Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto
When you're cooking for one I know it can feel had to find the time to make something new or different, but these jammy eggs with chimichurri pesto take approximately 7 and a half minutes to make and the result is so satisfying! The ultimate single-serve meal, make sure to pick up a jar of my chimichurri pesto to really make this the best!
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Are you searching for a meal that's effortlessly elegant, bursting with vibrant flavours, and perfectly portioned just for you? Look no further than my Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto! This recipe takes the delightful concept of Turkish eggs and elevates it with my unique, herbaceous, and subtly spicy chimichurri pesto. It's the ultimate hassle-free, utterly scrumptious meal, designed entirely for cooking for one.
About This Dish: A Fusion of Flavour and Comfort
My Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto is a beautifully easy dish, a marriage of creamy textures and bright, herbaceous notes. It’s a twist on the beloved Turkish eggs (Cilbir), which typically features poached eggs over a bed of garlicky yoghurt, drizzled with chilli-infused butter. My version uses the traditional chilli butter and also a unique chimichurri pesto that I created. This pesto is basil-forward, offering the fresh herbaceousness of traditional pesto, but with the added zing, subtle spice, and vibrant mix of herbs characteristic of a classic chimichurri.
This is my go-to recipe when I want something quick, fresh, and bursting with fresh flavour. The combination of perfectly jammy eggs, cool, tangy yoghurt, warm chilli butter, and my lively chimichurri pesto creates a symphony of taste and texture. It's a simple yet elegant meal that feels like a gourmet treat, all in one bowl. The result is a vibrant, satisfying dish that is both familiar and excitingly new.
Why You'll Want to Make My Recipe
My Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto are an absolute game-changer for anyone seeking a quick, satisfying, and utterly delicious meal designed specifically for a single serving. Whether you're a busy solo cook, a student looking for a substantial yet simple meal, an empty nester who's tired of cooking for a crowd, a single parent needing a fast and nourishing option, or simply someone who appreciates the efficiency of cooking for one, this recipe is crafted for you.
Single Serve
This recipe is inherently a single-serve sensation. Every ingredient is portioned to create one perfect, delicious bowl of jammy eggs, eliminating waste and ensuring you have just the right amount for a satisfying meal without leftovers. It's truly a one portion marvel, designed for effortless enjoyment when you're cooking for one.
Quick & Easy
From boiling the eggs to assembling your beautiful bowl, this dish comes together incredibly fast. The active cooking time is minimal, focusing on perfectly preparing the eggs and melting the chilli butter. This makes it an ideal choice for a speedy brunch, a fuss-free dinner for one, or even a quick, hearty breakfast. No long waits, just deliciousness in a flash.
One Pot
This one pot wonder couldn't be easier. You'll use one pan for the eggs and the chilli butter. The rest is simply assembly in your serving bowl. This significantly minimises cleanup, ensuring you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying. It’s a one-pot wonder that keeps your kitchen tidy while delivering maximum flavour.
Top Tips for Perfect Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto
Achieving perfectly cooked eggs and a beautifully balanced dish is simple with these key tips.
- The Perfect Jammy Egg Timing: For truly perfect boiled eggs with that luscious, golden, slightly runny yolk (the "jammy" consistency), the timing is crucial. Gently place your eggs into already boiling water and cook them for precisely 6 and a half minutes. Don't be tempted to go longer!
- Immediate Ice Bath: As soon as the 6.5 minutes are up, immediately drain the hot water from the pan and replace it with very cold water (you can even add ice if you have it). This stops the cooking process instantly, preventing the yolks from becoming chalky and making the eggs much easier to peel. This is the secret to beautiful, unblemished jammy eggs.
- Melted Chilli Butter, Not Burnt: When heating the butter and chilli powder, keep the heat on medium and watch it closely. You want the butter to melt and the chilli powder to infuse it, turning a vibrant red and releasing its aroma. Don't let the butter burn, as this will impart a bitter taste.
- Embrace the Chimichurri Pesto: My chimichurri pesto is the star of this dish. It's designed to bring the herbaceous punch of a traditional chimichurri with the freshness of basil and a delightful acidity. Don't be shy with it! Spoon it generously over the eggs and butter for maximum flavour. This combination is what truly defines my eggs with chimichurri.
- Flaky Sea Salt Finish: A sprinkle of flaky sea salt at the very end is essential. It provides a delightful textural contrast and enhances all the savoury flavours of the dish, especially the richness of the egg yolk.
Ingredients and Tools
Having the right ingredients and a few basic tools makes whipping up my delicious single-serve meal a breeze.
Essential Ingredients:
- Eggs: Two eggs are the perfect amount for a satisfying one portion. Aim for medium to large eggs for consistent results.
- Natural Yoghurt: Five tablespoons provide a cool, tangy, and creamy base for the eggs. Full-fat natural yoghurt is best for richness, similar to traditional Turkish eggs.
- Butter: Two tablespoons of butter, melted with chilli powder, create a rich, infused oil that adds warmth and depth of flavour.
