Hard-Boiled Eggs Masala
30 min | 15 min prep
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
5 tablespoons onions, peeled and finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 cup canned tomato, chopped
1/4 teaspoon sugar
3-4 tablespoons fresh cilantro
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut into halves lengthwise
Directions
1) Combine turmeric, cayenne, ground cumin, coriander. lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and 1 TB water in small bowl. Mix.
2) Put oil in medium-sized, nonstick pan and set over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, put in cumin seeds. 10 seconds later, add onion and ginger.
3) Stir and fry till onion turns medium brown.
4) Add spice paste.
5) Stir and cook for 15 seconds.
6) Add tomatoes and sugar and bring to a simmer.
7) Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
8) Add cilantro.
9) Lay the cut eggs into the sauce and spoon more sauce over them. Cover and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
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Egg, Canadian Bacon, and Cheddar Biscuit Sandwiches
Makes 4 servings
Hands-on time: 20 minutes
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
8 thin slices Canadian bacon (about 6 ounces)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 large eggs, lightly beaten
Kosher salt and freshly milled black pepper
4 ounces Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pour in enough of the cream to just form a dough. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough gently several times and divide into 4 equal balls. Pat out each ball to make a flat 3-inch round on the cookie sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes or until pale golden. Transfer to a rack and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon, turning once, until just golden. Transfer the bacon to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Reduce the heat to low, add the butter to the skillet, and heat until the foam subsides. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the eggs and add them to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until the eggs just begin to set. Sprinkle the cheese on top, cover, and remove the pan from the heat. Let stand for 2 minutes.
To assemble the sandwiches, cut the biscuits in half horizontally with a serrated knife. Top the four bottom halves with a slice of bacon and one fourth of the cheese-covered scrambled eggs. Top the eggs with another slice of bacon and the remaining biscuit halves.
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Eggs Baked in Ham with Sofrito
Makes 4 servings
Hands-on time: 15 minutes
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
1/2 large red bell pepper, coarsely chopped (about 2/3 cup)
1 small onion, coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 large plum tomato coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup packed rinsed and dried fresh cilantro leaves
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped (about 4 teaspoons)
Kosher salt and freshly milled black pepper
8 thin slices Black Forest or Virginia ham (without holes; 6 to 8 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 ounces plain or jalapeño Monterey Jack cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)
8 large tortilla chips (3-inch triangles), coarsely crushed (about 1/2 cup)
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Combine the bell pepper, onion, tomato, cilantro, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a food processor and process until smooth. Fit a slice of ham into each of 8 lightly-oiled muffin cups, custard cups, or mini soufflé dishes (they must hold a scant 1/2-cup) with the ends of the ham extending above the edges of cups. Divide the sofrito mixture among the cups, shaping a hollow in the center. Crack 1 egg into each, and divide the cheese over the tops. If using custard cups or soufflé dishes, place on a rimmed baking sheet for easy handling.
Bake in the center of the oven until the whites are cooked but yolks are still runny, about 15 minutes. Season the eggs with salt and pepper and carefully remove (with the ham) from the muffin cups, using 2 spoons or spatulas. Sprinkle with tortilla chips and serve.
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Green Chile and Zucchini Quiche
Makes 6 servings
Hands-on time: 25 minutes
Total preparation time: 55 to 60 minutes
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
24 whole grain wheat crackers (Triscuits) ground in a food processor (about 1 cup) or 1 cup dried breadcrumbs homemade (see Tips) or packaged
1 medium zucchini (about 6 ounces)
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 large eggs
8 ounces Monterey jack cheese, coarsely grated (about 2 cups)
8 ounces whole-milk cottage cheese (1 cup)
One 4 1/2-ounce can chopped green chiles, drained
Bottled salsa, optional
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Stir 2 tablespoons of the melted butter into the cracker crumbs. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a 9-inch glass pie plate. Bake the crust in the center of the preheated oven until it begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
Meanwhile, grate the zucchini, preferably using the grating disk of a food processor. Toss the zucchini with 1/2 teaspoon salt and let drain in a colander for 10 minutes. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat until hot. Reduce the heat to medium; add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze the zucchini well with your hands to remove excess moisture. Add the zucchini to the onion and cook over high heat for 3 minutes.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the eggs until thick and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the Monterey Jack and cottage cheeses, the flour mixture, and remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter to the eggs and beat well. Stir in the zucchini mixture and chiles and pour the mixture into the crust. Bake the quiche in the center of the oven until the top is puffed and golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside at room temperature 5 minutes, cut into wedges, and serve with salsa, if desired.