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Tomato and egg stir-fry
Fluffy scrambled egg in a sweet-sour tomato sauce, the first dish many Chinese cooks learn
Fan qie chao dan is the dish students across China cook in their first flat, and it appears at family meals in every province. Soft curds of egg and slumped tomatoes make a sweet-sour, slightly saucy stir-fry that is wonderful spooned over rice. Some families make it drier, others soupier; this version has just enough sauce to soak the rice. Chef's tip: cook the eggs first and take them out while still glossy; they finish in the tomato sauce and stay tender.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
Main
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Beat 4 eggs with half of ½ tsp salt until no streaks of white remain.
Step 2: Heat 1 ¼ tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a medium-high heat until it shimmers. Pour in the eggs; they will puff at the edges. Push them gently in big folds for 30–40 seconds and take them out while still a bit runny on top.
1 minStep 3: Add ¾ tbsp vegetable oil and the spring onion whites from 2 spring onions, then 3 ripe tomatoes. Stir-fry for 3–4 minutes, pressing the tomatoes, until they soften and release their juice. Add 2 tsp sugar, the rest of the salt, 3 tbsp water and 1 tsp tomato purée if using.
4 minStep 4: Common mistake: adding the eggs back too soon, before the tomatoes have made a sauce; the dish ends up watery. Wait until the tomato juice is thick and red.
Step 5: Return the eggs and fold for 30 seconds so they soak up the sauce. Scatter with the spring onion greens and serve with rice.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tomato and egg stir-fry take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- 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 ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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