Breaking Bread: Ah Ma's Egg Soup

For most years, CNY is set at Ah Ma and Ah Gong’s house. The family gathers around a steamboat hotpot (standing room only! lol), with what seems like a million tightly crammed bowls of food just waiting for us to dip into the hotpot and enjoy.  Did auntie just grab the last shrimp? No problem. Ah Ma always has a second table prepared with “reinforcements” to make sure to fill any empty bowls or empty stomachs around (grandmas are experts at that kind of thing). As special as the meal is though, believe it or not,  it’s actually my second favorite CNY meal. 

My number one CNY dish is probably a bit of a surprise, it’s not as fancy as steamboat or a traditional sweet treat like nian gao but it’s just as special: Ah Ma’s Egg Soup. The day of the CNY dinner, Ah Ma’s kitchen becomes a machine, with family members working together to help wash, chop, or otherwise help prep the ingredients for the evening meal. After all of that prep work, you’d think my grandma would be tired of cooking, but she’d always make sure her helpers were well fed with a bowl of her famous Egg Soup. 

One of Ah Ma’s simpler signature dishes, whenever a stomach rumbled nearby and time was short she’d quickly whip up a steaming bowl of delicious soup for us to enjoy. The sound of the sizzle and smell of the marinated pork are like anchors to memories from long ago. With one smell I’m a kid again, watching The Spirits of Love (愛) together with the family, then setting up a table near the TV so we could watch the news during our meal. We weren’t allowed to leave the table until our food was done, but once you try it you’ll see why that was never a problem.

The recipe for Ah Ma’s Egg Soup is pretty straightforward, and to avoid angering grandmothers everywhere, I share it exactly as it was shared to me:

1. Mix pork minced meat with sesame oil and light soy sauce
2. Throw in 2 beaten eggs and mix well.
3. Lightly grease the pan (you don’t want to use too much oil as there is already some oil in the minced meat!) in low to medium heat
4. Once the pan is heated, pour the omelette mixture into the pan and let it cook until edges begin to firm
5. Use a large spatula to carefully lift the omelette and turn it over, careful not to let it burn
6. Once the egg omelet is done, add about 150-200ml of water 
7. Bring it to boil at high heat for about 1-2 min 
8. Season with light soy sauce
9. Serve with white rice
   

When I asked my Ah Ma about some of the details, “How many grams of pork?” or “How much salt & pepper?” the answer is, “as much as you need” so expect some trial and error along the way, but have fun with it and make the recipe work for you. 

Whatever is served in your household for Chinese New Year, from pencai to dumplings and more, the important thing is to serve with love and a heaping portion of laughter on the side.

From myself and the rest of the OrderEZ team, wishing you a happy CNY, may your red envelopes be thick and your meals delicious!