What Is an Egg Waffle?
Egg waffles are a long-standing tradition for street foods in China. In Chinese, they are written as 雞蛋仔, literally translating to “little egg.”
Thanks to the creation of social media and foodies, the world now knows these tasty treats. So why should you be adding them to your daily diet? Ok, fine, at the very least, they should be present at those Sunday brunch spreads!
But why? Well, for starters, they are delicious. It’s a traditional recipe for a waffle, with added bonuses like custard powder and tapioca starch. These ingredients add depth to the essential waffle mix, creating the perfect texture and richness.
They’re a fun and creative way to serve the most popular menu item on any brunch list. Here’s how to get yours on the table this Sunday.
Origin of Hong Kong Style Egg Waffle
While the actual birthplace of this fun food is unknown, they’re an item that residents of Hong Kong have grown up with and love. Some speculation about the origin is that a store owner added ingredients to broken eggs that couldn’t be sold.
Once the recipe was perfected, this batter was added to the waffle mold; behold the creation. In 2014, egg waffles rose to fame worldwide when a Chinese actor featured the dish on his cooking show. After that, they went “viral” and never looked back.
Now, the world knows and loves these tiny treats for a good reason. Thanks to this cooking show, it’s not just home chefs that create this dish.
Some restaurants create their own versions, from egg waffles being used as cones for ice cream shops to waffles being filled in sweet and savory versions (i.e., custard or cheese fillings). If you’re in New York, stop by Eggloo for an entire shop dedicated purely to the love of egg waffles.
How To Make Egg Waffles
You might not have a shop nearby to get these made for you, so we’ve added a way for you to make them at home. To start, you’ll need to whip up the batter. You need to get your waffle iron heated up. There are molds on the market that you can buy to use on a stovetop, but there are also irons that can be purchased with higher ease of use.
Use a ladle to control the amount of batter you pour into the mold. This will be especially vital for egg waffles you intend to fill. A thin layer on the bottom will be golden and crispy. Ensure it’s even, and then add your filling.
The bottom will be cooked but more soft and fluffy than the top. The experience will provide a lot of texture and flavor. You’ll be hosting brunch every week! Can you blame everyone for wanting to come over?
Use a fork or tongs to remove the waffle from the mold when ready. A fork works better just because it will cause less disturbance to the waffle. Have a cooling rack ready to lay the waffle down gently.
It might not be the hardest process, but don’t spoil your efforts at the end by throwing your waffles around. You can serve large sheets or break them up into little pieces (hence the tiny eggs), and they’re ready to serve. If you go the small bits route, have some toothpicks on hand to make it easy for guests to pick up and enjoy.
Utensils
- The Hong Kong egg waffle mold
- Wooden stirrer
- A few large bowls (or mixing bowls)
- Electric kitchen scale
- Fork
- Cake cooling rack
- Flour sieve
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 tablespoon of custard powder
- 3 tablespoons + 1 ½ teaspoons tapioca starch
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup + 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon + 2¼ teaspoons evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- Oil, for greasing the waffle machine
Preparation
You’ll want to know what you’re serving and how much time you’ll need to have your ingredients ready when it’s time to cook. If you choose to fill with custards or sauces, make sure they’re slightly chilled and have a firmer consistency before using.
They’ll heat up in the pan, so you don’t want them to run and ruin the waffle.
For cheeses, make sure that they’re shredded or cut into small cubes before being used. Regardless of how you serve, you want the cheese to fill up each bubble individually and not spill over onto the sides.
Tips
There are so many waffle candies and treats on the market that fresh waffles aren't the only way to try this street food. Taiyaki is a cute waffle in the shape of a fish typically served filled with custard or red bean paste, or these tasty bites filled with matcha. They’re a sweet treat and worth every bite.
Japan also makes a cute DIY waffle candy kit that is fun and delicious; we’ve got them here.
These butter waffle cookies are another great variation of egg waffles that have all the flavor of traditional egg waffles with a light and airy cookie texture.
Delicious and ready to eat whenever a craving strikes. If that wasn’t enough, we also have these piggy buns that are kept in the freezer. You’ll bake them right before enjoying their yummy custard-filled deliciousness for a warm and sweet treat.
Takeaway
Umamicart is all about bringing you the most delicious items that Asian cuisine has to offer. Egg waffles are not only cute and fun, but they are delicious and make for a creative dish for all your guests to enjoy. Whether filled or plain, we are sure that everyone will be asking you for seconds.
Sources:
This Waffle Pan Will Increase Your Instagram Following | Epicurious
