A simple Chinese stir-fried tomato and egg recipe made with fluffy, silky eggs, tangy tomatoes, and simple seasonings. A healthy, quick and easy one-pan stir fry dinner that is ready in 10 minutes. Pair it with a bowl of jasmine rice for a complete, delicious, economical dinner!
This egg and tomato stir fry is one of the easiest Classic Chinese dishes you can find in Chinese households. It is a delicious, staple comfort dish that is budget-friendly and yet nutritious.
It is also known as the Hong Kong tomato egg. It is basically a stir-fried mixture of soft tomatoes and scrambled eggs.
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Tomato and egg stir fry was a staple dish at our family table, simple, comforting, and something we always finished in minutes.
My dad made it when we needed something quick and satisfying, and the smell of tomatoes and eggs sizzling in the wok still reminds me of home. It’s humble, but packed with nostalgia flavour.
Stir-fry dishes are always part of our family's weekly meal rotations. Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry, Shrimp and Egg Stir-Fry, and Chinese Beef and Tomato Stir-Fry are also our go-to quick stir-fry recipes.
Ingredients we need
- Egg - You can use any large chicken or duck eggs of your choice.
- Tomatoes
- Spring Onions
- Garlic
- White pepper
- Seasonings - Simply season with salt, white pepper, sugar, and sesame oil.
- Sugar - I love adding a dash of sugar to balance the tangy tomatoes' taste, but it's optional. You can omit the sugar.
- Sesame oil - Drizzle a dash of toasted sesame oil in the finishing for a mild, toasty, nutty flavour.
What type of tomato to use?
The best tomatoes for stir-frying are ripe tomatoes like Roma, beefsteak, or vine-ripened tomatoes, which have the perfect balance of sweet and tangy taste.
Do not recommend thick-skinned tomatoes for this recipe. Choose fresh, vibrant red tomatoes with smooth, firm skin. Avoid the ones with green spots, wrinkles, or cracks.
Top Tips
- Use a large non-stick wok or pan that is easy to clean and needs less oil.
- Customise it! Make your own tomato egg stir fry by adding other proteins and stirring the vegetables.
- It's important not to overcook the egg to achieve a silky, fluffy texture. Cook the egg first and set it aside to prevent it from being overcooked.
- If you don't like tomato skins, you can blanch the tomatoes in hot, boiling water for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then, transfer to icy cold water and wait until it is cool. Then, you can easily peel off the skin and cut it into chunks.
How to make Chinese Tomato Egg
- Start by whisking the egg and season with salt and white pepper.
- Cut the tomatoes into wedges and cut the spring onions into 1-inch pieces.
- Heat the large wok or pan over medium-high heat. Add the whisked egg and let it sit for a few seconds, but still slightly runny. Then, stir it gently and scramble it with a spatula. Remove it from the pan, set it aside and keep it warm.
- In the remaining pan, drizzle a bit more oil and stir-fry the chopped garlic until fragrant.
- Next, add the tomatoes and cook on medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until soft. Season with salt and sugar.
- Once the tomatoes are soft, return the scrambled eggs to the pan. Stir in spring onions and finish with sesame oil. Combine everything evenly and transfer to the serving plate.
Storage and Reheating
Do not recommend freezing tomato egg stir fry, but you can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Simply reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until hot before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minced meat, prawns/shrimp, bacon, sausage, shredded cabbage, carrots, or any stir-fry vegetables can also be added.
Yes, this dish is suitable for vegetarians as it contains no meat products. It's the perfect dish to try for meatless meal days!
For vegans, chicken eggs can be swapped with vegan eggless eggs or mashed firm tofu as an egg substitute.
It tastes best when enjoyed fresh, but you can make it ahead of time. Keep it in the fridge and reheat it gently to prevent the eggs from overcooking.
You can add some fresh chilli slices to the stir fry or sprinkle some crispy chilli oil in the finishing.
Pairing Suggestions
A bowl of jasmine rice with a Chinese tomato egg is a perfect match, and it's so satisfying. You can serve it up with leftover cooked rice, basmati rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles.
Pair it with other Chinese dishes, such as Chinese Steamed Fish, Chinese Beef Curry, or ABC Soup, for a complete family dinner. Here are more of our favourite Chinese appetisers and side dish recipes that you can pair:
More Chinese Egg Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Easy Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry
Equipment
- Large non-stick wok Or use any large wok or pan
Ingredients
- 4 Tomatoes 4-5 Large vine ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges or chunks
- 4 Eggs 4-5 Large eggs
- 2 cloves Garlic Finely chopped/minced
- 3 Spring Onions Cut 1 inch pieces or cut thin slices
- 1 tsp Salt Or adjust salt to your taste
- ¼ tsp White pepper Or black pepper
- 1 tsp Sugar Optional
- 1 tsp Sesame oil Toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil Or neutral flavoured oil
Instructions
- Beat the eggs in a medium-size bowl and season with salt and white pepper. Cut the tomatoes into wedges and dice the spring onion and gather all the ingredients and seasonings.
- Heat the large wok or pan into medium-high heat and drizzle one tablespoon of oil. Add the whisked egg and let it set for a few seconds but still slightly runny. Then stir it gently and crumble it into medium bite size pieces. Remove from pan, set it aside. Keep it warm.
- In the remaining pan, drizzle another tablespoon of oil, stir fry the garlic with medium heat until fragrant.
- Then add the tomato wedges and cook until soft. Stir occasionally and season with salt and sugar.
- Next, add the crumbled eggs and follow with spring onions. Drizzle a teaspoon of sesame oil. Make a taste test and adjust more salt or sugar to your taste.
- Remove from heat and transfer to plate. Serve immediately over a bed of warm rice or stir fry noodles.
Video
Notes
- White pepper - Season the eggs with white pepper instead of regular black pepper to taste like authentic Chinese home cooking flavour. White pepper has a musty, peppery flavour and is hotter than black pepper. You can find it in Chinese or Asian grocery stores.
- Toasted sesame oil - Recommend adding toasted sesame oil to the finishing to bring a toasty, nutty flavour.
- Do I need to peel the tomatoes? It is not necessary to peel the tomatoes but if you don't like the skins, you can peel them before you stir-frying.
- Ingredients add-ons - Even though this dish is simply made with two simple ingredients, tomatoes and eggs, you can be creative by adding your choice of protein and vegetables. Minced chicken, bacon, prawns/shrimp, onions, are great options.
- Can you reheat it? This dish tastes best when freshly cooked, but if you have any leftovers, simply reheat in the microwave or stovetop until hot.
- How to serve this dish? Serve it over a bed of plain rice, fried rice, stir fried noodles or pair it with other noodle soups and make a wholesome meal.
- Can you make it spicy? You can add some fresh chilli slices to the stir fry or sprinkle some crispy chilli oil in the finishing.
Nanajee Travels says
Very nice looks yummy!
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Khin says
So glad that you enjoyed it, Nanajee.
Jim says
Egg and tomato is all my time favourite budget friendly dish at home. I add extra vegetables and meat if I have any leftover. I will add sesame oil as you’re recipe. Thank you for the recipe.
Khin says
You are most welcome Jim. This dish is so versatile and easy to make it.