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tea egg recipe Marbled Soy Star Anise Shells
- Total Time: 840 minutes
- Yield: 6–12 servings 1x
- Diet: General
Description
This simple tea egg recipe creates beautifully marbled, savory eggs with unique flavor and a stunning look, perfect for hearty snacks or family meals. It features a foolproof method to achieve deep color and aromatic taste.
Ingredients
- 6–12 large eggs
- 0.5 cup light soy sauce
- 0.25 cup dark soy sauce
- 3–4 whole star anise pods
- 1 cinnamon stick, about 3 inches (7 cm)
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns, optional
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2–3 black tea bags (or 1 Tbsp loose leaf)
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Boil Eggs to Perfect Firmness: Lower eggs into 2-quart boiling water. Cook for 10-12 minutes until firm. Immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking and ease peeling.
- Crack and Prepare Shells: Gently tap cooled eggs with a spoon to create fine cracks, keeping the shells intact. (If difficult to crack evenly, roll gently on a surface first.)
- Prepare the Aromatic Braising Liquid: In a 3-quart pot, combine light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, star anise, cinnamon stick, Sichuan peppercorns (if using), bay leaves, sugar, black tea, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat.
- Simmer for Infusion: Add the cracked eggs to the liquid, ensuring they are fully submerged. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 1-2 hours to infuse flavors and darken the shells.
- Cool and Marinate: Remove the pot from heat and allow the eggs to cool completely in the liquid. For the deepest color and flavor, refrigerate the eggs submerged in the liquid overnight.
- Peel and Serve: Gently peel away the cracked shells to reveal the stunning marble pattern. Serve the tea eggs chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
For best results, use fresh, room-temperature eggs for more even cracking. Ensure an immediate ice bath after boiling to prevent hard-to-peel eggs. For a stronger spice flavor or darker marbling, marinate the eggs longer. Store in the braising liquid in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 egg
- Calories: 75 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg