Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 6 votes

May 03, 2022, Updated May 11, 2022

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Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry is a comfort food staple and reminds me of my childhood when my grandparents would take care of me as a young child. I loved the contrasting textures of the scrambled egg, silky egg, and stewed tomatoes that turned into this magical gravy-like consistency that covered the freshly steamed rice. There are probably hundreds of different ways families make this classic stir fry, but this is the version I grew up eating and love so much!

Watch the Tomato Egg Stir Fry Recipe Video Below!

Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry - CJ Eats Recipes (2)
Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry - CJ Eats Recipes (3)

Ingredients for Tomato Egg Stir Fry

The good news is, this dish does not require many ingredients, and the cooking technique is what makes this dish so special! Here is what you’ll need:

  • Tomatoes (I like using vine-ripe tomatoes, but roma tomatoes will also work!)
  • Eggs
  • Scallions or Green Onions
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Sesame Oil
  • Shaoxing Wine
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I was always taught to slicing the tomatoes into quarters for this dish. The tomatoes are small enough to break down and create the sauce with the eggs, but large enough to still hold up and provide texture in the end result! I absolutely love the balance from the creamy egg and sweet/savory element from the tomatoes!

Key Ingredient Tips for Tomato Egg Stir Fry

INGREDIENTS TIPS

TOMATOES
I typically use vine-ripe tomatoes for this dish, but feel free to substitute with Roma tomatoes here. You will need about 1.5 lbs or 750g in total for this serving size!

SHAOXING WINE

If you cannot or do not want to use wine, you can sub with sherry, mirin, or chicken stock!

Scramble Half The Eggs

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The first step of this dish is to soft scramble half of your beaten egg. This is going to be one element of the contrasting texture of this dish. Beat your eggs in a bowl, then heat 1 tbsp of oil over medium high heat and add in half the mixture. Remove once soft scrambled and set aside.

Sauté Aromatics and Simmer Tomatoes

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Once the eggs are removed, sauté the garlic and ginger for a few seconds until they become fragrant, then add your tomatoes and cook and slightly crush them to help break them down. Cook them over medium high heat for a few minutes until they are broken down and the mixture is slightly loose. This is the consistency you want at this point!

Don’t worry if the mixture looks too loose, because once you add the remaining eggs and scallions you will be able to thicken the stir fry to your desired consistency with a cornstarch slurry (I personally like mine on the thicker side, which is almost a gravy-like consistency). It’s perfect with a freshly steamed bowl of rice!

Temper in the Remaining Egg

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Once the tomatoes have broken down, add in the remaining half of your eggs and stir gently to let them set in the hot tomato mixture. This is essentially tempering the egg into a hot liquid which will cook the egg giving the dish a silky texture. It will lighten the color of the tomatoes and disperse throughout the mixture (this technique is also similar to Chinese soups such as Egg Drop Soup).

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Once the remaining half of the egg mixture has set, add back the soft scrambled egg and scallions and stir gently to combine. At this point, the mixture should still be quite loose, so add a cornstarch slurry a few tablespoons at a time and continue simmering until it has reached that gravy-like consistency. Serve it over steamed white rice and enjoy!

RECIPE TIPS

CONSISTENCY & TEXTURE
Two of the key elements of this dish are consistency and texture. I prefer a gravy-like consistency with goes so well with steamed rice, and you want to be gentle enough during the cooking process to keep the soft scrambled eggs in tact. The silky and soft scrambled eggs combined with the tomatoes is an amazing combination!

CORNSTARCH SLURRY
If you find that the dish is too watery at the end due to the tomatoes, do not worry! Just add a couple tablespoons of the cornstarch slurry mixture. Stir it in and continue simmering until you reach the desired consistency, adding more slurry if needed.

Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry - CJ Eats Recipes (11)

5 from 6 votes

Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 4

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb tomatoes, roughly 750g, about 6 medium size tomatoes
  • 4 large eggs, beaten, divided in half
  • 1 tbsp ginger, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp shaoxing wine
  • 2 scallions, chopped
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil

Cornstarch Slurry

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large pan or wok, heat 1 tbsp of oil over medium high heat, soft scramble half of the egg and set aside.

  • In the same pan over high heat, add 1 tbsp of oil and fry garlic and ginger for 15 seconds until fragrant.

  • Add chopped tomatoes and season with salt, white pepper, sesame oil, and shaoxing wine. Simmer for 3-5 minutes over medium high heat to break down the tomatoes.

  • Add remaining eggs and let the eggs sit in the tomatoes for 30 seconds until they set, stirring gently. Add reserved soft scrambled egg and scallions and mix to combine. If the stir fry is too loose, add the cornstarch slurry 2 tbsp at a time and stir until the stir fry becomes gravy-like. Top with scallions and serve over rice – enjoy!

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry - CJ Eats Recipes (12)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

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Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-Fry - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to stir fry? ›

How to make a stir-fry
  • Prepare all the ingredients before turning on the heat. ...
  • Slice meat and vegetables for maximum surface area. ...
  • Use a wok or cast-iron pan. ...
  • The aromatics should be cooked low and slow. ...
  • But the stir fry needs to be cooked fast and hot. ...
  • Add ingredients according to cook time. ...
  • Stir your ingredients often.
Jan 25, 2024

Where did Chinese egg and tomato come from? ›

Scrambled eggs have been eaten in China for thousands of years, but cooking them with tomatoes is a result of mixing Chinese and Western cuisine. In the 1920s and 1930s, stir-fried tomato and scrambled eggs was sold at restaurants.

What is the secret ingredient in Chinese stir-fry? ›

Some other possible secret ingredients are:
  • Bacon: This adds a smoky and salty flavor and a crispy texture to the dish. ...
  • Kimchi: This adds a spicy and sour flavor and a crunchy texture to the dish. ...
  • Cheese: This adds a creamy and cheesy flavor and a gooey texture to the dish.
May 28, 2023

What not to put in stir-fry? ›

Using the Wrong Oil: Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil or peanut oil, to prevent burning. Olive oil, for instance, might not be suitable for high-heat stir-frying. Adding Too Much Sauce: While sauce adds flavor, using too much can make the stir-fry soggy.

What is tomato called in China? ›

Tomato has two names: 番茄(fān qié) and 西红柿(xī hóng shì). What's else, potato in Chinese could be 土豆(tǔ dòu),马铃薯(mǎ líng shǔ) and 洋芋(yáng yù).

Why do Chinese give red eggs? ›

Origin and folklore

Similar to Western Easter eggs, in Chinese culture eggs symbolize birth or a new start; thus, it is of paramount importance for eggs to be served to guests during an important birthday (such as the first month or first year). The color red symbolizes prosperity and good fortune to the Chinese.

What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

How do you make stir-fry taste like a restaurant? ›

Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.

How do I get more Flavour in my stir-fry? ›

Fresh ginger, chili and garlic will ALWAYS spice up whatever stir-fry you make. I like using a little bit of sesame oil. It adds a little extra something that gives a dish depth. Soy sauce is a good start but I always add: rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, sambal olek paste, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and onion.

What makes stir-fry delicious? ›

A great stir-fry typically consists of four important components: protein, vegetables, aromatics, and sauce. Standard stir-fry starts with one pound of protein and two pounds of vegetables, and a basic stir-fry sauce (recipe below). You can add aromatics or herbs to change the flavor profile of your dish.

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