Chinese Tomato Egg Recipe

Name: Tomato Egg Is the 20-Minute Meal You’ll Make Again and Again
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 18 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 1 pound plum tomatoes (4 to 5); 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 5 large eggs, beaten; 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil; 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper; Salt, as needed; 1 green onion, trimmed and sliced on a bias, to garnish; 2 cups steamed jasmine rice , for serving, optional

Chinese tomato egg stir-fry is a beloved classic dish that holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, it was a weekly staple at home. In fact, it is one of the few dishes my dad enjoys cooking because it has a short list of simple ingredients that transform into something delicious. This is one of those special recipes that rewards low effort with high reward.

Chinese tomato egg is commonly served with a bowl of jasmine rice. The saucy tomatoes will infuse and permeate through the grains, making each bite of rice exciting. The tomatoes add a slight tang that is balanced with a little sugar, and the gently scrambled eggs add a soft, silky, and velvety texture and soak up all the delicious flavors.

The Best Tomatoes for Tomato Egg

While you can use other tomato varieties, this recipe works great with Roma tomatoes, also known as plum tomatoes. Plum tomatoes have the perfect balance of firm and soft, which allows them to hold their shape under the quick and intense heat while also releasing just enough tomato juice without making this stir-fry too wet. They’re also affordable and easy to find at your local grocery all year long.

To prepare the tomatoes, I recommend first cutting the tomato in half lengthwise. Trim the stemmed indent where the tomato connected to the vine. That part tends to be fibrous and firm, even after the addition of heat. Cut the tomato halves lengthwise into thirds.

Your Tomato Season Primer: 7 Types of Tomatoes and How to Use Each Kind

Tips for the Best Tomato Egg

Tomato egg is all about timing. By starting the process with a cold pan, the eggs will cook over slow and gradual heat, creating the softest scrambled eggs. It will also prevent them from browning. Overcooked eggs can taste coarse and rough, which makes it harder for them to absorb all the delicious tomato juices.

It is also very important to slightly undercook your scrambled eggs during this step. Remove the scrambled eggs when they are just barely soft scrambled since they will keep cooking after they’re removed from the heat. This will help prevent them from overcooking when we add the eggs back to the tomatoes for a quick toss at the end.

An Easy Substitution

Chicken bouillon powder is a wonderful way to add a boost of umami with a touch of sodium. My favorite brand is Lee Kum Lee’s Premium Chicken Bouillon. This recipe accounts for the sodium already present in the bouillon, so you won't need any additional salt.

If you prefer to use chicken broth, just add 1/4 cup along with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water at the end. Don’t forget to season with salt to taste since sodium levels in chicken broth can vary by brand. The cornstarch slurry will help bind the broth to create a thicker consistency so that the stir-fry does not become tomato egg soup.

Quick Egg Dinners

Chinese Tomato Egg

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 13 mins

Total Time 18 mins

Servings 2 to 3

You can use chicken broth in place of the chicken bouillon powder. Add 1/4 cup of broth followed by 2 teaspoons of cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water, plus salt to taste.

1 pound plum tomatoes (4 to 5)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5 large large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 green onion, trimmed and sliced on a bias, to garnish
2 cups steamed jasmine rice, for serving, optional

Prepare the tomatoes:

Slice the tomatoes in half. Remove the tough stem from each half that connects to the vine. Cut each half into equal thirds (you’ll get 6 slices from each tomato).

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Make the soft scrambled eggs:

In a cold, 8 to 10-inch nonstick skillet, add the vegetable oil and beaten eggs. Turn the heat to medium. Once a thin layer of eggs is just beginning to cook on the bottom, push the eggs in one direction to create layers of scrambled eggs.

Cook, gently stirring the whole time, until the scramble eggs are mostly set but still slightly wet and shiny, 2 to 5 minutes. Remove the eggs to a plate and, if needed, wipe out the pan.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Stir-fry the tomatoes and seasonings:

Add the sesame oil to the pan followed by the tomatoes and stir-fry over medium heat until the tomatoes are softened but not mushy, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken bouillon powder, sugar, and white pepper. Toss until combined and the sugar and bouillon have dissolved, about 1 minute.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Add eggs, stir-fry, and garnish:

Add the eggs back to the pan with the tomatoes. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes to heat through and combine. Taste, adding salt only if needed. Sprinkle with the green onions and serve with steamed rice.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
217	Calories
14g	Fat
10g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 3
Amount per serving
Calories	217
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g	19%
Saturated Fat 3g	16%
Cholesterol 310mg	103%
Sodium 639mg	28%
Total Carbohydrate 10g	4%
Dietary Fiber 2g	7%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 22mg	109%
Calcium 69mg	5%
Iron 2mg	11%
Potassium 492mg	10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.