Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (2024)

  • Fall Soups
  • Italian

Stracciatella (sometimes called Italian egg drop soup) is a light and nourishing soup made with chicken stock, egg, Parmesan cheese, and ribbons of freshly cut spinach. It’s a terrific soup recipe for a chilly day!

By

Elise Bauer

Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Updated October 29, 2021

Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (2)

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Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (3)

For the last week or so I've been somewhat under the weather. Do you know that feeling where you don't yet have a cold, but it feels like one is about to happen? That's me. Tired, a little achy, a little grumpy, all I want to do is curl up on my couch under a warm blanket, sip honey and lemon tea, and take a nap.

What is Stracciatella alla Romana?

Stracciatella alla Romana is made for days like these. "Stracciatella" means "little shred" in Italian, which well describes the "shreds" of egg in this light, nourishing soup.

Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (4)

Ingredients in Stracciatella alla Romana

At its essence, the soup is hot chicken broth into which a paste of beaten egg and Parmesan cheese has been stirred and cooked. You can also add greens or mix some breadcrumbs or semolina flour in with the egg mixture for a little more body.

What I love about this soup is that it is so easy to make, with ingredients that I almost always have on hand — eggs, stock, Parmesan. Yet the simplicity of the soup belies its flavor. It's delicious! Perfect for a chilly day or chilly body.

By the way, the word "stracciatella" is used to describe other foods in Italian as well. There's a gelato with shaved chocolate "shreds", and a cheese used to make burrata.

The Difference Between Stracciatella and Egg Drop Soup

Italian stracciatella and Chinese egg drop soup have similarities. They both have ribbons of egg added to a chicken broth base at the end of the recipe. But stracciatella has a chicken noodle soup vibe to it — without the chicken or the noodles, but with Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Egg drop soup has flavors common in Chinese cuisine: soy sauce, ginger, green onions, mushrooms. Both soups are quick to make and are satisfyingly warming, but they each represent the flavors of their cuisines of origin.

What to Serve With Stracciatella

To make a bowl of Stracciatella into a full meal, serve it with garlic bread and a salad, which are both quick to make, just like the soup. You can also serve it as a side to Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Or, make it the first course of an Italian meal featuring Baked Ziti and a green veggie.

How to Store and Reheat This Recipe

This soup is best served right after the egg mixture is added, so we don't advise making the entire recipe ahead of time to serve later. However, if you do have leftovers, store the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop, bringing it to a rolling boil.

More Soup Recipes to Make on a Chilly Day!

  • Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono)
  • Pasta e Fagioli
  • Easy Tuscan Bean Soup
  • Lentil Soup
  • Vegan Chickpea Minestrone

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Stracciatella alla Romana

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Ingredients

  • 4 cups low-sodiumchicken stock

  • 1 large egg

  • 4 teaspoons finely grated, lightly packed Parmesan cheese (if you have coarsely grated Parm, grind it up to a finer consistency in a food processor)

  • 1 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs (toasted for added flavor) or semolina flour (optional, you can skip if you want, you can also use ground puffed rice if cooking gluten-free)

  • Pinch freshly ground black pepper

  • A handful spinach leaves, sliced into 1/2-inch ribbons (can also use chard, arugula, sorrel, or any tender green)

Method

  1. Simmer the stock:

    Place stock in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a simmer.

    Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (5)

    Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (6)

  2. Whisk together the egg, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs:

    In a medium bowl whisk together the egg, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs (if using), and black pepper.

  3. Stir in the spinach:

    Once the stock is simmering, stir in the sliced spinach.

    Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (7)

    Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (8)

  4. Pour the egg mixture into the soup:

    Pour/scrape the cheese and egg mixture into the simmering stock, do not stir. After a few seconds, stir the mixture gently into the soup. Cook at a gentle simmer for another minute.

    Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (9)

    Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (10)

    Taste the soup and add more salt and pepper if you wish.

    Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
163Calories
6g Fat
14g Carbs
13g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2to 3
Amount per serving
Calories163
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g8%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 74mg25%
Sodium 568mg25%
Total Carbohydrate 14g5%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 7mg33%
Calcium 122mg9%
Iron 3mg17%
Potassium 644mg14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Italian Egg Drop Soup, Stracciatella Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of stracciatella soup? ›

Stracciatella (Italian: [strattʃaˈtɛlla]; in Italian, a diminutive derived from the verb stracciare ('to shred')), also known as stracciatella alla romana, is an Italian soup consisting of meat broth and small shreds of an egg-based mixture, prepared by drizzling the mixture into boiling broth and stirring.

What is stracciatella in Italian food? ›

Stracciatella can refer to a Roman soup, a cheese from Puglia, or a gelato flavor that originated in Lombardy. Meaning little rags, stracciatella is the name for three different Italian foods: soup, cheese, and gelato – the only thing they have in common is their name.

What is the meat for stracciatella? ›

To serve an excellent Stracciatella, you have to start with the meat broth to boil, according to the traditional recipe, with vegetables and herbs - a potato, an onion, a stalk of celery, and a clove of garlic - and your favourite cuts of meat - muscle, brisket, beef knee and chicken - which give it that strong and ...

What can you use instead of cornstarch slurry for egg drop soup? ›

Yes, you can substitute flour for cornstarch in egg drop soup, but it may slightly alter the texture and clarity of the broth. It's also not a common substitute used in Chinese soup recipes, Use less flour as it's denser.

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