Roman Egg Drop Soup Recipes

STRACCIATELLA ALLA ROMANA (ROMAN EGG DROP SOUP)

Steps:

• Set a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add oil. When it shimmers, add the onions and a generous pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium. Stirring occasionally, cook onions for 10 to 15 minutes until tender. It's fine if they start to take on a little color.
• In a large measuring cup or medium bowl with a spout, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, ½ cup grated Parmesan, nutmeg, black pepper, and a generous pinch of salt.
• When onions are tender, add Parmesan rind and stock to pot. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce to a strong simmer. While gently whisking soup with one hand, pour egg mixture into pot in a thin stream with the other. Once all of the egg mixture has been added, turn off the heat. Remove Parmesan rind. Taste and adjust for salt.
• Ladle soup into bowls and serve immediately, garnished with Parmesan, black pepper, and parsley.

ROMAN EGG DROP SOUP

Steps:

• In a soup pot over high heat, bring chicken broth to a boil. Season to taste with salt and reduce heat to a simmer.
• Crack eggs into a medium-size bowl and beat lightly with a wire whisk. Whisk in about 1/2 teaspoon of grated nutmeg, the lemon zest, a large pinch of salt, several twists of the pepper mill and 1 3/4 ounces grated Parmesan.
• Pour egg mixture into simmering chicken broth and stir gently until mixture forms little rags. Simmer for another minute or so.
• Ladle the soup into individual bowls and sprinkle parsley over each serving. Pass more grated Parmesan separately.

ROMAN "EGG DROP" SOUP

Steps:

• Bring the chicken stock to a boil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Meanwhile, beat the eggs with a good grinding of black pepper until thoroughly blended. Beat in the grated cheese. Pour the egg mixture into the soup while stirring constantly to break it into "little rags." Check the seasoning and serve immediately.
• Chicken Stock: (Brodo di Pollo)
• Rinse the poultry pieces in a colander under cold running water and drain them well. Place them in an 8- to 10-quart stockpot. Pour in the cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for a minute or two and you will see foam rising to the surface. Skim off and discard the foam, lower the heat to a strong simmer, and cook 1 hour, occasionally skimming the foam and fat from the surface.
• Add the remaining ingredients except the salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat to simmering. Cook, partially covered, 2 to 3 hours, skimming the foam and fat from the surface occasionally.
• Strain the broth through a very fine sieve, or a colander lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel. Season lightly with salt. To use the stock right away, wait a minute or two and spoon off the fat that rises to the surface. The last little traces of fat can be "swept" off the surface with a folded piece of paper towel. It is much easier, however, to remove the fat from chilled stock-the fat will rise to the top and solidify, where it can be easily removed.
• Variation: Mixed Meat Stock
• For a rich meat stock, simply substitute 3 pounds meaty veal and beef bones-like beef shin, veal shank bones, and/or short ribs-for 2 pounds of the chicken/capon bones and all the turkey bones. Continue as described above.

STRACCIATELLA ALLA ROMANA (ROMAN EGG DROP SOUP)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the chicken stock to a boil.
• In a bowl, whisk the eggs, and add the Parmigiano, bread crumbs, flour, and lemon zest.
• Add the egg mixture, a little at a time, to the boiling stock, whisking constantly. After all the egg mixture is added, lower the heat and cook 1 minute.
• Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into bowls and garnish each with chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.