By Kay Chun
Updated Jan. 25, 2024
- Total Time
- 40 minutes
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 30 minutes
- Rating
- 4(839)
- Notes
- Read community notes
These puffy fried egg omelets, which were created in the 1900s by Cantonese immigrant restaurateurs for American palates, are stuffed with meat and vegetables and smothered in a savory gravy. Typically deep-fried in woks to create the fluffy texture, shallow frying at home in a cast-iron skillet produces similar results; the high heat expands the eggs with steam, creating air pockets and crispy nooks during frying. A terrific way to use up leftovers, typical fillings include shrimp, ground pork or diced cooked ham and veggies such as mung bean sprouts, onions, carrots or scallions. Serve with cooked rice and steamed broccoli or green beans.
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Ingredients
Yield:4 servings
- 1tablespoon neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
- 1tablespoon minced garlic
- 1½cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 2tablespoons cornstarch
- ½teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola), for shallow frying
- 6large eggs
- 6ounces medium cleaned shrimp, halved lengthwise and coarsely chopped
- 1½cups (3 ounces) mung bean sprouts (or any combination of shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, finely chopped onions and thinly sliced scallions)
- ¼cup finely chopped scallions, plus more for serving
For the Gravy
For the Omelets
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
260 calories; 16 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 21 grams protein; 609 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
Step
1
Make the gravy: In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium-low. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the broth in a small bowl; add the remaining broth to the pan. Add oyster sauce and soy sauce and bring to a boil. Simmer briskly, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded and the sauce reduced to about 1 cup, about 10 minutes.
Step
2
Add cornstarch to the reserved broth and whisk until smooth, then add to the sauce. Cook, stirring, until thickened to a gravy consistency, about 1 minute longer. Stir in sesame oil and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
Step
3
Make the omelets: In a large (12-inch) cast-iron or nonstick skillet, heat ⅓ inch of oil over medium-high until an instant-read thermometer registers 325 to 350 degrees, 4 to 6 minutes. (The oil should be shimmering and a drop of the egg mixture in the oil should sizzle immediately.)
Step
4
When the oil is almost ready, combine eggs, shrimp, mung bean sprouts and scallions in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Using a fork, break the egg yolks and fold the mixture just until well incorporated. (Don’t overbeat or the eggs will spread too much during frying.)
Step
5
Using half of the batter, add 2 ladlefuls of the egg mixture to the oil to form 2 omelets. (They will bubble immediately.) Cook, basting the top with the hot oil, until golden underneath and just set, about 2 minutes. Flip, using tongs or a spatula and fork, and cook, basting with the oil, until golden on the second side and cooked through, about 1 minute longer. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and season with salt. Repeat with the remaining egg mixture to form 2 more omelets.
Step
6
Arrange the omelets on plates and top with some of the gravy. Garnish with scallions and serve with the remaining sauce on the side.
Ratings
4
out of 5
839
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Cooking Notes
Carol Solomon
years ago, in ,,,,Cleveland there was a Chinese restaurant named Ho Wah. They made a great egg foo young but it had an awesome gravy. It was dark brown and thick. Most gravies in recipes I have looked at are for a lite not thick gravy. Any one know or remember this gravy?
NM Cheryl
Should the shrimp be cooked prior to adding them to the egg mixture?
MDinNC
I made this for supper last night and it turned out beautifully. I was flying solo so I cut the recipe in half and added finely chopped onions and very thinly sliced mushrooms which I sauteed first then added them to the mix. I should have made a the full recipe of gravy because it was that good. I will definitely be making this again!
EastBayCook
Recipe calls for “cleaned shrimp”, which means raw shrimp, and does not specify to cook the shrimp before mixing with eggs. The chopped raw shrimp cooks at the same time as the eggs.
LuAnn
When I think that I can't absorb any more sections of the NYT's, another one grabs my daily attention. Thank you for another dish to add to the rotation.
Bunny
I would say no. Because it is cut so small the three minutes of cooking time in the batter will be enough time to cook it without making it overcooked and chewy.
Buddy
I often also add thinly sliced onion and a few dried shiitakes to the egg mix. Also, you can keep the individual omelets warm in a warming oven until they are all finished.
polly
Carol Solomon- I remember Ho Wah. Great Egg Foo Young. I think this gravy should be pretty close to what they served us there.
