Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry (Classic Chinese Home-Style Dish)
Why this recipe works
- Fast wok cooking: Eggs and tomatoes cook in minutes, making this a reliable everyday dish when time is short.
- Balanced tomato flavour: Light soy sauce adds savoury depth while a little sugar softens the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Soft eggs, juicy tomatoes: Removing the eggs before cooking the tomatoes keeps them tender, then folding them back in preserves their soft texture.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Serve straight away: This stir-fry is at its best hot from the wok, while the eggs are soft and the tomato juices are glossy.
- Prep before heating the wok: Have the tomatoes cut, spring onions sliced, and eggs whisked before cooking starts, as the stir-fry moves quickly.
Texture tips
- Keep the eggs soft: Take the eggs out while they are still slightly glossy; they will finish cooking when returned to the wok.
- Cook the tomatoes briefly: Let the tomatoes soften and release some juice, but stop before they collapse completely so the dish stays fresh and saucy.
Ingredient notes
- Use ripe tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes give the best natural sweetness and create a light sauce without needing extra liquid.
- Adjust sharp tomatoes: If the tomatoes taste particularly acidic, balance them with a small extra pinch of sugar.
Authenticity notes
- Chinese home-style dish: Tomato and egg stir-fry is valued for speed, comfort, and simplicity rather than complex seasoning.
- Serve with rice: Steamed rice is the classic pairing, soaking up the tomato juices and soft egg.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk with the fine sea salt and white pepper until well combined. Cut the tomatoes into wedges and slice the spring onions, keeping the whites and greens separate.
- Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Pour in the eggs and gently push them around for 30 to 60 seconds until softly set but still a little glossy, then tip onto a plate.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp sunflower oil to the wok and stir-fry the spring onion whites for 20 to 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, tossing, until they start to soften and release some juice.
- Stir in the light soy sauce and caster sugar, then cook for 1 minute until the juices look lightly saucy. Return the eggs to the wok and fold through for 30 to 60 seconds so the eggs stay soft and the tomatoes remain juicy.
- Take off the heat and stir through the spring onion greens and toasted sesame oil. Serve straight away from the wok while hot and glossy.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Keep the eggs slightly underdone when you take them out, as they will finish cooking when folded back through the tomatoes.
- Use ripe tomatoes for the juiciest sauce; if they are very acidic, add an extra pinch of caster sugar.
- Food safety: if serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, cook the eggs until fully set.
Substitutions
- Replace sunflower oil with vegetable oil for a similarly neutral stir-fry base.
- Replace light soy sauce with dark soy sauce for a deeper colour and slightly sweeter flavour; use a little less as it can be stronger.
- Replace toasted sesame oil with sesame oil for a milder finish.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Cool quickly, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat gently in a wok or frying pan over medium heat with a splash of water until piping hot, stirring carefully to keep the eggs tender.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 2 servings
- Total time: 12min (12min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Chinese
-
Allergens:
Eggs Soybeans
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