Chinese Steamed Egg, also known as Water Egg, refers to light and savory Cantonese dish made from steamed egg. It is essentially a home-style dish which is a common preparation across China. While eggs are the main ingredient in the dish, there are certain variations of the Chinese Steamed Egg recipe that exist in China as well as the West.
Origin of Chinese Steamed Eggs
Apart from the fact that it originated in China and is an important and popular part of the Cantonese cuisine, little is known about how the eggs came into being. The dish started out as a simple combination of steamed eggs, spring onions and salt, but as it grew in popularity, more elaborate and fuller versions of it sprang up.
Chinese Steamed Egg Recipe- Ingredients
The main ingredients for the Water Egg are steamed eggs, spring onions, salt and water. People who prefer to consume the dish the traditional way do not add anything else, but those who prefer the elaborate versions of Chinese Steamed Eggs add everything from vegetables to minced meat and cheese.
Chinese Steamed Egg Recipe- Preparation
To prepare the basic version of Chinese Steamed Eggs, eggs are whisked with salt and water till they achieve a consistency as that which would be needed for an omelette, and then steamed till they are firm enough to be consumed comfortably. Chopped spring onions are sprinkled on top and Water Egg is ready to be consumed.
Those cooking the more elaborate recipe add meat, vegetables, sauces, chicken broth or soy milk, as per preferences, and beat the mixture with the eggs before steaming the preparation.
Water Eggs- Serving and Eating
The preparation is generally one of the three or four dishes served at dinner in households. It is served hot and mostly with steamed rice and soy sauce.
Chinese Steamed Egg Recipe- Popular Variations
The basic home versions of Water Egg or Chinese Steamed Eggs commonly consist of green onions, salted duck egg or century egg. Another important ingredient is dried shrimp. More elaborate preparations include meats like ground pork, shrimp or chicken.