If you made the chicken stock I posted earlier this week, I have an excellent use for it. This Egg Drop Wonton Soup combines two Chinese takeout favorites in one easy and delicious meal. Frozen dumplings ramp up the convenience factor, and help turn this soup into a filling meal. Using my homemade chicken stock, which is infused with ginger and scallions, gives this simple soup savory depth. You could also make this vegetarian by using a vegetarian stock and meat free dumplings.

Cook the Dumplings First

I usually have some kind of dumplings in the freezer. Either these Pork Gyoza or Kimchi Shrimp Dumplings, would be amazing in this Egg Drop Wonton Soup.  Of course there are endless varieties of frozen dumplings you can buy as well. Frozen dumplings are a freezer staple for us and should be for you too. They are economical, simple to prepare straight from the freezer, make a great last minute appetizer, and can be added to other dishes to make them more interesting: hot pots, instant ramen, and of course this soup!

When the dumplings are cooked through, they will float to the top. You can lower the heat so the bubbling subsides to check.

Now for the Egg Drop!

If  you were mesmerized by egg drop soup as a child, you might be surprised by how easy it is to make those fabulous ribbons of egg. I tend to like my egg in bigger sheets so I get a good mouthful. If you prefer wispy streaks, pour the egg in very slowly in a thin stream.

At this point, take a taste of the broth. If it needs more salt, give it a splash of soy sauce. I use light soy sauce if I have it on hand; as the name implies it has a lighter color so it’s frequently used for clear liquids, but regular soy sauce will work too. Just add it sparingly, you can always add more. I also add the toasted sesame oil.

When the broth is to your liking, it’s time to garnish with the scallions and serve!

A little dollop of my chili crisp would be nice here, if you like things hot.  Let me know what you think of this lightning quick Egg Drop Wonton Soup by rating and commenting on the recipe below, and tag us in your pics @funkyasiankitchen, we love hearing from you!

Egg Drop Wonton Soup

• Author: Funky Asian Kitchen
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: serves 2-4 1x
• Category: soup
• Cuisine: Chinese

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Ingredients

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• 4 cups Asian chicken broth (you can also use vegetable broth or anchovy broth)
• 8 frozen dumplings either homemade or store bought
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 large handful baby spinach
• 1 Tablespoon light colored soy sauce (regular is fine too but add after tasting your broth)
• ⅛ teaspoon ground white or black pepper
• 2 scallions sliced
• 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• Salt to taste

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Instructions

1. Bring the chicken broth to a boil over high heat in a medium pot. 
2. Add the dumplings, stir, and let the soup return to a boil. Lower the heat to medium high and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring a couple of times so the dumplings do not stick to the bottom of the pot.
3. Once the dumplings are cooked, they should be floating at the top of the soup (turn the heat off and let the liquid stop bubbling to check). 
4. Lower heat to medium and slowly pour the eggs in a thin stream into the pot. 
5. Once the egg floats to the surface, add the spinach and stir it into the broth. 
6. Taste the broth and add the soy sauce if you think the broth needs a little saltiness. 
7. Add the toasted sesame oil.
8. Divide the soup into bowls, sprinkle with scallions, and serve the egg drop wonton soup immediately.

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Notes

*If you are using dumplings that are already cooked, you only need to cook them for a couple of minutes in the soup so they are heated through.

*If you only have store bought chicken broth and you have a little bit of time, simmer the broth with half of a roughly chopped onion, 3 scallions also roughly chopped, and 6 garlic cloves. Simmer the broth covered for 20-25 minutes before continuing with the recipe. The soup will be a lot more flavorful.

Keywords: soup, wonton, chicken stock, egg drop, dumplings

Think you’re not a big cabbage fan? Have you ever had it braised until it was silky soft in a flavorful broth packed with tender ocean delicacies? Braised Cabbage with Seafood will change how you view cabbage. It can do so much more than get shredded and drenched with mayo. No hate to coleslaw mind you, but cabbage is ready to play a much bigger starring role in your life. You know you’ve been meaning to add more cruciferous veggies into your meals, so let’s get into it.

