# Hot and Sour Egg Drop Soup

> Make shortcut hot and sour egg drop soup with tofu, mushrooms, eggs, vinegar, soy sauce, white pepper, and pantry substitutions.

This recipe is written for home cooks in Europe and North America. Ingredient notes prioritize items available from regular supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, or common online retailers.

Image preview: /images/recipes/hot-and-sour-egg-drop-soup-1200.webp
Image full quality: /images/recipes/hot-and-sour-egg-drop-soup-1536.webp

## Overview

Hot and sour egg drop soup gives home cooks a comforting Chinese-style soup without needing a long stock or many restaurant ingredients. Eggs create ribbons, tofu adds protein, mushrooms give savory depth, and vinegar plus white pepper provide the hot-sour shape.

The recipe can be made with chicken stock or vegetable stock. Rice vinegar is easy to find, while Chinese black vinegar can be used when you want a deeper pantry flavor.


## Facts

- Servings: 4
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 12 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Heat level: Mild
- Tags: soup, vegetarian, high-protein, quick

## Why It Works

It uses common soup ingredients and pantry seasonings to create a comforting Chinese-style soup without a long stock.

## Ingredients

- chicken or vegetable stock: 4 cups. Substitution: Use vegetable stock for a vegetarian version.
- egg: 2 large.
- tofu: 200 g / 7 oz.
- mushroom: 150 g / 5 oz.
- soy sauce: 2 tbsp.
- rice vinegar: 2 tbsp. Substitution: Use Chinese black vinegar for deeper flavor, or white wine vinegar in a pinch.
- white pepper: 1/2 tsp.
- cornstarch: 1 tbsp.
- chili crisp: 1 tsp (optional).
- green onion: 2 (optional).

## Equipment

- Medium pot
- Small bowl
- Whisk

## Steps

1. Simmer the base

   Bring stock, mushrooms, tofu, soy sauce, vinegar, and white pepper to a gentle simmer.

2. Thicken lightly

   Stir cornstarch with cold water, then drizzle into the soup and simmer until lightly glossy.

3. Make egg ribbons

   Slowly pour beaten eggs into the moving soup. Turn off heat and finish with green onion and chili crisp if using.

## Western Grocery Notes

- White pepper is common in the spice aisle; black pepper works but tastes less classic.
- Button, cremini, or shiitake mushrooms all work.

## Substitutions

- Use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- Use black vinegar if available, or white wine vinegar if rice vinegar is missing.
- Skip chili crisp for a mild soup.

## Ingredient Alternatives

- Stock: Forms the soup base. Alternatives: Chicken stock, Vegetable stock, Mushroom broth. Use low-sodium stock if possible so soy sauce can season the soup cleanly.
- Vinegar: Creates the sour part of the soup. Alternatives: Rice vinegar, Chinese black vinegar, White wine vinegar. Add vinegar near the end and taste before adding more.
- White pepper: Adds the classic sharp heat. Alternatives: Black pepper, Chili crisp, Sichuan peppercorn. Black pepper works but tastes less traditional; chili crisp makes the soup redder and richer.

## Cook Better Next Time

- Thicken the soup lightly before adding eggs so the ribbons suspend in the broth.
- Pour beaten egg slowly while stirring the soup in one direction.
- Taste for vinegar and white pepper at the end because their strength fades as the soup simmers.

## FAQ

### Can hot and sour soup be vegetarian?

Yes. Use vegetable stock and check that any chili crisp or sauce you add is vegetarian.

### What makes hot and sour soup sour?

Vinegar gives the sour flavor. Rice vinegar is accessible, while Chinese black vinegar gives a deeper flavor.

### How do I make egg ribbons?

Drizzle beaten egg slowly into gently moving hot soup after it has been lightly thickened.

## Related Recipes

- [Shortcut Wonton Soup](/recipes/shortcut-wonton-soup/): A small-batch wonton soup with ground pork, store-bought wrappers, ginger, green onion, spinach, and a simple broth.
- [Soy Sauce Eggs](/recipes/soy-sauce-eggs/): Jammy eggs marinated with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, and vinegar for rice bowls or noodles.
- [Chinese Cucumber Salad](/recipes/chinese-cucumber-salad/): A crisp, garlicky side dish with cucumber, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and optional chili crisp.

## Internal Links

- Static recipe page: /recipes/hot-and-sour-egg-drop-soup/
- Markdown recipe mirror: /recipes/hot-and-sour-egg-drop-soup.md
- Recipe JSON-LD: /structured-data/recipes/hot-and-sour-egg-drop-soup.jsonld

## Community Prompt

Did you prefer more vinegar or more white pepper?