Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry Foolproof Recipe

Why This Egg Recipe Works?

Adding starch to the tomatoes thickens the juices they release, preventing the eggs from getting watery. Cooking the eggs in the thickened tomato juices saves a step and ensures the eggs turn out nice and creamy. Ketchup fortifies the flavor and sweetness of tomatoes that aren’t perfectly ripe.

Ingredients for Tomato Egg Stir-Fry

Tomatoes - Normally, I would advocate for finding vine-ripened tomatoes, but this is a convenience food, and let’s face it, most of us don’t have access to perfect fresh tomatoes year-round. Between the high temperatures involved in stir-frying and the next ingredient, you can get away with just about any kind of tomato, but this recipe works best with pulpy tomatoes without a ton of seeds such as roma tomatoes. I also recommend peeling the tomatoes as the plasticky skins really get in the way of the smooth, creamy texture of the dish. I have a tutorial on how to peel tomatoes easily if you need pointers. Ketchup - Ketchup might sound like an odd ingredient to add to a stir-fry, but it’s basically just concentrated tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and spices. Tomatoes that aren’t sun-ripened will have a weak flavor while also lacking in sweetness and acidity. Ketchup addresses all of these issues. Starch - Starch helps to gel any liquid from the tomatoes and eggs, preventing them from becoming spongy and watery. I recommend using potato starch, but cornstarch or other types of starch will work in a pinch. I also use this technique in my Niratama recipe. White pepper - White pepper comes from the same plant as black pepper. The difference is in how they’re processed. While black pepper is simply picked and dried, white pepper is hulled and then left to ferment for about two weeks before being dried. This makes it less spicy than black pepper while imparting a unique aroma. If you’ve ever had white pepper and thought it smelled like a barnyard, it’s most likely because it was not processed properly or because it has oxidized. To avoid this, I recommend grinding the pepper yourself. If you don’t like the flavor, you can substitute black pepper. Eggs - Unlike boiled eggs, you want to use the freshest egg you can find for soft scrambled eggs. I like using eggs from hens fed a diet rich in beta-carotene, which gives the yolks a vibrant orange color. Soy Sauce - The tomatoes are seasoned with salt, but it’s also essential to season the eggs to ensure every bite of these Chinese scrambled eggs is flavorful. A small amount of soy sauce seasons the eggs and adds loads of umami. Just be careful not to overdo it, or your eggs will turn brown.

How to Make Tomato Egg Stir-Fry

Like most Chinese stir-fries, this tomato and scrambled egg dish is super simple, and quick to make, but the speed in which it cooks requires that you prep all of the ingredients and have them ready to go in advance. For the tomato stir-fry, mix the cut and peeled tomatoes with the ketchup, potato starch, salt and white pepper in a bowl until the starch is evenly distributed. For the eggs, break them into a separate bowl and beat them together with the soy sauce. Be careful not to overbeat the eggs, though, or it will make them tough. To stir-fry the tomatoes, add them to a hot nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat along with the oil. Be careful as the oil will spatter, but you want to keep the tomatoes moving around the pan to keep them from burning. Once the tomatoes have softened, you should have a nice thick sauce. Pour the egg mixture over the tomatoes and quickly turn down the heat all the way. Allow a layer of egg to set at the bottom of the pan before gently stirring up the curds with a spatula. Repeat until the eggs have thickened up in consistency and then briskly scramble the eggs for a few seconds. Get the eggs out of the pan as quickly as possible to keep them from overcooking. Top with some sprigs of cilantro or chopped green onion for garnish.

How to Serve Chinese Scrambled Eggs

Unlike its Western cousin, Chinese tomato egg stir-fry isn’t limited to breakfast. This protein packed entre can be served over steamed rice to make for a full meal, or as a part of a family-style spread of Chinese dishes. Check out the recipes below for some dishes you could serve this with.