老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Family classics

Tomato egg-drop soup

番茄蛋花湯
whets the appetiteAll year quick-boiled · 12 minutes A$2–7

“Just off the stove — drink it while it is hot.”

Ingredients

街市Tomato· beef tomatoes, cut into small chunks and fried first until they soften and give up their juice1 to 2, about 300 g
街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· do not beat the eggs all the way through, streaks of white and yolk look better2 to 3
街市Spring onion / scallion· chopped spring oniona pinch
百子櫃Tofu· optional, making 番茄豆腐蛋花湯 tomato tofu egg-drop soup1 block

Method

Fry the tomatoes first until they soften and release their juice, which gives a richer soup and draws out more lycopene, then add water and boil for 3 minutes. Pour the egg in slowly at the end so it sets into ribbons.

  1. Cut the tomatoes into small chunks and beat the eggs lightly, not all the way through.
  2. Heat the wok and fry the tomatoes until they soften and give up their juice.
  3. Add 800 ml of water and boil for about 3 minutes.
  4. Pour the egg in slowly so it sets into ribbons of white streaked with yolk.
  5. Finish with salt, sesame oil and chopped spring onion.

Who it suits

  • children
  • poor appetite
  • everyday family soup

Who should take care

  • it suits just about everyone; people with excess stomach acid should go easy on it on an empty stomach

Soup stories

A pan-Chinese home soup that has settled completely into the Hong Kong weeknight dinner. Together with 紫菜蛋花湯 seaweed egg-drop soup it makes up the egg-drop family, the anchor that turned 滾湯 quick-boiled soups into a category of their own.

From the same family

Double-boiled fish head with gastrodia, ligusticum and angelica dahuricaNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
天麻川芎白芷燉魚頭
calms the spiritAll yearAutumnWinter
街市Fish head (bighead carp)· 1 large fish head百子櫃Gastrodia tuber· 12 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 9 to 12 g百子櫃Dahurian angelica root· 12 to 15 g街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”

Fish head soup with ligusticum, angelica dahurica and gastrodiaNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
川芎白芷天麻魚頭湯
dispels coldrelaxes sinews and jointsWinterAll year
街市Fish head (bighead carp)· 1百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Dahurian angelica root· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Gastrodia tuber· 20 g (5 mace)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 4… +1

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”

Goji leaf, pig liver and lean pork soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
枸杞葉豬膶瘦肉湯（枸杞菜湯）
soothes the liverbrightens the eyesnourishes bloodSpringSummerAll year
街市Goji leaves· 1 to 2 bunches街市Pig liver· about 150 to 200 g街市Lean pork· about 150 g百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 tablespoon街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices百子櫃Rice wine (cooking wine)· a splash (少許)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Lo Fo Tong is cultural food-heritage reference, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, unwell or on medication, talk to your doctor or registered practitioner before changing what is in the pot.