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Stracciatella alla romana

Egg and Parmesan broth

Stracciatella alla romana: Roman egg-and-Parmigiano rags whisked into simmering chicken broth

In Roman homes stracciatella is the soup of Easter week and of any cold evening when someone needs looking after: a pot of good chicken broth with eggs, Parmigiano and a scrape of nutmeg beaten in so they set into soft, ragged threads. It is light but filling, and takes ten minutes if the broth is already made. The common mistake is pouring the egg into broth at a rolling boil, which turns it into rubbery lumps; a gentle simmer gives fine, silky rags. Chef's tip: beat a spoonful of semolina into the eggs, as many Roman cooks do, so the threads hold together and the soup has a little body.
Total time
10 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
2
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Ingredients

Serves2

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Bring 3 ¼ cups chicken broth to the boil in a medium pan, then lower the heat so it simmers gently with small bubbles around the edge. Taste and add 1 pinch salt if it needs it.

    4 min
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile beat 3 eggs in a jug with 1 oz Parmigiano Reggiano, 1 tbsp fine semolina, 1 pinch ground nutmeg and 1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley until smooth and no streaks of white remain.

  3. Step 3: Pour the egg mixture into the simmering broth in a thin stream while stirring slowly with a fork or whisk, so it breaks into fine rags.

    1 min
  4. Step 4: Keep the soup at a gentle simmer for 2 minutes, stirring once, until every thread of egg is firm, pale yellow and no longer runny. Season with 1 pinch black pepper and serve at once with extra cheese and bread.

    2 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
210 kcal
Protein
17 g
Carbs
6 g
Fat
13 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does stracciatella alla romana take?
About 10 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
What can I use instead of eggs?
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
What can I use instead of flat-leaf parsley?
Curly parsley or coriander, same amount.

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