What is Egg Foo Young? All You Need to Know
The first time I tasted egg foo young, I was shocked. I wondered what was so delicious. Let's take a closer look!
What is Egg Foo Young?
Egg foo young is a classic Chinese dish. It is an egg roll fried in a sauce made from soy sauce, and its history can be traced back to the 19th century.
Egg foo young is a specialty of Chinese restaurants across the United States. There are various ways to make it. It involves beating eggs and stir-frying them with other ingredients. The texture is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Its name comes from "furong," which means delicate like a lotus flower.
Traditional egg foo young usually includes some vegetables, meat, or seafood, stir-fried into a delicious dish that is pleasing to the eye, nose, and tongue. In restaurants, you often see it served with different sauces, which adds flavor and layers to the dish.
Simply put, egg foo young is a delicious dish that can showcase the aroma of eggs and is very soft and tender. If you want to make it yourself, you can add different ingredients according to your personal taste!
Is Chinese Egg Foo Young Healthy?
If you choose to make egg foo young yourself, it is one of the healthiest dinners because it is made from eggs and is a low-fat, low-carbohydrate, and high-protein delicacy.
Even though egg foo young in restaurants may contain a bit more cooking oil, it is still relatively healthy and can be served with fresh vegetables such as bean sprouts and carrots.
What Is the Difference Between Egg Foo Young and an Omelette?
Although egg foo young and omelette look similar, there are actually quite a few differences between them:
Production Method
Egg Foo Young: It is made by mixing egg liquid with various ingredients (such as barbecued pork, shrimp, shredded bamboo shoots, mushrooms, etc.) and then frying. The key to making it is to fully mix the egg liquid with other ingredients and fry it into chunks until both sides are golden brown.
Omelette: The egg liquid needs to be spread into a thin egg skin. Then, spread minced meat or other ingredients on the egg skin, roll it up, and steam or fry it until cooked. Emphasis is placed on the thinness of the egg skin and the shape of the roll.
Taste and Flavor
Egg Foo Young: The outer layer is crispy, and the inside is tender and juicy. After various ingredients are mixed with the egg liquid, the taste is rich, and the egg aroma is strong.
Omelette: The taste is more inclined to the toughness of the egg skin and the deliciousness of the filling. The egg skin wraps the filling, making the overall taste more compact.
Style and Use
Egg Foo Young: It is a traditional Cantonese dish and belongs to the Cantonese cuisine. It is suitable as a main dish or a side dish.
Omelette: It is a modified Chinese egg roll. It can be used as breakfast or as a staple food for a regular meal.
How Are You Supposed to Eat Egg Foo Young?
There are many ways to eat egg foo young. You can use a knife and fork to cut the egg foo young and eat it, or you can use a knife to chop the egg foo young into small pieces and then dip it in gravy and eat it with chopsticks.
In terms of pairing, egg foo young can be served with white rice. Eating the white rice covered with sauce has a rich taste and is delicious. It can also be eaten with vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, and broccoli to balance the nutrition.
Authentic Egg Foo Young Recipe
Ingredients
4 eggs
8 ounces of fresh bean sprouts
1 cup of cooked small shrimps
⅓ cup of thinly sliced scallions
¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
3 cups of chicken broth
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of Chinese cooking wine
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
Steps
Put the bean sprouts, shrimp, eggs, scallions, and garlic powder into a large bowl and mix well.
Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Pour about 1/2 cup of the egg mixture into the frying pan to make a patty.
Repeat this process and put more egg patties into the frying pan. Fry the patties in batches until both sides are golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.
Make the sauce: Put the chicken broth, cornstarch, sugar, cooking wine, and soy sauce into a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat; cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the egg patties with a spoon to complete the dish.
What's the Best Way to Heat Up Egg Foo Young?
The best way to reheat egg foo young is to heat it slowly over low heat to help maintain its tender texture.
You can put the egg foo young in a frying pan and heat it over low heat, covering the pan. Make sure the surface of the egg doesn't dry out easily and the inside stays smooth and tender.
If you are reheating already-made egg foo young, you can add a little water or chicken broth and then heat it slowly over low heat to help maintain the original moistness.
Alternatively, you can use a microwave oven, but be careful not to heat it for too long to avoid overheating and making the egg hard. You can put the egg foo young in a microwave-safe container, heat it for 20 - 30 seconds and then check. If it's not hot enough, you can heat it a little more.
