About Egg Foo Young
Egg Foo Young is a Chinese-American dish that consists of a savory omelette filled with vegetables, meat and/or seafood, and topped with a thick gravy. It is often served with rice and is considered a classic dish in Chinese-American cuisine.
The dish is believed to have originated in the early 20th century in Chinese-American communities, and is thought to be a variation of a traditional Chinese dish called “fu yung egg slices” or “fu yung omelette”.
It is translated to “fu yung egg slices” in Mandarin Chinese, which is a Cantonese dish, and “fu yung omelette” in Cantonese. The dish is not a traditional Chinese dish. The name “Egg Foo Young” is likely a phonetic approximation of the original Chinese name for the dish, and it is not an accurate translation.
To Make at Home
An batter is made from eggs, flour, and a small amount of liquid such as water or milk. The batter is then mixed with a variety of ingredients such as vegetables, meat, and/or seafood, and then cooked in a skillet to form a large, fluffy omelette. The omelette is then topped with a thick gravy made from chicken or beef broth, cornstarch, and seasonings such as soy sauce and oyster sauce.
Do Chinese People Eat Egg Foo Young?
Egg Foo Young is not commonly found in China. The dish is believed to have originated in the early 20th century in Chinese-American communities, and is thought to be a variation of a traditional Chinese dish called “fu yung egg slices” or “fu yung omelette” which are considered as Cantonese dish. Although it’s not commonly found in China, you might find this dish in some Chinese-American restaurants in China or in Chinese-American communities. But it’s not a traditional dish in China.
What Do You Serve with Egg Foo Young?
It is often served with rice, making it a complete meal, but can be served as a main dish or a side dish. Usually, white rice or fried rice is served alongside egg foo young, but you can also use brown rice, quinoa or any other type of grain.
Additionally, egg foo young is often served with steamed or stir-fried vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, or bok choy to add some greens to the meal. It can also be served with other Chinese-American dishes, such as chow mein, lo mein, or sweet and sour dishes.
Egg foo young is also traditionally served with gravy, a thick sauce made from chicken or beef stock, cornstarch, and seasonings such as soy sauce and oyster sauce, which add a rich and savory flavor to the dish. Another popular accompaniment for egg foo young is hot sauce, which can be added to the gravy or served on the side, this way you can add some heat to the dish.
Egg Foo Young Recipe
Ingredients
For the Egg Foo Young
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup vegetables (mushrooms, onions, peppers) chopped
- ½ cup shredded meat or seafood chicken, pork, shrimp, crab
- vegetable oil for frying
For the Gravy
- 2 cups chicken stock beef works too
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, salt, and pepper. Stir in the vegetables and meat or seafood.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the oil is hot, use a ladle to pour the egg mixture into the skillet, making 3-4 small patties.
- Cook the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove the patties from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to remove any excess oil.
For the Gravy
- In a small saucepan, combine the broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, sugar, and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
To Serve
- To serve, place the Egg Foo Young patties on a plate and spoon the gravy over the top. Enjoy with rice or noodles.
3 Responses
Wonderful recipe I got from this web, I am registering latter for more futures recipes. On the other hand I would like to ask if anybody knows of any place that deliver Chinese ingredients to homes, Thanks Marina
Hi Marina, I think it would help if you mentioned where you live so someone in the area can respond. Otherwise, click on my link to Amazon.com and do a search. I’m guessing they have hundreds of Chinese ingredients that can be shipped to you. – RG
Egg Foo Young holds first place for our overseas pallet. Thanks for the simple recipe.
You are welcome Reverend Powell. Thanks for visiting and commenting. – RG
That was one of the most wonderful recipes I have ever tried.