3 Yummy Egg Recipes Your Family Will Love

Dolapo Marinho

I cannot explain just how much love I have for eggs!  As a matter of fact, I haven’t yet met an egg dish that I did not become enchanted with, instantly! Though eggs are said to have high levels of cholesterol, like most things nowadays, the key is eating in them moderation. Packed full of protein, vitamins  A, D, E, B12, as well as minerals and calcium, there are literally countless yummy ways to add eggs to your family’s diet.  Find 3 recipes to try out:

QUICHE

Although quiche is not a normal part of the Nigerian culinary repertoire, it really is one of the most delicious dishes that the whole family can enjoy.

Ingredients

9-inch refrigerated piecrust (If you can’t find this, please make your own!)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 medium onions, chopped
Salt and black pepper (to taste)
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
4 large eggs
3/4 cup single cream
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 small scotch bonnet chilli, chopped (aka Ata dodo. This is optional)
8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (or any other good quality swiss cheese)
1 bunch asparagus
4 cups mixed salad leaves

Method

1. Heat oven to 375° F or Gas Mark 5. Fit the crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Place on a baking sheet.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft.
3. Stir in the parsley and scotch bonnet chilli.
4. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, cream, nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
5. Gently add the onion mixture and the Gruyère cheese.
6. Pour the entire mixture into the pie crust.
7. Bake in the oven until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, (about 40 minutes). Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
8. Put the butter in a small frying pan until melted. Do not burn! Gently sautee the asparagus until softened but still with a crunch.
9. Serve immediately with the salad leaves and a wedge of quiche.

Kerelan Egg Curry

My sister-in-law lived in Kerela, South India for a number of years and absolutely loved the food!  In Kerela, meat is rarely eaten since Kerelans are strict vegetarians.  As Nigerians, we sometimes find it difficult to visualise meals without animal protein! However, here is a delightful egg curry that even the most dedicated carnivore will find both heartwarming and stomach filling.

Ingredients

4 Eggs
Fennel seeds 1 teaspoon
Coriander seeds 1 teaspoon
Cloves 6
Peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon
Cinannon stick 2pieces
Poppy seeds 1 teaspoon
Cardamom 2 seeds
Garam masala powder
Coconut milk
Roasted chana lentils (or chickpeas) 1 tablespoon
Vegetable Oil 1 teaspoon
Chopped Ginger 1 teaspoon
Choppped Garlic 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves 2
Green chillies 3
Bayleaf 2
Cucumber 1 Large
Tomatoes 2 large, red

Method
1. Boil four large eggs
2. Put one dry frying pan on medium heat and add the fennel, coriander, peppercorn, cinnamon, cardamon, poppy seeds and chana dal.  This is known as dry roasting. Once everything is nicely toasted, allow to cool down, then put in a blender until you have made a fine, spicy powder.
3. In the same frying pan, add the garlic, ginger and bay leaves.
4. As soon as the garlic has softened, add the curry leaves, chillies, onion and cook until the onions are soft but not caramelized.
5. Add turmeric and coconut milk and cover.
6. Remove the lid once it comes to the boil. Add garam masala powder and allow to simmer for 5 minutes before adding the boiled eggs.
7. Serve with white basmati rice, cucumber sticks and tomato wedges.

The “Anything Goes” Omelette

You know those lazy Saturday mornings when you wake up and all you want is eggs? Well, this omelette is exactly what the doctor ordered.  It really has no set recipe because as its name suggests, anything goes!

Raid the fridge for any leftover chicken, cubes of beef, sweet peppers, onions, prawns, ham, chorizo…anything!  If you like sardines or tuna, chuck them in.

But as a general guide, here is one recipe that I regularly use.

Ingredients

6 eggs
Salt to taste
2 scotch bonnet chilli (ata rodo)
1 large onion
2 red tomatoes
1/2 red capsicum
1/2 green capsicum
1/2 chicken stock cube
Pinch of mixed herbs
Pinch of dry thyme
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup prawns
1/2 tin tuna

Method
1. Slice the onions, chili peppers, sweet peppers and all desired vegetables
2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan till medium hot
3. Add onions and allow to slightly caramelize
4. Add scotch bonnet chili and tomatoes. Cook till tomatoes are soft
5. Add prawns and tuna
6. Break eggs in a large bowl and add salt, knorr cube and herbs
7. Pour the eggs in the frying pan being careful not to move around till it sets
8. Using a large spatula, carefully flip the omelette so it cooks through on the other side
9. Cut into wedges and serve with hot slices of yam, toast, or anything you fancy!

Photo credit: foodtolove.com.au