Recipes

Onsen 鹵水 Lou Seui Egg

Lo Shui eggs (Lo Suei or Lu Shui) are traditional Chinese master-stock braised eggs. Hard or soft-boiled eggs are simmered or steeped in a spiced, aromatic soy sauce broth—featuring ingredients like star anise, five-spice, and rock sugar. They offer a savory, slightly sweet flavor and a signature marbled appearance.

Asian · Boiled · Chinese · Eggs · Marinated Eggs · Snack

Onsen 鹵水 Lou Seui Egg

Lo Shui eggs (Lo Suei or Lu Shui) are traditional Chinese master-stock braised eggs. Hard or soft-boiled eggs are simmered or steeped in a spiced, aromatic soy sauce broth—featuring ingredients like star anise, five-spice, and rock sugar. They offer a savory, slightly sweet flavor and a signature marbled appearance.

Ingredients

  • Eggs
  • Thinly sliced green onions (garnish)

Sesame oil (garnish)

  • 3 slices of ginger
  • 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
  • 1 green onion

Neutral oil

  • 5-6 star anise, crushed
  • 1 black cardamom, crushed
  • 1 small piece of aged tangerine peel
  • 4-5 Sichuan peppercorn, green preferably (it’s more fragrant than red)
  • 3 cloves
  • 2 slices of dried licorice root
  • 1 pieces of cinnamon
  • 3 c. of water
  • 1 scant c. light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp dark soy sauce
  • Rock sugar, to taste

Directions

Key ingredients

Cinnamon · Rock Sugar · Soy Sauce

  1. Use a sous vide setup to heat up a water bath to 145F. Gently place however many eggs you want to use in the water bath and poach for 1 hour. Remove from the water bath and run under cold water to cool them if you are not using them immediately. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and if using from the fridge, submerge them under very hot (not boiling or simmering) water for about 1-2 minutes to gently warm them up.
  2. While the eggs are poaching, take a small sauce pot and heat over medium low heat. When the pot is hot, add some neutral oil and add the ginger, garlic, and green onion. Stir fry until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
  3. Add the water, spices, light and dark soy sauce, and rock sugar. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat. Be careful not to let this boil over high heat as it can boil over and make a mess. When this boils, reduce the heat down to a simmer for 20 minutes and this is ready to use.
  4. When everything is ready, thinly slice some green onions. This is optional and you can skip this if you don’t have any. Crack however many eggs you want in a bowl. Spoon some 鹵水 lou seui over the eggs. Top with the sliced green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil if you want to as well for extra fragrance.