Basque Eggs With Crostini Recipes

BASQUE EGGS MY WAY

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the garlic, chile peppers, green peppers and red peppers. Cook until tender. Finally, add the tomatoes, season with salt and black pepper, cover and cook 10 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking until the juices have evaporated and everything is soft and melded.
• Crack the eggs into the pan, spaced evenly apart. Sprinkled with more salt and black pepper. Cover and cook until just done, with the yolks still nice and runny. Meanwhile, make four "nests" of ham on serving plates. When the eggs are done, lift them along with their peppery garnishes with a spatula into the nests. Serve very hot with toasted baguette.

BASQUE EGGS WITH HAM, ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Finely slice the garlic cloves and fry in 2 tbsp olive oil in a strong earthenware casserole dish.
• Cut the ham into cubes and add to the casserole dish - sauté for 5 mins over a low heat.
• Wash the asparagus pieces and remove any rough ends leaving only the tender shoots - cut these into pieces about 3 cms long and add to the casserole dish - sauté for a further 5 mins - season with salt.
• Add the peas to the casserole dish cover with a little water and simmer until the peas are almost cooked (5 mins or a little longer if using frozen peas).
• Finally break the eggs whole into the casserole dish and leave over the heat until the eggs are cooked.

BASQUE EGGS

Steps:

• In a large nonstick saucepan (or skillet with reasonably high sides), saute diced sausage over medium flame till nicely browned, about 4 minutes.
• Add onion and garlic and stir till well mixed. Cook till onion is soft and garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add bell peppers and cook a minute or two, till slightly soft. Add diced tomatoes, thyme, red pepper, and salt (if using), cover, and cook 4 minutes, till juicy.
• If using beaten eggs, stir gently throghout veggie mixture; cover. Cook 4 minutes, till set. (This produces more of a fritatta feel--good for folks who don't like runny egg yolks).
• If using whole eggs, crack each egg and gently slide it into the veggie stew, trying to keep the eggs from touching each other (it may help to make a well for each egg with the back of a spoon). Cover and cook 3 minutes, till whites are set. Ladle each egg and some veggies into a serving bowl. Serve with crusty warm bread.

BASQUE SCRAMBLED EGGS (TAPAS)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven on low or warm setting.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy-bottom skillet.
• Add the onion and bell peppers and sauté for about minutes, or until the vegetables are softened, but not browned. Toss in the tomatoes and heat through. Remove to a plate and place in oven to keep warm.
• Add another tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the chorizo and cook for 30 seconds, enough to warm through and flavor the oil. Remove the sausage to the plate of warmed vegetables.
• Add enough oil to the pan to make up 2 tablespoons. Add butter and let melt. Season the eggs with salt and pepper, then add them to the skillet. Scramble the eggs until they are cooked to the desired degree of firmness. Add extra seasoning to taste. Return the vegetables to the skillet and stir through.
• Serve immediately over the hot toast.