Braise the Cabbage

Full disclosure, I’m using Napa cabbage for this dish. Its leaves are already a bit softer than green cabbage and it has a mild sweetness. Napa cabbage is ubiquitous in Asian cuisine and plays so many roles, because it is incredibly versatile. It can be shredded and eaten raw in salads, it can be used in soups and stews, it adds a nice crunch to stir fries, and of course, kimchi would not be the same without Napa cabbage.

If you got caught by surprise and had counted on green cabbage being included in this recipe, you can definitely use it instead and it will still be delicious. Just be sure to cook it for a little longer until the cabbage is really tender and soft.

Start by whipping up the sauce. The secret to a good braise is to use a really flavorful braising liquid, and this one delivers. Then we amp up the flavor even more with the addition of several aromatics like dried shrimp, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes. No bland cabbage for us!

Seafood

Now that the cabbage is silky soft and tender, it’s time to make the seafood portion. I use a mix of shrimp, calamari, and scallops. You can find the calamari, or squid, already cleaned and cut in the frozen section. The seafood get very quickly cooked in our braising liquid.

Then I add the cornstarch slurry and let it thicken up the sauce, which just takes about 30 seconds. I add just a touch of toasted sesame oil for added richness.

And with that, we’ve turned cabbage into a sexy, sumptuous feast. Serve it with some hot rice to soak up all of the delicious sauce. Try it and let me know what you think. Comment and rate the recipe below, and show off your creations by tagging us @funkyasiankitchen, we love hearing from you!

Braised Cabbage with Seafood

• Author: Funky Asian Kitchen
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: serves 4

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Ingredients

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• 1 ½ pounds napa cabbage (1 small one)
• ½ large onion, sliced thin
• 2 Tablespoons neutral oil
• 2 Tablespoons dried shrimp
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• ½ teaspoon dried chili flakes
• ½ pound shrimp (I used 21/25 “large” size)
• ½ pound sliced squid*
• 6 pieces large scallops*
• 4 scallions
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 Tablespoon water

Sauce:

• 6 oz chicken broth
• 2 Tablespoons shaoxing wine
• 2 Tablespoons oyster sauce
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

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Instructions

Make the sauce:

1. Combine the chicken broth, shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, salt, and ground pepper in a cup and stir. Set aside.
2. Cut the napa cabbage in half and then cut each half into thirds to yield 6 wedges. Wash and set aside to drain.
3. Trim the scallions and then cut into 2 inch pieces. Set aside.
4. Heat a large 12 inch skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil and onions, stir frying for 2-3 minutes. Next add the dried shrimp, chili flakes, garlic, and ginger and stir fry for a couple of seconds.
5. Add the sauce and stir to combine. Then add the Napa cabbage wedges. Cover with a tight lid and cook for 7-8 minutes, until the napa cabbage is tender and limp. Turn the cabbage wedges a couple of times while cooking so they cook evenly.
6. Use a pair of tongs to transfer the napa cabbage to a large platter, keeping the cooking liquid in the pan.
7. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium high heat and add the shrimp, squid, scallops, and scallions. Cook uncovered for 3 minutes until the seafood is just cooked. 
8. Add the cornstarch slurry, stirring the sauce as you pour. Let it cook for 30 seconds to thicken and then taste it, adjusting the seasoning if needed.
9. Add the sesame oil and stir to combine.
10. Pour the seafood sauce gently over the napa cabbage.
11. Serve Braised Cabbage with Seafood immediately.

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Notes

*You can find calamari (squid) already cleaned and cut in the freezer section. Defrost before using.

*I used Japanese style boiled scallops, which are already cooked. You can substitute with any scallops you like. Look for natural unsoaked chemical free scallops for best flavor and texture. 

*If you would prefer to use green cabbage, cut the cabbage into wedges. And cook them for 6-8 minutes longer than the recipe states. Take a fork and stab into the wedge. It should easily pierce the cabbage. If not, cook it for a couple minutes longer. You may need to use a bit more chicken broth or water to complete the braise.

Keywords: seafood, shrimp, scallops, cabbage