Make Eggs in a Basket

Eggs in a basket is a nifty way to fry your egg by containing it inside a piece of bread. This recipe is known by many different names, such as egg in the hole or hen in a nest, among others. Whatever you call it, this is a tasty and fun way to get your breakfast protein fix. Even picky eaters will enjoy this one!

  • Prep time (Traditional): 3-5 minutes
  • Cook time: 5-7 minutes
  • Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Traditional Eggs in a Basket

  • 1 egg
  • 1 slice of bread
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • salt, pepper, paprika, and other spices (optional)

Baked Eggs in a Basket

  • 4 eggs
  • 4 slices of bread
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • baguette or loaf of French bread (optional)
  • salt, pepper, paprika, and other spices (optional)
  • cheese (optional)

Low-carb Eggs in a Basket

  • 10-12 fresh brussel sprouts
  • 1 sweet potato
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 cup of kale or spinach (optional)
  • 15 broccoli or cauliflower florets (optional)
  • cheese (optional)
  • salt, pepper, paprika, and other spices (optional)

Steps

Making Traditional Eggs in a Basket

  1. Cut a hole in the bread. In the middle of the bread, cut a hole with approximately a 2-inch diameter. An alternate way to prepare the bread is to cut a square into the bread with a knife.
    • Choose any bread you like. White, wheat, sourdough, baguette, rye - anything you'd like will make a tasty dish.
    • You can make a hole with a glass, a jar, or the top to cooking spray. Press the item into the bread and the hole should be easily removed.
    • To make a treat for the kids, you can also use fun-shaped cookie cutters to cut out the shape in the middle. Suggest that they use the remaining cut-out piece to dip in the yolk.
    • For a romantic breakfast, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the center. If you don't have a cookie cutter, try cutting a heart with a knife.[1]
  2. Fry the bread. Add butter to the frying pan. While the butter is melting in the pan, spread more butter on both sides of the bread. Place the bread in the pan. Fry the bread on medium until it begins to brown.[2] Flip the bread over. Allow this bread to cook until it is a golden brown.
    • You can butter the removed "hole" and fry it along with the egg for an added treat. Many people dip this bread into the yolk.
    • You can also use vegetable, coconut, or grapeseed oil instead of butter.
  3. Add the egg. Before placing the egg in the hole, add more butter to the pan in the open hole of the bread. Crack the egg open and drop the egg into the hole.
    • If you would like less whites in the dish, separate the egg whites from the yolks. Place the yolk in the hole and add a small amount of whites. This will cause the egg to cook faster.[1]
    • Add ham or bacon to the egg, place a piece of cheese on top of the bread, or you can add spices, such as salt, pepper, or paprika for a slight variation.
  4. Fry the egg. Let the egg cook for an additional minute or two. Then, carefully flip the bread to fry the other side. Make sure the egg whites are fully cooked. The whites should not be runny or jiggly.[3]
    • Before you flip the bread and egg, lift the edge of the bread up with a spatula. Make sure the egg has solidified and started to brown before you flip it over.[4] The egg will start to set into the bread when it is done.
    • If you like runnier eggs, cook for less time. If you like harder yolks, cook for longer.[5]
    • Try spraying the top of the uncooked side with some cooking spray or adding butter before flipping to make sure it doesn't stick.
    • If you wish, season with salt and pepper, or even paprika and other spices, as you cook eat side of the egg.
  5. Serve. Place your eggs in a basket on a plate. You can eat it with a fork or like a piece of toast.

Baking Eggs in a Basket

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray ramekins or a muffin pan with cooking spray, or line them with parchment paper.
  2. Place bread in ramekins. Butter the bread on both sides and fit into the ramekins or muffin pan. Press them gently into the ramekins, allowing the edges to fold over each other.
    • Since this recipe is baked instead of fried, it is a healthier, calorie friendly variation. To cut calories and make a healthy dish, choose bread with less calories and carbs.
    • To cut even more calories, do not butter the bread. Instead, place it in the ramekins as is.
    • Another variation is to cut holes into a loaf of French bread instead of placing bread into the ramekins.[6] Baking eggs into a French loaf is not a healthier, lower carb, calorie friendly option.
  3. Bake the eggs. Break one egg into each ramekin or muffin tin. Place into the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the egg whites are cooked. If you would like harder yolks, cook for longer.[7]
  4. Remove from oven. After letting the ramekin or muffin tin cool, remove the bread bowls and place onto plates. Use a knife to loosen if the bread has stuck to the pan.
    • Sprinkle seasonings such as salt, pepper, paprika, or garlic on top for flavor. Other options include topping with shredded cheese, bacon or ham, tomatoes, or avocado.

Making Low-Carb Eggs in a Basket

  1. Sauté the vegetables. Cut fresh brussel sprouts into halves or small slices. Grate or slice a sweet potato into small slices. Sauté the vegetables in coconut oil for about 3-5 minutes.
    • Add seasoning if desired. Salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, paprika, curry powder, chili powder, or anything else you'd like.
    • For the no-carb version, you will be using vegetables instead of bread. Choose two vegetables of different nutrient contents. Try brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, or any other of your favorite vegetables.
  2. Cook the eggs. Reduce the heat and hollow out holes in the vegetables for the eggs. Crack an egg or two into the holes. Cover the pan and let cook. The eggs will be steamed, which takes about 5 minutes. Keep a check on the eggs until they reach your desired level of doneness.[8]
  3. Serve. Use a spatula to remove the egg and vegetable dish from the pan and place on a plate. Sprinkle with seasoning if you wish.
    • You can also sprinkle a light amount of cheese or bacon into the vegetables while you are cooking, or add cheese and bacon on top. If you are doing this, make sure to choose high quality, nitrate-free, center cut bacon and all natural cheese.

Tips

  • Keep some butter aside in case you need to add some as you cook.
  • Toast the cut-out at the edge of the pan as you cook the eggs. This makes a great dipper for egg yolks.
  • You can add toppings to this dish to give it a nice flavor. Some really good toppings include shredded cheese, hot sauce, garlic sauce, tomato slices, fruit, syrup, spices, ham, or bacon.
  • For a slightly healthier and faster version, toast the bread and then immediately fry the egg.
  • Once you have put the egg in the hole, you need to allow it time to fuse to the bread by cooking. If you try to flip too early, the egg will simply drop out of the hole and you'll have a mess.
  • It is best to fry on low to med-low heat to avoid burning of the toast or butter.
  • You can cut the hole into different shapes with a knife or a cookie cutter.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.reclaimingprovincial.com/2012/01/22/egg-in-the-basket/
  2. ↑ http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Cracker-Barrel-Eggs-in-the-Basket-Copycat-Recipe.html
  3. ↑ http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/07/egg-in-a-hole-see-alternate-names-below/
  4. ↑ https://snapguide.com/guides/cook-an-egg-in-a-basket/
  5. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/egg-in-the-hole-recipe.html
  6. ↑ http://www.purewow.com/entry_detail/recipe/11147/A-genius-way-to-make-egg-in-a-hole.htm
  7. ↑ http://healthyrecipesblogs.com/2013/04/23/eggs-in-a-basket/
  8. ↑ http://fitnessista.com/2014/10/eggs-in-a-basket-2/
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