Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry (蕃茄炒蛋)

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Do you have lots of tomatoes from your garden and not sure what to do with them? Try to make this authentic fan keh chao dan (蕃茄炒蛋), Chinese tomato egg stir fry recipe, or tomato potato soup for your meal. Tomato egg stir fry is a classic, popular and homey Cantonese Chinese dish like cream corn chicken rice, garlic chives egg stir fry, scrambled eggs & shrimp, hair gourd vermicelli, steamed pork patty and beef & bitter melon. Let's learn how to make Chinese tomato egg stir fry with step by step photos and a video.

Love authentic Chinese food? Check out these eggplant & pork stir fry, Chinese cured pork belly, braised Chinese mushroom, salt & pepper squid, pan fried buns, soy sauce noodle, salted duck eggs and beef & broccoli recipes.

Chinese tomato egg stir fry on a white plate with a checked towel

What is Chinese tomato egg stir fry (蕃茄炒蛋)?

Tomato egg stir fry is a common Chinese dish in southern China and Taiwan. In Cantonese, it calls fan keh chao dan (蕃茄炒蛋) or fān qié chǎo dàn in mandarin. Tomato eggs basically are scrambled eggs stir fry with tomatoes. Also, it is a simple, quick and flavorful dish for lunch or dinner.

Comfort food:

This is an authentic homey and comfort Chinese dish that you do not see a lot at regular Chinese restaurants in the states just like garlic chives and egg , steamed pork patty and hair gourd vermicelli. However, it is very common in Hong Kong cafes.

Also, I remembered my parents made this dish all the time when I was a kid. Not only is it very easy to prepare and quick to make, but also it’s sweet and a little sour. And, most kids love them and it helps to increase appetite.

What do Chinese tomato eggs taste like?

Tomato eggs have a unique and delicious taste. Often, it is described as light, refreshing, and slightly tangy. The texture is soft and moist because the eggs are fluffy and the tomatoes are tender after the cooking process.

The tomatoes add a subtle acidity and sweetness to balance out the richness of the eggs. The eggs have a mild flavor which absorbs the flavors from the tomatoes and seasonings. The combination of the sweet, little sour and savory flavor from the tomatoes and scrambled eggs made this a comforting and satisfying homey dish. In this authentic Chinese tomato egg recipe, I like to make it a little sweet. But, some people like it more savory. It all depends on your preference and taste.

What’s special about this Chinese tomato egg stir fry recipe?

This Chinese tomato egg stir fry recipe is my family homey and comfort meal. It’s a classic and authentic recipe from my parents. The trick to making good tomato eggs, first do not overcook the eggs. Stir fry the eggs like scrambled eggs, fluffy and fresh. Also, cook the tomato until it’s soft and liquid comes out. Besides, this recipe is a little sweet, sour and savory.

What do you eat it with?

This Chinese tomato egg stir fry recipe is versatile. Therefore, you can serve it with steamed rice which is a classic Chinese homey meal. The flavors and soft texture of the tomato eggs go very well with rice. Besides, you can serve with noodles to make tomato eggs noodle soup. However, people like to make tomato eggs more savory when they are served with noodles.

What kind of tomatoes do you use?

When preparing scrambled eggs and tomatoes stir fry, you can use various types of tomatoes, depending on your preference and availability. Highly recommended to use ripe and home grown tomatoes because they are sweeter and juicy. Often, we use Roma tomatoes. However, you can use vine-ripened or beefsteak tomatoes. Any fresh tomatoes will work well.

What are the ingredients for Chinese tomato eggs stir fry?

In this Chinese tomato egg stir fry recipe, the ingredients are tomatoes, eggs, green onion, sugar, salt, ketchup and vegetable oil. Some people who like more sauce will add water and cornstarch.

Cooking tips for how to make tomato egg stir fry:

I usually use tomatoes from our garden because it tastes sweeter than grocery stores. And, don’t need to add too much sugar.
Don’t over cook the eggs.
Different brands of ketchup will be slightly different, adjust sugar to your taste.
Some people like more sauce, you can add water and cornstarch slurry. Then adjust ketchup, sugar and salt to your taste.

FAQs:

How do you cook the eggs?

Stir fry or scrambled eggs. But, remember do not overcook it.

Can I use less sugar?

Yes, sure. If you use home grown tomatoes, normally they are sweeter. Also, it depends on which brand of ketchup you use. You can always adjust sugar and salt to your taste.

What can I do if I like more sauce?

If you like more sauce, you can add water and cornstarch slurry. Then adjust ketchup, sugar and salt to your taste.

Instructions for how to make Chinese tomato egg stir fry:

Preparation:

1. Wash and cut 3 medium sized tomatoes into pieces.

2. Crack 5 eggs in a bowl.

3. Then, beat the eggs.

Cooking eggs:

4. After, pour ½ tablespoon vegetable oil in a non-stick pan and turn on medium-high and add beaten eggs.

5. Cook it just like scrambled eggs and remember don’t cook too long. Then, set them aside.

Cooking tomatoes:

6. After that, pour ½ tablespoon vegetable oil, add tomatoes and stir fry for a little bit.

7. Next, add ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt and stir fry for a minute or two.

Combine:

8. Turn off the fire. Then, add the scrambled eggs and top with green onion.

Enjoy this delicious and easy Chinese tomato egg stir fry recipe! Also, check out these mouth watering chicken, taro buns, mapo tofu, beef chow fun, ma yi shang shu, and pork knuckles ginger stew recipes.