I Tried Chinese-Style “Silken Eggs” and They’re So Good, I Made Them Twice In One Day

Social media is an incredible tool for sparking inspiration in the kitchen, like with this viral mac and cheese, or this Trader Joe’s dumpling hack. When something goes viral, I can’t help but want to give it a try — and these Chinese Silken Eggs are currently taking over my TikTok feed.

If you’re not familiar, Chinese silken eggs are a traditional Chinese dish found all over China. It’s a soft egg dish that has been steamed in a bowl, sliced, and served with sauce on top. (This method is also similar to making Korean-Style Steamed Eggs.) The videos online show fluffy, jiggly eggs that almost resemble a custard, but it’s actually meant to be a savory dish served for breakfast. So of course, being the breakfast lover that I am, I had to give this recipe a try.

After watching a few videos of how to make Chinese Silken Eggs, I decided to go with Kylie Sakaida’s take on the viral recipe. She’s a registered dietitian who claims to regularly make this breakfast recipe, so I followed her lead for how to make these eggs and what to serve with them.

Get the recipe: Chinese Silken Eggs

Whisk together 2 large eggs with 3/4 cup of water and a pinch of salt. Strain the egg mixture into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer. The bowl you choose should be able to handle heat, like for a microwave or oven.

Wrap the bowl with plastic wrap, then place in a steamer. Steam the eggs for 12 minutes.

Remove the bowl carefully from the steamer, then peel off the plastic wrap. Drizzle the top with soy sauce and sesame oil. Slice the egg into cubes to allow the sauce and oil to seep into the cooked eggs.

Top with sliced scallions and serve with rice and kimchi, if desired.

I’ve never steamed eggs before, so trying this was a new cooking experience for me, and it was surprisingly a very easy one. This method produces a light, fluffy egg that is delicate with each bite. Paired with the spicy kimchi and the rice, topped with sliced scallions, these silken eggs are full of flavor and absolutely a meal I would make again.

I would make this for breakfast (maybe without the kimchi, because eating super spicy foods first thing in the morning is not my favorite), but I also found this to be a really filling and tasty lunch. I’m not against eating breakfast foods at all times of the day, so this meal is certainly one I will turn to if I need an easy meal to cook if I’m feeling stuck on what to make for breakfast or lunch.

1. Buy a steamer rack: If you don’t have one, I highly recommend investing in a steamer rack that can fit easily in a pot with a lid. This makes for steaming foods — like these Chinese Silken Eggs — even easier, without having to buy a whole new contraption or appliance.
2. Play with other toppings and fixing: Obviously this recipe recommends using soy sauce and sesame oil, but why not try different combinations? If you’re a fan of spicy food you could always add a chili garlic sauce, gochujang, sesame seeds, or a chili crisp. This recipe is also versatile enough that you could eat these eggs with whatever fixings, like a homemade fried rice instead of a white rice.

Get the recipe: Chinese Silken Eggs