- Chilli Powder: One teaspoon provides a gentle warmth and vibrant colour to the butter. Adjust to your preferred spice level.
- Chimichurri Pesto: Two teaspoons of my special chimichurri pesto are vital for this dish. This combines the herbaceousness of basil pesto with the fresh, zesty, and subtly spicy notes of chimichurri, creating a unique flavour profile for eggs with chimichurri.
- Sea Salt: Flaky sea salt is perfect for finishing, providing a delightful crunch and enhancing all the flavours.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper can be added for an extra touch of warmth and aroma.
Essential Tools:
- Small Saucepan: For boiling the eggs and melting the chilli butter. This is your primary "one pot."
- Slotted Spoon: For gently placing and removing eggs from boiling water.
- Serving Bowl: A shallow bowl is perfect for assembling and enjoying your eggs.
- Spoon: For portioning yoghurt, butter, and pesto.
Delicious Variations: Customizing My Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto
My Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto are incredibly versatile! Feel free to adapt them to your taste or dietary needs.
- Making it Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free!
- Making it Dairy-Free: This requires substituting the yoghurt, butter, and potentially checking the pesto if store-bought.
- Yoghurt: Use a good quality dairy-free natural yoghurt (e.g., coconut or soy-based).
- Butter: Swap for a plant-based butter alternative.
- Pesto: Ensure your chimichurri pesto (if not homemade) is dairy-free (some pestos contain cheese). My chimichurri pesto is naturally vegan.
- Making it Vegan: This recipe contains eggs, yoghurt, and butter, so it requires significant changes to be vegan.
- Eggs: This would be the trickiest substitution. You could try a vegan egg substitute designed for sunny-side-up style, but it would change the "jammy" texture significantly. Alternatively, you could serve the sauce components over pan-fried seasoned tofu slices.
- Yoghurt: Use dairy-free natural yoghurt.
- Butter: Use plant-based butter.
- Pesto: Ensure your chimichurri pesto is vegan (like mine!).
- Adding More Vegetables: Serve alongside some quickly sautéed spinach or cherry tomatoes for an extra boost of greens.
- Serving Suggestions: While delicious on its own, this dish is fantastic with a slice of toasted sourdough or crusty bread for scooping up all the delicious yoghurt and sauce. A side of roasted sweet potato cubes would also make it a more substantial dinner for one.
- Adjusting Spice: If you like more heat, you can increase the amount of chilli powder in the butter or add a pinch of red chilli flakes to the pesto.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is a "jammy egg"?
A: A jammy egg is a perfectly boiled egg where the egg white is fully set but the yolk remains beautifully soft, creamy, and somewhat runny, with a texture similar to fruit jam. This is achieved by precise cooking time and an immediate ice bath to stop the cooking. My recipe aims for this ideal consistency, making for truly perfect boiled eggs.
Q: How is this similar to Turkish eggs (Cilbir)?
A: My Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto are directly inspired by Turkish eggs, also known as Cilbir. The core concept is the same: perfectly cooked eggs (often poached or soft-boiled) served over cool, garlicky yoghurt, usually drizzled with hot, chilli-infused butter. My unique twist comes from replacing the simple chilli butter with my more complex and herbaceous chimichurri pesto, adding new layers of flavour and aroma.
Q: Can I use a different type of yoghurt?
A: Natural yoghurt is best as its tanginess balances the richness of the egg and butter. Greek yoghurt would also work well for a thicker, creamier texture, or even a strained plain yoghurt. Avoid sweetened or flavoured yoghurts as they would alter the savoury profile of the dish.
Q: Can I make the chimichurri pesto ahead of time?
A: Absolutely! If you're making your own chimichurri pesto then you can do this ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge for several days, or even frozen for longer storage. This makes assembling your Jammy Eggs with Chimichurri Pesto even quicker on busy mornings or evenings. Just bring it to room temperature before serving for the best flavour.
Q: Why do I need to put the eggs in cold water immediately after boiling?
A: Plunging the hot eggs directly into cold (ideally icy) water serves two crucial purposes. Firstly, it immediately halts the cooking process, preventing the residual heat from continuing to cook the yolk and turning it hard. This is how you ensure those lovely jammy eggs. Secondly, the rapid temperature change helps the egg white contract away from the shell, making the eggs significantly easier to peel without tearing.
Ingredients
2 Eggs
5 Tbsp Natural Yoghurt
2 Tbsp Butter
1 Tsp Chilli Powder
2 Tsp Chimichurri Pesto
Sea Salt
Instructions
- Place a pan of water on to boil. When boiling, gently place the eggs in the water and cook for 6 and a half minutes. Once cooked, immediately pour out the hot water and replace with cold water. Leave the eggs to cool in the water, this will also make them easier to peel.
- After a couple of minutes pour out the water and leave the eggs on the side. Add the butter and chilli powder to the same pan and heat over a medium heat until the butter has melted.
- Spoon the yoghurt onto your bowl. Peel the eggs and slice in half and place on top of the yoghurt. Spoon over the chilli butter then the chimichurri pesto. Season with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and enjoy.
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
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If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
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This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
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This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
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