Do you wish you knew how to cook? Are you an amateur chef looking to up your game? Do you really like eggs? If so, this article is for you! Below are recipes for a variety of egg dishes, along with recommendations of what to serve them with. Eggs are delicious at breakfast, brunch, dinner, and every other time you might be hungry, so mastering egg cookery is a valuable skill for any young chef to have. After reading this article, you’ll become an ‘eggspert’ in the culinary arts.
Recipe One: Sunny-side up
We start with the simplest of egg dishes, the platonic ideal of breakfast: a simple fried egg, its delicate yellow yolk smiling up at you from the plate.
Ingredients: Eggs, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, onion flakes, garlic
Step 1
Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into a nonstick frying pan. I like to use flavored olive oil, such as garlic or chili, but plain also works. If you don’t have olive oil, butter or any vegetable oil makes a fine substitute. Heat up the pan to high heat.
Step 2
Mince a clove of garlic and add it to the pan.
Step 3
Add spices to taste, about a teaspoon of each. I like to use paprika, salt, pepper, and onion flakes, but the spices you use are up to you. Feel free to add whatever flavors you want.
Step 4
Crack your eggs into the pan. Make sure to keep the yolk intact.
Step 5
Let your eggs cook. The exact timing depends on the heat of your pan, so try to use visual clues. The bottom of the egg is a great timer: you want it to be crispy and dark brown, with lacy edges. If it starts to turn black, your egg is burning and you should take it off the pan immediately. Another visual clue is the white of the egg, as shown in the photo.
Step 6
Take your eggs from the pan with a spatula. Enjoy!
Bonus Step 7
Fried eggs are great plain, but they’re also delicious with some sides. I recommend putting your eggs on top of toast with avocado, pesto, and spinach. Or, mash them up in a bowl with rice.
Recipe Two: Boiled Eggs
Ingredients: eggs, water
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and boiling is in the eye of the boiler. The timing of this recipe is up to you, but no matter how you cook you’re sure to have a delicious egg in the end.
Step 1
Bring a pot of water to a roiling boil.
Step 2
Reduce heat to medium-low and gently place eggs in the boiling water. I recommend using a spoon to gently put them down so they don’t crack.
Step 3
Timing. Depending on how runny you like your egg to be, you’ll want to cook your eggs for different amounts of time. Five and a half minutes will give you a barely set white and runny yolk. Eight minutes will give you a set white and a soft, jammy, and no longer runny yolk, known as a soft boiled egg. Eleven minutes will give you a fully set egg with a firm yolk, known as a hard boiled egg.
Step 4
Once your eggs are cooked to your liking, remove them from the pot and place them in a pot of cold water or ice to immediately stop them from cooking any further.
Step 5
Peel your eggs and enjoy!
Recipe Three: Egg Salad
This simple recipe is perfect for a quick and flavorful breakfast. It also goes very well in sandwiches.
Ingredients: boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, salt, pepper
Step 1
Mash together three hard boiled eggs (see above recipe), with a tablespoon of mayonnaise and a dollop of mustard. If you want your egg salad to be softer and smoother, add more mayonnaise until you are happy with the texture.
Step 2
Mix in salt, pepper, and paprika to taste.
Step 3
Enjoy! I recommend serving your egg salad with a bagel or other form of bread.
Recipe Four: Deviled Eggs
Level up your egg salad with deviled eggs. They look great and taste even better. If you want a beautiful looking egg dish which doesn’t require too much effort, then this is the recipe for you.
Ingredients: boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, salt, pepper
Step 1
Cut three hard boiled eggs in half lengthwise. Remove their yolks.
Step 2
Mash the yolks together with half a tablespoon of mayonnaise and a teaspoon of mustard. Add the salt, pepper, and paprika to taste.
Step 3
Use a spoon or a piping bag to put about half a tablespoon of the yolk mixture in each half egg.
Step 4
Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika and serve.
Recipe Five: Shakshuka
Mix up your egg game with shakshuka, a spicy Middle Eastern dish of poached eggs, peppers, and tomatoes. This dish is perfect for a hearty brunch, and it tastes even better in the summer when produce is at its peak.
Ingredients: sweet bell peppers (green, red, or yellow), olive oil, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion, harissa, tomato paste, cherry tomatoes
Step 1
Cut a small onion into very small cubes. Put it on a pan on medium heat with the olive oil and spices
Step 2
Cut two peppers into very small pieces. Put the peppers on the pan with the onions and spices. Season to taste.
Step 3
Let the peppers and onions cook in the pan for approximately ten minutes, until they are soft but still have a little bite.
Step 4
Mash six cherry tomatoes and add them to the pan. Add one-third of a cup of tomato paste into the pan as well, and stir until all the ingredients are combined.
Step 5
Let the shakshuka cook for about five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 6
Using a spatula, make 4 small divots in the sauce. Crack an egg into each divot, making sure to keep the yolk intact.
Step 7
Put a lid on the pan and let the eggs poach for 4-7 minutes. At 4 minutes, they will be very runny, at 7 minutes they will be cooked through, so leave them on for whatever time suits your preference. The lid is very important as it keeps the steam in to help the eggs cook, so if you don’t have a lid use foil or a different pan to cover the eggs.
Step 8
Remove the pan from heat and serve immediately. Shakshuka is traditionally eaten with pita or some other bread to scoop up the sauce. Feta cheese is another optional garnish.
With these recipes in your repertoire, you’ll have the perfect dish for each breakfast, late-night snack, and every meal in between. There’s a whole wide world of eggs out there, but these are a great start.
With these recipes in your repertoire, you’ll have the perfect dish for each breakfast, late-night snack, and every meal in between. There’s a whole wide world of eggs out there, but these are a great start.