Dawn
I own a cookbook by Craig Claiborne? of the NYTimes from gosh, 1980? and this is basically the same recipe. It's a favorite and have made it countless times; so much the page has a ton of spills on it. Always a sign of a good recipe. A combo of crispy fried bacon, cooked shrimp, and scallion is a favorite.
Brian T.
Really appreciate this, particularly for the gravy recipe, and I can't wait to make it. Back in the '80s the Better Homes cookbook had a delicious, easy Egg Foo Young recipe with a marvelous rich and savory gravy but for some inexplicable reason it was dropped from later editions. Check out The Woks of Life website if this inspires you to make your favorite take-out dishes at home; and you might also enjoy Take Away, a moving book by Angel Hui about growing up in a Chinese restaurant family.
Lisa
How would you make this if you wanted to try the deep-fry wok method?
FRS
To NM Cheryl: Yes, cook the shrimp but make sure not to over cook as shrimp will cook a bit more when added to the eggs.
Slavin
Made this tonight, exactly as indicated. Wonderfully delicious, and I am an "order in Egg Foo Young" kinda guy. This is better than that. PS no need to cook the shrimp first. This was very very good.
Robin
This is the best of the Egg Foo Young recipes I have. Wonderful! Raw shrimp cooks fine; if it was precooked it would be rubbery in the final dish. This will be part of our regular rotation.
John Golden
I made this last night and it was delicious. What’s more it’s pretty easy to assemble. I had to read the recipe many times to understand the process. I used leftover pork roast that I ground up in the food processor. Essentially it’s a great way to use up leftover meats.
Rob
Many years ago I saw this delicious recipe in a copy of the Australian booklet series "Company's Coming". I lost my copy and have been trying to find it ever since!Thanks so much!
Cindy
Awesome recipe. Used all vegetables and turned great.
Dee
Hate to say it but I have a huge soup ladle and a very small gravy ladle - what is a ladle full? I know we can learn to riff, but the first time I make, I'd like to be close to the mark. Turned out yummy as written but the first batch was too big (big ladle ) and the second., too small.
Dottie
Delicious! I added enoki mushrooms to the omelet. I gotta say the gravy is the star!!!! So yummy!
Delicious
This is one of my favorites to order. I can't believe I made it and it turned out well. My husband said "lights out". And it was!
diane
Used broccoli slaw from a bag instead of chopping all the veggies. Works great!!
Victoria
The egg foo young were great, but I made the gravy like my grandmother used to make, with a roux instead of the cornstarch slurry. Delicious!
poppa Gman
Arrrgh!! We have been using the recipe in vegetariana for years. 40? This is my first big flop nyt cooking recipe. Technique did not work for us. Not sure what went wrong. Vegetariana recipe calls for eight eggs so we added an addition a egg after 3 flops
Kathy B
Love egg foo young and made this recipe tonight with shrimp. Also mixed a little Napa cabbage in with the bean sprouts. Added about a 1/4 cup of chopped lightly sautéed onions. I remember the thick gravy that came with my egg foo young years ago - and I like this better. It has more flavor and does not overpower the delicate omelettes. Next time I'll add a bit of Chinese wine or dry sherry for a bit of acid. Keeper!
Kris
Excellent recipe - rich and delicious. Next time I will add a little sugar to the eggs and gravy to balance the salt. I will also add a lot more mung beans and chop, blanch, and press the water out of them. It is more work, but I like mung bean forward egg foo young, and I think the texture will be better.
Sara in PA
Great recipe! I omit the shrimp and add a can of chopped water chestnuts for crunch.
Barb
I used prepared cole slaw (no dressing) and onions for the vegetables. Substituted mushrooms for the shrimp. Left out the oyster sauce since I didn't have any; just increased the soy sauce a bit. Delicious!
J. from Buffalo
Great, adaptable recipe. 1) No need to reduce anything. Simply use less salt or start with one cup of stock. You really can't mess up the gravy.2) Be ready to add A TON more cornstarch/water slurry. I think I'm not alone in wanting VERY thick gravy for this.3) Feel free to omit garlic. It was fine, but very strong; it felt like lily-gilding in thisHad no spring onions, but used a combination of cabbage, carrots, peas. Turned out very nice. Recommended, but no need to over-complicate!
ginger tomato rice chicken…good, easy dws comfort food.
Omletes were a perfect match for restaurant, but gravy good, but not a match. Not quite as sweet. Perhaps add Mirim?
Kim M
First time trying the recipe. I made a mess in my kitchen but it was really good! I'll make it again when I'm craving takeout Egg Foo Young.
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