Poached – no problem. Sunny side up – easy peasy. Soft boiled – we can do that with our eyes closed. Eggs are one of the most straightforward things to cook. And with SpinneysFOOD sourcing free-range and organic eggs from Next Box, a family-run business in Ireland that places animal welfare at the top of their list, you can be sure you're eating ethically and healthily. But what happens when you’ve exhausted the tried and tested methods of cooking the much-loved egg? Here, we present a few ways to knock up some advanced egg dishes that work for breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Cloud eggs
Resembling a meringue, this dish of bright yolk set in egg white may look complex but is fairly simple to make. It requires just three ingredients - eggs, salt, and pepper. Egg whites are whipped to form stiff peaks and spooned onto a baking tray in the shape of little nests. The yolks are gently dropped in the centre and the eggs are baked in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 7-8 minutes or until the whites are set and begin to turn brown. The fluffy clouds are seasoned with salt and pepper and served on toast.
Egg in a hole
This egg dish is almost a celebrity, having first appeared in the 1935 movie Mary Jane’s Pa. Actor Guy Kibbee as Sam Preston, tears a hole in the centre of the bread and places it in a pan. He then cracks an egg into the hole and cooks it. These days, cookie cutters are used to make fancy shapes so the dish looks more appealing. The trick to getting a glorious golden brown toast is to use lots of butter and to gently move the skillet around so the bread doesn’t burn.
Deviled eggs
Deviled eggs are hard-boiled eggs that have been shelled, cut in half, with the yolk scooped out and the hollow bit filled with a paste instead. Modern recipes offer endless options for fillings (avocados, pickles, crab meat), but if you’re after the classic Italian recipe, you need to mix the boiled egg yolk with mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper to create a smooth paste. Transfer the mixture into a piping bag and, using a star tip nozzle, pipe it into each half of the egg white.
Avocado egg boats
If you want to create this pretty piece for your breakfast table, you need to slice the avocado in half and scoop out some of the flesh. Crack an egg in each half of the avocado and bake for 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius. Season it with salt and pepper or load it with fresh herbs and chilli sauce.
Get cracking
Add a box of eggs to your basket
