Silky Chinese Steamed Egg Custard
Prep Time
4 minsCook Time
4-5 minsFree Time
to catch up on a podcast
This classic Chinese custard is simply deceptive to master on the stove, but deceptively simple in the microwave. Eggs and stock form the base of a delicately smooth, savory custard that’s similar in texture to silken tofu. Top with soy sauce, sesame oil, and scallions and enjoy over steamed rice or poached seafood. For chawanmushi, the Japanese version, use dashi in place of chicken stock.
All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well.
What You’ll Need
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 1egg
- ⅓ cup (80ml) chicken stock, vegetable stock, or dashi
- 1 teaspoon scallion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- chili crisp or chili oil (optional)
Preparation
- Whisk together eggs, chicken stock, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into the Anyday dish. This removes thicker bits of egg white and makes the resulting custard silky smooth. Cover with the lid (knob lifted).
- Cook in the microwave at Power Level 4for 3:30-4 minutes, or until the custard is barely set in the middle, and jiggles gently if shaken. If it’s too runny, add time at the same power level in 30-second increments. Let rest with the lid on for 1-2 minutes to let the egg gently finish steaming.✕
Certain foods cook best in the microwave at lower power levels.
[[video-power]]
Different microwaves have different settings. See your microwave manual (or look it up online) to learn how to change your microwave’s power level.
For many microwaves: enter the cook time, press the “Power” (or “Power Level”) button, and select a number between 1-10. Other microwaves may require selecting the Power Level first, and then entering the cook time.
Microwaves list power levels in different ways. Here’s a guide to help you adjust:
PL 10 = 100% = High (default)
PL 9 = 90% = High
PL 8 = 80% = Med-High
PL 7 = 70% = Med-High
PL 6 = 60% = Medium
PL 5 = 50% = Medium
PL 4 = 40% = Med-Low
PL 3 = 30% = Med-Low
PL 2 = 20% = Low
PL 1 = 10% = Low
You will know if the power level has been successfully changed if you hear periodic changes in the microwave’s tone after it begins cooking.
- Garnish with scallions, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Add a spoonful of chili crisp or chili oil for a burst of flavor!
Serving suggestions & tips
- Replace chicken stock with dashi and add a splash of sake before cooking to make this into chawanmushi, packed with umami-rich flavor.
- For a spicy kick, top with some chili crisp.
- Enjoy chilled and topped with tobiko or salmon roe for a savory appetizer. Serve over rice to make it a full meal.
Recipe notes
- Adjust the power level by 1 as needed — increase if it’s taking longer than expected, or decrease if the custard is bubbling too much and ends up with a “hole-y” texture.
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.
