Stracciatella Soup Recipe (With Video and Step by Step)

Few things are more soothing, comforting, or nostalgic than a bowl of your favorite soup, like this stracciatella soup. Its name translates as "little shred" in Italian, and it's like an Italian version of egg drop soup, where eggs cook gently in broth to form thin ribbons. It’s as simple as can be and is made with just a handful of ingredients: chicken stock, eggs, parmesan cheese, parsley, and our special addition, spinach.

Stracciatella has a very delicate flavor, which is welcome when you’ve been eating hearty soups, stewed meats, and starchy vegetables. If you already have some good homemade chicken stock on hand, this soup comes together in the time it takes to crack a few eggs and warm up the stock.

Ingredients for Stracciatella Soup

Chicken stock: Flavorful, enriched chicken stock is the base layer of flavor in stracciatella soup, so use homemade stock or a good-quality store-bought brand.

Eggs: The eggs will slowly poach in the warm stock and absorb that flavor. They also add a little protein and extra texture to the soup.

Parmesan cheese: Parmesan adds nutty flavor, umami, and saltiness to the stock. Avoid pre-grated cheese and grate it yourself from a block of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Fresh parsley: As light and delicate as this soup is, a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top is always welcome.

Baby spinach: Although not necessarily traditional, we like to make this soup even fresher and healthier by stirring in a few handfuls of baby spinach toward the end.

This type of soup is usually served for dinner, but it also makes a delicious and nutritious breakfast.

4 Ways to Upgrade Stracciatella Soup

Add a handful of cooked shredded chicken, turkey, or mild crumbled sausage for extra protein.
Sauté aromatics like onion and garlic in a drizzle of olive oil before adding to the stock.
Brighten the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a splash of white wine vinegar.
Finish fresh with different herbs—mild herbs like dill or cilantro are delicious with this stracciatella soup.

Directions

ingredients for Stracciatella Soup — Rachel Marek

Bring chicken stock to a simmer:

Bring chicken stock to a simmer in a medium-size saucepan.

Rachel Marek
Whisk egg mixture:

Whisk together the eggs, Parmesan, parsley, and salt.

Rachel Marek
Finish cooking soup:

Slowly pour the egg mixture into the stock while stirring. Continue to stir until the eggs are set, about 1 minute.

Rachel Marek

Rachel Marek
Add spinach and serve:

Add baby spinach and stir to wilt. Serve immediately.

Rachel Marek

Rachel Marek

Storing and Reheating Stracciatella Soup

Don't do it! Stracciatella soup is one of a handful of soups that is best served as soon as it's made. When you reheat the soup, you run the risk of overcooking the eggs. Scale the recipe back as needed to avoid leftovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between stracciatella and egg drop soup?

The difference between stracciatella and egg drop soup is small but significant. The two soups are very similar overall, but they're different in terms of flavor. Both are based on chicken stock and eggs. Stracciatella is more similar to a classic American chicken noodle soup. Egg drop soup uses other flavors, like garlic, ginger, and soy sauce.
Is chicken broth or stock best for stracciatella soup?

Chicken stock is best for stracciatella soup. Stock is simmered for hours with roasted chicken bones and has a more intense, concentrated flavor than broth. That makes it perfect for a soup with minimal ingredients like stracciatella. We recommend using good homemade chicken stock if possible.
What is stracciatella in Italian?

In Italian, stracciatella has several meanings. There is the soup made with chicken broth and strands of egg. Also, a version of mozzarella that's been torn into fine shreds as part of the stretching process. And a vanilla gelato that has fine strands of chocolate mixed in. What all have in common is that they contain "little rags," which is the English translation of stracciatella.