Sunday Brunch: Eggs in Hell
In Tom Valenti's headnote to this recipe in his brand new, really smart and inspiring You Don't Have to Be Diabetic to Love This Cookbook, he says that his version of Eggs in Hell was inspired by a recipe he read in the legendary California chef Jeremiah Tower's first cookbook. Valenti calls for reduced-sugar ketchup for obvious reasons, but if you are not a diabetic, feel free to substitute regular ketchup (I like Heinz).
Eggs in Hell
- serves 4 -
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 small Spanish onion, finely diced
3 large cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
1 small plum tomato, cut into small dice with seeds
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
2 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons reduced-sugar tomato ketchup
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 ounce crumbled goat cheese, Jack, or queso blanco (about 1/4 cup crumbled)
Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Heat the olive oil in a small heavy-bottomed, nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in the tomato and salt and cook, for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in the cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, ketchup, black pepper, cilantro, and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of water and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
4. Divide the mixture among 4 small baking dishes or ramekins and crack an egg over each serving. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny, 12 to 15 minutes.
5. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and use tongs or oven mitts to carefully transfer 1 ramekin to each of 4 plates. Scatter some chives and cheese over each dish and serve hot.
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7 Comments:
How much cilantro? It is in the procedure but not in the ingredients.
Michael Z at 12:13PM on 05/31/09
My bad, Michael Z. I left the cilantro off the ingredient list. The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves. I will correct the recipe right now.
Ed Levine at 12:24PM on 05/31/09
I just looked at the recipe in the book and on my post and I'm doubly embarrassed to say that I also left the eggs (4 large) off the ingredient list.
My humblest apologies, serious eaters.
Ed Levine at 12:29PM on 05/31/09
why are the eggs in hell? this sounds tasty, but i'm having a hard time figuring out what the eggs did to land in such a nasty place...
kristygarr at 11:23AM on 06/01/09
The recipe calls for one-half teaspoon of crushed cayenne pepper for just four eggs. You will want to serve these with a glass of milk next to each plate.
Grumpy Old Man at 1:23PM on 06/01/09
kristygarr - I think Eggs In Hell is suppose to be a play off of Eggs in Purgatory. For all us non-Catholics, I guess.
jt58612 at 10:41PM on 06/01/09
@Grumpy, it's asking for red pepper flakes, not cayenne. The flakes are hot, but not that bad, and a half-teaspoon doesn't amount to much because the flakes don't nest well in a measuring spoon.
I actually have made my own version of "Eggs in Hell" where I poach or bake the eggs in salsa.
dbcurrie at 2:04PM on 06/02/09