Cute Animal Dough Soup (番茄疙瘩汤) – Adorable Tomato Comfort Recipe

You’ve seen tomato egg soup before — but never like this!
This adorable tomato dough soup (番茄疙瘩汤) went viral in Chinese home-cooking circles for turning soft flour dough into tiny animal faces floating in rich, tangy tomato broth.

Each dumpling looks like a sleepy bear, puppy, or seal — round, soft, and irresistibly cute. Despite the playful look, the flavor is pure comfort: savory tomato, silky egg, and chewy dough in one cozy bowl.

🌾 Ingredients

Dough

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup water (plus a little extra if needed)

• Pinch of salt

• Black sesame seeds (for eyes/noses)

• Optional: bamboo charcoal or cocoa powder (for darker color details)

Soup Base

• 2 medium tomatoes (chopped)

• 1 egg (beaten)

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp sugar

• 1 tbsp cooking oil

• 2 cups water or broth

• Green onions or cilantro (to garnish)

• Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the dough:
   Mix flour, water, and salt into a soft, smooth dough. Knead for 5 minutes, cover, and let rest for 30 minutes.

2. Shape the faces:
   Pinch small dough balls and shape them into cute animal heads.
   Use smaller bits of dough for ears and sesame seeds for eyes and noses.
   (Tip — Use tweezers or the tip of a chopstick for neat details.)

3. Cook the tomato base:
   Heat oil in a pot, add chopped tomatoes, and stir-fry until soft and saucy.
   Add soy sauce, salt, sugar, and water/broth. Bring to a gentle boil.

4. Add the dough:
   Drop your dough animals carefully into the soup.
   Simmer 5–8 minutes until they float and turn slightly translucent.

5. Finish with egg:
   Pour in beaten egg while stirring slowly to form delicate ribbons.
   Drizzle sesame oil (optional) and top with green onions.

🍲 Serving Tips

• Serve hot with rice or a light salad.

• For extra cuteness, color the dough with matcha (green), beet (pink), or squid-ink (black).

• Kids love helping shape the animals — make it a weekend family activity!

💬 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Wholesome comfort food: Classic tomato-egg flavor in every spoonful.

• Playful & photo-ready: Perfect for social media or themed cooking days.

• Customizable: Change shapes, colors, or fillings for any mood.

It may look “too ridiculous to eat,” but this Tomato Animal Dough Soup proves that food can be both adorable and delicious.
Each spoonful feels like a hug — warm, soft, and filled with fun.

Try it once, and you’ll never see tomato soup the same way again.