French Eggs Recipes

OEUFS COCOTTE (BAKED EGGS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Boil water in a kettle.
• Grease a small lidded casserole dish with olive oil. Distribute diced ham over the bottom and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Gruyere cheese. Pour cream on top and season with a little pepper.
• Crack eggs into the casserole dish one at a time, making sure egg yolks remain intact. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon Gruyere cheese and fresh chives. Season with salt and pepper. Cover casserole dish and place into a roasting pan. Pour in enough boiling water so it reaches about halfway up the casserole dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 9 minutes with the lid on. Uncover and continue baking until the egg whites are just set but the yolks are still runny, 3 to 6 additional minutes.

BAKED FRENCH EGGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spritz each muffin cup with butter flavored cooking spray. Crack an egg into each cup.
• Drizzle each egg with 1-2 tsp of heavy cream. A drizzle of melted butter will work, too. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp of Parmesan cheese.
• Place the eggs into the oven and cook 7-8 minutes for soft, 9-10 minutes for semi-soft and 11-12 minutes for firm centers. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

CHEF JOHN'S FRENCH OMELETTE

Steps:

• Whisk eggs, salt, and water together in a mixing bowl. Whisk until mixture is very liquid and whites are completely blended in, 1 or 2 minutes.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a 9- or 10-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. As soon as butter melts and before it starts to sizzle, pour in the whisked eggs. Stir in a circular pattern with a heat-proof spatula, lifting and "scrambling" eggs, shaking pan to keep leveling out the mixture, and scraping down the sides. Continue stirring until shaking the pan no longer levels the eggs.
• Reduce heat to low. Using the spatula, smooth the surface of the eggs to move runny eggs to less runny spots, working toward an even thickness. As soon as surface is wet but not runny, remove from heat.
• Starting at the handle side of the pan, use the spatula to begin rolling the omelette into a cylinder shape, about 3 rolls until omelette is about 2 inches from opposite side of pan. Use spatula to fold the last flap of egg over the top of the cylinder leaving the seam side up. Add cubes of the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter to pan. Gently push the butter as it melts under the omelette.
• Slide omelette to edge of pan. Flip onto a plate with the seam side down. Even out the shape, if necessary. You can tuck in the ends, if you like. Brush surface with a bit more butter. Dust with cayenne pepper.

FRENCH-STYLE SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Add eggs and cook, whisking, until they begin to set; gently whisk in milk and chives. Remove from heat and serve with toasted bread.

FRENCH SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Combine eggs, salt, and pepper; stir briskly with a fork until blended.
• Melt butter in a large skillet, rotating skillet to coat bottom; add egg mixture.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until eggs are firm, but still moist.
• Remove from heat; stir in cream.
• Serve immediately.

FRENCH EGGS

Steps:

• Lightly butter four 4-ounce ramekins or egg coddlers. Cut each piece of fois gras pate into 4 cubes. Divide cubes among prepared dishes.
• Crack 1 egg into each dish, keeping yolks whole. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle 1 tablespoon cream over each egg.
• Sprinkle each with 1/2 tsp tarragon and parsley.
• Cover each dish tightly with foil.
• Fill large skillet with water to depth of 1/2 inch. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Add ramekins.
• Cook until egg whites are firm and yolks are still runny, about 8 minutes. Remove ramekins from water; remove foil and wipe ramekins dry.
• Drizzle 1 teaspoon of truffle oil on each egg. Serve with buttered toast.

BAKED FRENCH EGGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray each muffin cup with butter flavored cooking spray. Crack an egg into each cup. You can make as many or few eggs as desired.
• Drizzle each egg with 1 teaspoon of heavy cream. If you want to lighten up or if you don't have heavy cream on hand, drizzle with melted light margarine in place of the cream. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to your taste and sprinkle with a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese.
• Place into the oven and cook 7-8 minutes for soft, 9-10 minutes for semi-soft and 11-12 minutes for hard centers. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Yield: 12 eggs
• Cooks note: For a nice variation, line the muffin cups with a piece of Canadian bacon, ham or a cooked sausage patty, or fresh spinach leaves. Then crack the egg into the center and bake to your desired doneness.

FRENCH OMELET

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and mix very well with a fork or a whisk.
• Set a plate by the stove. Heat a small (about 6 inches) seasoned omelet pan or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is warm, add the butter (it should sizzle gently). Swirl the pan to distribute the butter as it melts. When the butter stops sizzling and the foam subsides add the eggs. Pause to let the eggs heat slightly and then stir vigorously, with a heatproof spatula, making sure you include the sides of the egg mixture occasionally so the omelet cooks evenly. Once the eggs are just set, bang the pan gently on the burner to release the omelet from the pan. Check to see that it is not sticking to the sides or bottom of the pan, if so release the omelet with a heat proof spatula. Hold the pan at a 45-degree angle to the stove and carefully fold the omelet like a business letter. Cook just until the desired degree of doneness lifting the pan or reducing the heat to prevent browning. (A classic omelet doesn't have any browning on it.) Transfer to a warm plate and serve.
• Omelet Filling Suggestions: There are many omelet fillings, both raw and cooked, sweet and savory. Here is a starting point, but feel free to improvise. Once the eggs are set add any of these ingredients before folding. An alternative method, to use with delicate fillings, like creme fraiche and herbs, fresh fruits or caviar; is it to roll the omelet and then slice the top open, as you would a baked potato, and then fill it.
• - 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs, like Italian parsley, basil, dill, tarragon, chives, thyme, and chervil. Use the herbs alone or in combination, like the classic combination fine herbs (equal parts parsley, chervil, chives and tarragon.) Brush the finished omelet with butter and sprinkle with additional herbs. Herbs can also be added to the omelet mixture to flavor the eggs more fully.
• - 2 to 3 tablespoons cooked vegetables like, chopped asparagus, spinach or other greens, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant or peppers
• - 2 tablespoons diced fresh tomato or avocado
• - 2 tablespoons grated cheese, like Gruyere, Goat cheese, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gouda, Feta
• - 1 tablespoon currant jelly, then dust omelet with confectioner's sugar
• - 2 tablespoons chopped proscuitto or other ham, crumbled cooked bacon or other cured meat
• - 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped smoked salmon or trout, with a tablespoon sour cream, cream cheese or creme fraiche
• - 1 tablespoon honey with 1 tablespoon ricotta cheese
• - 2 to 3 tablespoons sliced apples, pears or strawberries, alone or with a complimentary cheese