear to me, and so I think I whisked too much. Or, it's possible this is not the kind of egg drop soup I was expecting. The egg is much too broken up. Instead of cooking in a... stringy Manor(?) it is in tiny pieces clouding up the water.

    As I said, I am not a good cook, and do not blame the recipe! Would you agree that over whisking is probably the problem?

    Reply

    • Aida says

      Angela,
      It's probably not due to over-whisking but because of the absence of starch. (This is more of a silky and light version.)
      For more solid noodles look for a recipe with cornstarch.
      Happy cooking!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

10-Minute Egg Drop Soup Recipe (Without Cornstarch) - Balkan Lunch Box (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of cornstarch in egg drop soup? ›

Yes, you can substitute flour for cornstarch in egg drop soup, but it may slightly alter the texture and clarity of the broth. It's also not a common substitute used in Chinese soup recipes, Use less flour as it's denser.

Why is Chinese egg drop soup so thick? ›

Beating the eggs with cornstarch before adding to the broth thickens them so they will be evenly distributed throughout the broth.

Can you just crack an egg into soup? ›

Stir an egg into soup.

If you're making soup, have an egg at the ready. When you remove the broth from the heat, crack an egg into the hot broth and stir slowly. The yolk and white will poach slowly in the liquid and absorb the flavor of the soup and ingredients, adding heartiness and rich texture to your broth.

Is egg drop soup bad for upset stomach? ›

A: No, but you may want to have two or three bowls of egg drop soup per day. The eggs it is made with are rich in albumin, a protein that is easily digested and absorbed into the bloodstream.

What can I use to thicken soup if I don't have cornstarch? ›

5 Best Cornstarch Substitutes
  • All-Purpose Flour. Yep, that's right — all-purpose flour is a very stable thickener. ...
  • Arrowroot Powder. If you happen to have this starch on hand, you're in luck: It has the same thickening power as cornstarch, and it creates a beautiful, shiny sauce. ...
  • Potato Starch. ...
  • Rice Flour. ...
  • Tapioca Starch.
Jun 23, 2023

Why is my egg drop soup like jelly? ›

When you simmer a fresh chicken — complete with bones, skin, and meat — you extract the collagen from the bones. This collagen in the bones is what is causing your soup to gel. It's completely natural, and it only happens in rich, well-made chicken stock.

What broth is egg drop soup made of? ›

Egg drop soup is a popular takeout staple at Chinese restaurants made with wispy beaten eggs in chicken broth. It's normally seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper, thickened with a cornstarch slurry, and garnished with chopped green onions.

Do people in China eat egg drop soup? ›

In Chinese cuisine, egg drop soups have a thinner consistency than most common Western variants. Depending on the region, they may be garnished with ingredients such as tofu, scallion, bean sprouts and corn.

Is it OK to eat raw egg in soup? ›

A: USDA and Extension Service recommend against the use of raw eggs in any product.

Which is better for you egg drop soup or hot and sour soup? ›

With the egg drop soup, you get cholesterol and saturated fat from the eggs in high-sodium chicken broth. The hot and sour soup has tofu and vegetables, but is loaded with sodium-rich soy sauce. Which is worse? At about 100 calories per cup, "calorically, they're okay," says Klatell.

Is egg drop soup supposed to be gooey? ›

If it is runny you can add in more corn starch, flour, or other thickeners that you prefer. Egg Drop Soup should be a clear, creamy color with a thick texture with a white-looking ribbon that floats in the soup.

What does egg drop soup do for your body? ›

Provides Warmth and Comfort: Warm soups, including egg drop soup, can be soothing and comforting, especially during colder weather. The warmth may also help relieve nasal congestion and provide relief from cold or flu symptoms.

Is egg drop soup good for your gut? ›

This soup has so many healing benefits and is a great option for when you're feeling a cold coming on, inflamed from eating too much junk food, to help alleviate sinus pressure, cramps and many other uncomfortable situations. The bone broth is also great for your gut health and helps with digestive issues.

Is egg drop soup bad for dogs? ›

Just like human appetisers, this recipe is NOT a replacement for your dog's homemade dog food or kibble diet. It should not be fed as a regular or main meal for your dog as it is not well balanced.

What can I use instead of cornstarch for crispy? ›

If you don't have cornstarch, you can substitute all-purpose flour in favor for a more routine breading and frying procedure. You can also use rice flour or potato flour, which are commonly used for tempura, and this will create a similar lacy, crunchy texture.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch in soup? ›

Flour can be used to thicken a soup because of the gluten and protein found in flour. Once wet, the gluten in the flour will expand and create a paste that will help to thicken your soup. In order to thicken a soup with flour, take a small portion of it, and mix in the flour until it is fully dissolved.

How do you make soup thicker without flour or cornstarch? ›

Add a can of lentils or cannellini beans, mashing about half before you mix it in. Add 1/2 cup rice or pasta per 4 cups of liquid, providing just enough time for it to cook before serving (typically about 20 minutes for rice or 10-12 minutes for pasta).

Top Articles
Snickers Fudge Recipe
Halifax Donair Recipe: Learn How to Make the Meat & Sauce! | Mediocre Chef
Dainty Rascal Io
Plaza Nails Clifton
Body Rubs Austin Texas
Tj Nails Victoria Tx
Polyhaven Hdri
Watch Mashle 2nd Season Anime Free on Gogoanime
Klustron 9
Craigslist In South Carolina - Craigslist Near You
Craigslist Estate Sales Tucson
2135 Royalton Road Columbia Station Oh 44028
Reddit Wisconsin Badgers Leaked
10 Best Places to Go and Things to Know for a Trip to the Hickory M...
Transfer Credits Uncc
Classic Lotto Payout Calculator
Sonic Fan Games Hq
Wicked Local Plymouth Police Log 2022
Osborn-Checkliste: Ideen finden mit System
Parentvue Clarkston
Wausau Marketplace
St. Petersburg, FL - Bombay. Meet Malia a Pet for Adoption - AdoptaPet.com
Culver's Flavor Of The Day Taylor Dr
Today Was A Good Day With Lyrics
Happy Life 365, Kelly Weekers | 9789021569444 | Boeken | bol
Bethel Eportal
A Cup of Cozy – Podcast
Used Patio Furniture - Craigslist
CVS Health’s MinuteClinic Introduces New Virtual Care Offering
Craigslist Northern Minnesota
Criglist Miami
Puffin Asmr Leak
R/Sandiego
Craigslist Central Il
Lowell Car Accident Lawyer Kiley Law Group
Workday Latech Edu
Why The Boogeyman Is Rated PG-13
Kornerstone Funeral Tulia
Ethan Cutkosky co*ck
Busted Newspaper Mcpherson Kansas
Wordle Feb 27 Mashable
Penny Paws San Antonio Photos
Nu Carnival Scenes
Craigslist Houses For Rent Little River Sc
Iron Drop Cafe
Mytmoclaim Tracking
Mmastreams.com
Pelican Denville Nj
15:30 Est
Secondary Math 2 Module 3 Answers
Arre St Wv Srj
Honeybee: Classification, Morphology, Types, and Lifecycle
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Last Updated:

Views: 6824

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Birthday: 1993-03-26

Address: 917 Hyun Views, Rogahnmouth, KY 91013-8827

Phone: +5938540192553

Job: Administration Developer

Hobby: Embroidery, Horseback riding, Juggling, Urban exploration, Skiing, Cycling, Handball

Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.