Tomato Eggs

First posted on Jul 2013, updated in 2016.

This humble Chinese tomato eggs (番茄炒蛋) is a 15-minute home-style dish I know I can rely on anytime. The ingredients are few (tomato, egg, ketchup and sugar) but the taste is full.

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I love to whip this up when fresh foods are running low. It is sure to complement any Chinese meal you are having.

Tomato Eggs Recipe

This recipe is improved and updated over the previous one posted in 2013. A bit of tomato ketchup is added after recommendations from readers and friends. The ketchup not only accentuates the flavour of the tomatoes, it also provides a more vivid and beautiful colour for this dish. This is also a more “saucy version” with the umami juices of the fresh tomatoes being soaked up by the egg. With the right balance of sweet and just a tad of sour from the tomatoes, everything just goes incredibly well with steamed rice.

Tomato Egg Recipe
This is how I slice the tomato for this dish.

Tomato Egg Recipe

Tomato Eggs Recipe

If you run out of fresh tomatoes, you can use 200 grams canned tomatoes as a short-cut for this recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 2 large fresh tomatoes cut each tomato to 12 pieces
  • 1 tsp + tbsp cooking oil
  • 3 eggs beaten with 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp chopped spring onion & a few coriander leaves for garnishing

Sauce (A)

  • 1/3 cup water or any clear soup stock
  • 1 1/2 tbsp tomato ketchup to taste
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar to taste

Directions:

  1. Grease saucepan with 1 tsp oil (or use cooking spray). Heat the pan and add beaten egg. Swirl the pan so that the egg covers the whole surface, then quickly scramble the egg with spatula and cook them into large chunks until just set. Set aside on a plate.
  2. Clean the pan. Add the remaining oil to the pan. Add cut tomatoes and cook them for about 3 minutes, or until softened. Add (A). Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is reduced by half and of a thicker consistency. You can add a bit more water if the sauce is too dry.
  3. Turn off the stove. While the pan is still hot, stir in the eggs until evenly coated in the sauce. Garnish with spring onion and/or coriander.