Grandma’s Dough Drop Soup (疙瘩汤)

My grandma's dough drop soup is something she cooks dearly, and I love it!

Why you'll love this recipe

Rustic & Humble: This dish celebrates the beauty of simple ingredients—just flour, water, and egg.
Chewy Bits: Unlike smooth noodles, these "dough drops" have irregular shapes that are incredibly fun to eat and soak up the broth.
Hearty & Filling: A thick, porridge-like consistency that is perfect for a cold evening or when you’re feeling under the weather.

Key Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour: The base of the dough drops; the key is how you add the water.
Tomato & Scallion: Provide a bright, aromatic base for the humble dough pieces.
Egg: Adds richness and body to the savory broth.

✅Quick Tips: To get perfect, tiny dough drops, add water to the flour one teaspoon at a time while whisking rapidly with chopsticks. You want small clumps, not a big ball of dough.

Key Steps

Step 1: Create the "drops" by slowly drizzling water into flour and stirring until tiny crumbles form.

Step 2: Sauté tomatoes until mushy, then add water to create the cooking liquid.

Step 3: Drip the dough crumbles into the boiling soup, stirring constantly to keep them separate.

Step 4: Finish with a swirled egg and a drizzle of sesame oil for a comforting, thick texture.

Prep Time 8 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 23 mins

Cooking Method: Vegetables

Courses: Noodles, Soup & Stews

Servings: 2

Description

Known as Gā dā tāng, these chewy dough pieces simmer in a savory broth for a simple, deeply comforting meal.

Ingredients:

150 g all purpose flour
60 g water

Soup base:

2-3 stalks scallion
2 tomatoes
1 tbsp soy sauce
A pinch of salt
1 egg
A pinch of dried shrimp (optional)

Instructions

1
Mix flour with water. Pour the water in like tiny droplets—don’t make one big dough! Each droplet will cook into little noodles.
2
Once the dough forms, set it aside.
3
Heat oil in a pot and sauté scallions until fragrant. Add tomatoes and cook a few minutes.
4
Add water to make a simple soup base. Season with soy sauce and a pinch of salt.
5
Drop in your dough droplets, stir quickly so they don’t stick, and cook until they float and turn slightly transparent.
6
Pour in beaten eggs like making egg drop soup, cook 20–30 seconds, and finish with fresh scallions.
7
Optional: sprinkle a little dried shrimp on top for extra flavor..

Keywords: Soup, Dough, Comfort food, Homemade, Chinese, 20-min