- Korean Food
- Vegetable Recipes
- Egg Recipes
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Updated on 12/12/21
Tested by
Danielle Centoni
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/danielle-centoni-4788046-cfe97c327d6143bebc545d172746bc4e.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (1)")
Tested byDanielle Centoni
Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.
Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process
Prep: 2 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 12 mins
Servings: 2 servings
76 ratings
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Korean steamed eggs (gaeranjim) have a bit in common with an omelet, poached eggs, and scrambled eggs. But eggs prepared in this traditional Korean fashion set themselves apart from other eggs by their silkiness and smooth texture.
People in Korea eat eggs at all meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They're a popular starter or side dish and can be served as the main dish as well, especially at breakfast. Common ways to prepare eggs include frying, making a Korean rolled egg omelet (gaeranmari), making a Korean egg sandwich or breakfast egg toast, or including eggs in Korean "sushi" rolls (kimbap).
Pay particular attention as you cook this dishsince it's fairly easy to overcook or even burn the eggs if you become distracted. Ideally, your eggs should cook into a dish that carries the same texture as the silken variety of tofu.
This quick and easy steamed egg dish can be made in the microwave or on the stove. Serve it alongside any traditional Korean main course, such as Korean pan-fried fish (saeng sun jun). You can enjoy it as a quick snack or standalone meal, perhaps with some additional vegetables or protein such as Spam or ham. Plain or seasoned rice also goes well with steamed eggs.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-hero-2-030d349a7f0e48d5818470fda9bfdd12.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (2)")
"This is a great recipe to make when you're tired of the usual scrambled eggs. Mixing the eggs with water and steaming in the microwave or over a steamer produces a light and soft texture, with scallions adding savory flavor. I can see adding all sorts of other ingredients to switch it up." —Danielle Centoni
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-d-centoni-2021-edited-d9cdf53e262c41b2b01ab901ddb68088.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (3)")
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
4 large eggs
3/4 cup water
1 scallion, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
In a heat-safe bowl—porcelain or stoneware work best—whisk together the eggs, water, scallions, and salt until fully combined.
If using amicrowave, cover the bowl with a plate and cook for 4 minutes.
If steaming on astovetop, add the bowl to asteamer and steam for 10 minutes over medium-high heat.
Serve and enjoy.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-step-01-f92524060489484cb9b95e06a924df73.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (4)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-step-02-515f7d45b50d4790a7206db8b4825dc9.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (5)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-step-03-a9c72ff897ec4395a41038b832f20340.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (6)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-step-04-2-c4b55bbad7ac43a3aea00a5f121b5919.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (7)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/korean-steamed-egg-2118868-step-05-002c68d4f5f84536920086d17b8447f2.jpg "The Easiest Korean Steamed Egg Ever (Microwave Permitted) (8)")
Tip
If you don't have a steamer, you can simply put the heatproof bowl in a large pot with a few inches of water at the bottom and steam for 15 minutes over medium-low heat. The water should go only halfway up the bowl.
Recipe Variations
- This Korean steamed eggs recipe includes only scallions as theseasoningfor the eggs. However, you can experiment with chili pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and small-diced vegetables such as mushrooms, sweet bell peppers, zucchini, or sweet corn while sticking reasonably closely with Korean tradition.
- You can also consider substituting broth (beef broth, chicken broth, seafood broth, or vegetable broth) for the water in this recipe, which will give the eggs a different, robust flavor. This flavorful version is a nice choice when serving a steamed egg as part of lunch or dinner.
- For an extra bit of flavor, swap some of the salt for soy sauce.
- For a nontraditional addition, top the cooked steamed egg with a sprinkling of cheese.
The 15 Essential Korean Ingredients You Should Know
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 145 | Calories |
| 10g | Fat |
| 1g | Carbs |
| 13g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 2 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 145 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 10g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat 3g | 16% |
| Cholesterol 372mg | 124% |
| Sodium 776mg | 34% |
| Total Carbohydrate 1g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 1g | |
| Protein 13g | |
| Vitamin C 1mg | 7% |
| Calcium 64mg | 5% |
| Iron 2mg | 10% |
| Potassium 159mg | 3% |
| *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.)
Recipe Tags:
- egg
- side dish
- asian
- weeknight
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