Hong Kong Cafe Recipe
Hong Kong Macaroni Soup
Hong Kong macaroni soup is a cha chaan teng breakfast dish with macaroni, broth, ham or luncheon meat, egg, and mild seasoning.
Why this dish works
The dish teaches time-of-day menu logic. It makes sense as breakfast or a light cafe meal, not as a banquet dish.
Recipe at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Serves | 2 |
| Time | 20 minutes |
| Core technique | Cafe soup assembly |
| Heat level | Mild |
| Best with | Milk tea and toast |
Ingredients
- 1 cup macaroni
- 4 cups chicken stock or light broth
- 4 slices ham or luncheon meat
- 2 eggs
- Salt and white pepper
- Scallions, optional
- Optional: peas, corn, or sliced greens
Method
- Cook macaroni until tender and drain.
- Heat broth and season lightly with salt and white pepper.
- Add ham or luncheon meat and optional vegetables.
- Add macaroni to bowls.
- Top with broth and a fried or poached egg.
- Garnish with scallions if desired.
Variations and substitutions
- Use satay beef instead of ham.
- Use spam-style luncheon meat for a classic cafe direction.
- Add a slice of cheese for a more modern cafe version.
- Use vegetable broth and tofu for a meatless adaptation.