Cantonese Cream Corn Soup

Written by
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
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Rhonda Parkinson
Updated 08/08/19
Sweet corn and crab soup
vichie81 / Getty Images
  • Total: 30 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Servings: 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
83 Calories
1g Fat
14g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 83
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 810mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 5g
Calcium 15mg 1%
*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.)

Traditionally, this warming Cantonese soup is prepared in the same way as “Chicken Velvet” by chopping the meat or seafood into small pieces and mixing it with egg whites, liquid, and cornstarch. This recipe for cream corn soup is much simpler – the cornstarch and water mixture is used as a thickener, and the egg whites are streamed into the hot broth before serving, just like in egg drop soup. White pepper, green onions, and Asian sesame oil add extra flavor to the broth.

Ingredients

  • 5 cups homemade chicken stock (or store-bought chicken broth)
  • 1 1/4 cups canned creamed corn
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • Black or white pepper (to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
  • 3/4 cup cooked crabmeat (or cooked diced ham)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 egg whites (lightly beaten)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil (or to taste)
  • Optional: 2 green onions (spring onions, finely chopped)

Steps to Make It

  1. Bring the broth or stock to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the creamed corn and bring back to a boil (about 3 minutes).

  2. Stir in the salt, sugar, white pepper, rice wine or sherry, and cooked crabmeat. Cook for about 2 minutes to bring back to a boil again.

  3. Give the cornstarch and water mixture a quick re-stir, and then pour into the boiling soup, stirring to thicken. When the soup has thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat.

  4. Pour the egg whites into the soup in a steady stream, and quickly stir in a clockwise direction until they form thin shreds.

  5. Add the sesame oil and the green onions for garnish if using.