Here's what you need to know about the Cantonese dish!
Egg Foo Young is a classic Chinese dish! Personally, I was not familiar with this dish, so I was interested in learning more about it—especially because I saw the word "egg" on a dinner menu, which did throw me off a little! Let's take a look!
What Is Egg Foo Young?
Egg Foo Young is essentially a Chinese omelet. It consists of eggs mixed with vegetables and typically includes some sort of protein such as chicken, shrimp, or pork. It is then smothered in a Chinese gravy or stir fry sauce; the gravy is definitely more Americanized. The name "Egg Foo Young" comes from the Cantonese language, and "Foo Young" means "lotus" or "hibiscus egg." (The dish looks similar to a lotus flower, hence the name.)
Egg Foo Young is typically cooked more than the types of omelets we're used to. It's cooked until golden brown, while other omelets are only cooked until slightly brown. The fillings are also different than what you'd usually find in an omelet.
Origins
Though it is a Chinese dish, it is primarily served outside of China. Egg Foo Young is said to have been inspired by a meal called fu rong, which was an egg dish prepared with fancy ingredients like crab meat and served at Cantonese banquets. It is believed to have been invented by Chinese immigrants, who came to America during the Gold Rush and worked in American Chinese restaurants in the mid-1800s.
Many immigrants from China came to a place they referred to as the Golden Mountain in California, hoping to strike gold. Unfortunately, Americans were unhappy with the number of foreigners that had come to compete for gold, and laws were passed that placed large taxes on foreign miners, particularly those from China. This caused many Chinese immigrants to go into other lines of work, which included kitchen work.
The industry in America grew, and the increased amount of heavy labor meant these workers were hungry. The Chinese cooks would follow the labor and serve up Egg Foo Young and other Americanized Chinese dishes to these workers.
Egg Foo Young was a pretty common dish in Chinese restaurants in the U.S. until the 1970s, and it is less commonly found these days. It's mostly found in more traditional Cantonese spots.
One spot to check out for some Egg Foo Young is The Piper Inn in Denver, which has been serving up Cantonese food (among traditional American bar food and other cuisines) for over 50 years! Check out what one blogger had to say about her experience at The Piper Inn here.
