If you don’t consider eggs as the main ingredient for special dishes, reconsider this idea! There are some basic ways to cook eggs that transform this everyday food into a superstar. Take the basic cooking techniques and improve them with the right toppings to make an astonishing dish!
“When you’re upset, have an omelet” could be a message on my favorite T-shirt. Funny, isn’t it? But, also true. There were many moments when one simple egg saved me from hunger. Especially in college, when I spent most of my money on other things than food. I even remember one moment, when my best friend and I came home from a nightclub at 5 AM and bought 2 eggs with the last change in our pockets! We had such a feast! Even though food is now more of a priority and I appreciate a good meal, I always keep eggs in my fridge. When I’m hungry but I don’t have time for something sophisticated, I use to simply crack, beat, or boil an egg.
Eggs are nourishing, full of proteins, tasty, affordable, and versatile ingredients. Keep in mind that they have cholesterol (212 mg for one large egg) and your best option is organic eggs. You can add eggs to many baked goods, quiches, or complete some amazing dishes like shakshouka. But there are many ways to cook eggs so they become the superstars on your table.
5 ways to cook eggs
1. Sunnyside up eggs
I adore sunny side up eggs! I love to prick the soft yolk with a toasted piece of bread and eat it right away! To make sunnyside up eggs, you just have to heat your skillet, add one tablespoon of vegetable oil, then crack the eggs. Cook until the tops of the whites are set but the yolk is still runny. Don’t complicate your seasoning! Use just salt and pepper.
This is one of the simplest ways to cook eggs. Serve with toast or spinach, fried bacon, cream cheese, baked potatoes, or in sandwiches. You can also bake eggs in avocado or make egg in a hole.
2. Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs can be one of the most fantastic breakfasts or even dinners! There are many ways to cook eggs, but to make them soft and fluffy, there’s only one way: scramble them! The success of your scrambled eggs is guaranteed if you use fresh eggs, good butter, and have a good technique – stir them slowly with a spatula, in a low heated skillet. You can also use olive oil, but butter makes them creamy and nice.
I like to add my scrambled eggs on toast and sprinkle chives or crumble goat cheese on top. But there are limitless combos: with fresh ricotta, cream cheese, fried bacon, spinach, salad or smoked salmon.
3. Frittata
If you crave something similar to an omelet but more dense and satisfying, make a frittata. Frittata is also a simple way to include vegetables in your diet.
Prepare your vegetables, then beat the eggs together with a whisk and season them with salt and pepper. Melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet and cook your veggies – more or less, depending on their softness. Start with the longer-cooking veggies like onions and potatoes and ending with softer veggies like red peppers, until they are all cooked through. Season the veggies.
If you want to add some cheese, that’s the moment! Then pour in the egg mixture and cook it for about 2 minutes until you see the eggs begin to set on the edges. Then take the pan off the heat, transfer it to the preheated oven and bake until the eggs are set, 8 to 10 minutes.
Through trial and error, you can find out which are the veggies that make your frittata better. Take into consideration onions, potatoes, peas, bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, shredded chicken, sausages, and even cooked rice or pasta. You can always serve your frittata with a fresh salad.
If you make more than you can eat during one meal, keep the leftovers in the fridge; they are nearly as good as frittata straight from the oven.
4. Deviled eggs
If I didn’t know that, consumed in excess, they can make your cholesterol rise, I would eat deviled eggs every day. With such little effort and few ingredients, you can transform one simple egg into a rich, flavorful, and delicate bite. They are a successful choice as a snack if you’re throwing a party or planning a family lunch during the weekend.
You need hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Slice the eggs in half lengthwise, remove their yolks to a medium bowl, set aside the whites. Mash the yolks using a fork, then add mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper, and mix well. Fill the egg whites with this mixture and, if you want, sprinkle some spices, like paprika powder or chili flakes.
That’s the classic recipe, which you can improve by adding toppings like smoked salmon and chopped dill, canned or cooked shrimp or you can mix some avocado into the yolk mixture.
5. Egg salad
The only rule for making a great egg salad is to throw in anything you like next to eggs and mayonnaise! Try spring onion, celery, and radishes. That would be the classic version. But you can add sunflower seeds, walnuts, grated carrots, pickles, olives, chives, or dill. If you don’t like mayo (are there people like that??) or you avoid it because of your diet, you can still make the salad if you replace mayo with Greek yogurt.
Egg salad is delicious, but it’s even better in sandwiches! Spread it on toast or a croissant, along with lettuce, bacon, radishes, tomato slices, caramelized onions, ham, or red bell peppers. It’s a great choice for breakfast or dinner! You can also pack yourself a lunch box or prepare some sandwiches for a weekend picnic.
Bonus: Crème brulee
You need more ways to cook eggs? Well, the egg is the superstar of one of the most famous French desserts: crème brulee. You need yolks, sugar, vanilla pods, and cream. First, beat the yolks with sugar, then add the vanilla seeds and the cream, and mix. Pour the mixture into ramekins or small pots, then add them to a large baking dish, pour cold water into the dish (about 1.2 inch/3 cm high). Bake the mixture for 30 minutes. Let it cool for about 4-5 hours. Before serving, sprinkle caster sugar over each ramekin and caramelize each with a gas burner. Crème de la crème!
Here you have our version of creme brulee recipe!