by Angel Walker

Created on: February 07, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

ANGEL'S EGG FLOWER SOUP

Angel's Egg Flower Soup is a fast, easy and absolutely delicious beginning course with a Chinese flair. Or serve it with fruit or a salad for a quick, light springtime lunch.

First, you will need a good chicken stock. I said stock not broth. There is a difference. Stock is made from the meat, skin, and bones of the chicken and therefore has a better mouth feel (from the collagen) than the broth, which is made from the meat and fat. Try to use stock, if at all possible. You may substitute broth if absolutely necessary.

Good chicken stock is very important in Chinese cuisine. It should be strong, clear and somewhat concentrated in flavor, without being too salty.

So taste your stock. If it is too weak in flavor, boil it without a lid to condense the flavor a little.

You can make your own stock and keep it in the freezer, or you can use "Better Than Soup" brand chicken soup base. It is sold at Walmart and Target both, as well as the various grocery stores. It is a paste in a jar. I have tried many brands and this is the best for flavor. There are also some excellent canned or boxed chicken stocks available.

You will also need:

1. soy sauce
2. toasted sesame oil
3. dry sherry or Marsala wine
4. two eggs
5. 1 clove of garlic
6. chopped scallion for garnish

In a two quart, non-aluminum pan HEAT to a simmer

1 quart chicken stock

ADD

1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbl dry sherry or Marsala wine
1 clove of minced garlic

In a small bowl WISK together until slightly frothy

2 eggs
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbl dry sherry or Marsala wine

BRING the stock to rolling boil. The aroma is fabulous.

Now you will make the egg mixture bloom or flower.

Slowly POUR the egg mixture into the stock while stirring rapidly with a chopstick. The egg mixture will bloom into thousands of little petals in the stock.

Immediately, remove from the heat and finish off the soup with

1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbl dry sherry or Marsala wine

Stir gently and serve

Makes two generous portions or 4 appetizer portions

Garnish with chopped scallion.

Enjoy

Angel

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