A quick and easy egg drop soup with crab meat. It's one of the most comforting Chinese soups to make all year round. So delicious and something my entire family enjoys!
This egg drop soup with crab meat is so easy to make. It's loaded with goodness and it tastes better than the restaurant version.
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What is Egg Drop Soup
Egg drop soup or egg flower soup or Dànhuātāng is one of the most popular soup menu items that you can find at any Chinese restaurant.
It's a silky and thin soup that is usually made with lightly beaten eggs, chicken stock, and simple seasoning.
My version of egg drop soup is made with additional crab meat and corn.
Ingredients
This egg drop soup with crab meat is made of chicken stock, ginger, eggs, crab meat, sesame oil, corn starch, creamed corn, white pepper, and used scallions as a garnish.
Crab meat: You can use canned or fresh crab meat or imitation crab based on your liking and availability.
Corn: In this recipe, I used creamed corn. If you are not a big fan of it, you can use sweet corn kernels instead.
How to Make Egg Drop Soup with Crab Meat
Making your own soup can't get any easier than this! It's so easy to put together, a no-fuzz side dish for any night of the week or a busy weekend.
Step 1. Cook the Broth
- Bring chicken broth, black pepper, and ginger to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Step 2. Thicken the Soup
- Add crab meat, creamed corn, and cornstarch mixture. Stirring until the broth is thickened.
- Add more cornstarch and water mixture if needed until it reaches the desired consistency.
Step 3. Add the Beaten Egg
- Stir the broth in a circular motion, creating a "whirlpool" then slowly pour the lightly beaten egg into the pot as you stir. Let the soup sit for 15 seconds.
- Turn off the heat, and stir in the sesame oil, and chopped scallions. Serve the soup while still warm.
What to Serve with
This soup is the perfect side dish for any Chinese meal, such as:
- Sweet and Sour Fish
- Homemade Crab Rangoon
- Instant Pot Fried Rice
- Chicken in Black Bean Sauce
- Chinese Eggplant with Minced Pork
- Spicy Sichuan Noodles
- Chinese Sausage Fried Rice
- Hunan Beef Cumin
- Shrimp and Green Peas Stir Fry
- Minced Pork Noodles Soup
FAQ and Cooking Tips
Yes, you can. You can turn this recipe into a basic egg drop soup by skipping the crab meat and creamed corn.
I don't think it's a good idea and I don't recommend freezing the egg drop soup.
Yes, you can. If you do that, you'll need about 6 egg whites.
Storage
Discard any leftover egg drop soup that has been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature or 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F. You can learn more here.
- Let the soup cools down to room temperature before refrigerating.
- Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container.
- Store the leftovers for 3-4 days in the fridge.
How to Reheat
- On the stove. Put the leftover soup in a saucepan. Reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot.
- In the microwave. Place the leftover soup in a microwave-safe bowl. Reheat for a minute or longer until hot.
I hope you'll enjoy this recipe and share it with friends! If you try it and don't mind, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating. Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly recipes and follow me on Pinterest.
📖 Recipe
Egg Drop Soup with Crab Meat
Ingredients
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth (Here's a great recipe for Chinese chicken broth)
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground white pepper (or use black pepper, add more according to your liking)
- 3 whole eggs (lightly beaten)
- 6 oz crab meat
- 1 cup creamed corn
- 1 tablespoon corn starch (mix with 1 tablespoon of water)
- 3 stalks of scallions (green parts only, diced)
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
Method
- In a large pot, bring chicken broth, white pepper, and ginger to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add crab meat, creamed corn, and cornstarch mixture. Keep stirring for 4 minutes until the broth is thickened.Add more cornstarch and water mixture if needed until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Stir the broth in a circular motion, creating a "whirlpool" then slowly pour the lightly beaten egg into the pot as you stir. Let the soup sit for 15 seconds. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed.Turn off the heat, stir in the sesame oil and chopped scallions. Serve the soup while still warm.
Katherine says
I love this crab twist on the classic egg drop soup! Such a great idea.
Rika says
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Katherine!
Jo says
All I can say is this soup was amazing! My family inhaled it! Absolutely PERFECT!
Rika says
I am glad your family loved it, Jo! Thanks for sharing the feedback.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I've hear of egg drop soup but never tried it before. Interesting to read more about how you make it.
Rika says
I am glad that you found this post useful, Jacqueline.
Dionne says
Fantastic soup recipe that I just love looking at. Not sure what will happen when I make it... well, I know what - it will be gone in no time LOL
Rika says
Thanks, Dionne!
Caroline says
I haven't had this in so long, but it's such a comforting and tasty soup.