When I was compiling my up-to-date list of Weird Food Combos, I was a little surprised to see not one of the current crazy craves was something with a fried egg on top. Dishes with a fried egg topper were all the rage among fringe foodies in days gone by…
Clsasic Croque Madame Sandwich: Perhaps the world’s classiest Grilled Ham and Cheese!
I’ve always been interested in News Oddities. Even before I got into the foodservice sphere, I loved those little nuggets they used as fillers in newspapers. A few lines about some weird news item.
Now that I’m immersed in food – so to speak – I love that my thematic ‘homeplace’ suffers no shortage of oddities!
So I’m indulging my fondness for novelties again. I’ve compiled a Top Ten+ List of dishes from around the globe that MUST have a fried egg on top to qualify as ‘authentic’.
A worldwide phenomenon
In my researches, I was surprised pleasantly to find that most recognised regional cuisines around the world include eggs in one or more roles. Often it’s as a fried or poached example.
Without further ado, herewith find my Top 10 Dishes with a fried (or poached) egg topper…
Asia
Korea: Bibimbap
“Bibimbap simply translates to “mixed rice with meat and assorted vegetables“. You can make endless variations to this dish depending on your preference and dietary requirements (e.g. microgreens bibimbap) and also based on the dish/bowl it is served i.”
Indonesia: Nasi Goreng
“This Nasi Goreng recipe is a traditional Indonesian fried rice that is sweet and salty, perfectly savory, an excellent side dish. Combine it with your favorite meat, seafood or a fried egg to serve as a full meal. It’s so easy to make!”
Thailand: Pad Thai
“Pad Thai is a relatively simple dish featuring shrimps and flat noodles with the usual Thai garnishes and a unique tamarind-based sauce. An authentic Pad Thai sauce is actually very simple. There are technically only 3 ingredients: the sweet, the salty and the sour.”
China: Fried Rice or Noodles
“I love it when I order noodles or rice in a restaurant and it comes with a fried egg on top. Breaking that yolk is pure pleasure.” Fried Vermicelli Noodles with the usual stir-fry veggies and spices, and green onion for garnish. And a fried egg on top. The recipe can be customized in any n umber of ways, with the additon of almost any kind of meat, fish, seafood or poultry.” Everybody eats it, almost any time of day.
Australasia
Australia: Bubble and Squeak
An Aussi classic. Simply leftover baked or parboiled root veggies (usually potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, any winter squash or what have you). Fried up the day after with frozen peas. And served with a fried egg on top. Feel free to improvise on the ingredients. For example, I was surprised not to see onion or garlic anywhere in the ‘official’ list.
Africa
North Africa: Shakshuka
“Shakshuka is a simple dish made of gently poached eggs in a delicious chunky tomato and bell pepper sauce. Said to have originated in Tunisia, this breakfast recipe is popular in many parts of North Africa and the Middle East. It is so satisfying, you can serve it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.” If you aren’t comfortable poaching the eggs, fry them and serve one on top of each plate.
Europe
Italy: Spaghetti alla puveriello
“A dish born in Napoli in the post-war period. It is a poor dish but it is delicious and nutritious. It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and even the kids love it! The original recipe calls for the cooking of the […] egg with the lard. However to obtain a less-heavy dish you can use extra virgin olive oil, the result will be equally very tasty.”
Fance: Croque Madame Sandwich
“Think of Croque Madame as the French equivalent to the American grilled cheese, but even more delicious! Crusty bread is spread with a Mornay sauce and Dijon mustard, stuffed with ham and gruyere, and topped with a fried egg. It only takes 20 minutes to make this epic sandwich!”
North America
Canada: Breakfast Poutine
“Breakfast poutine levels up the traditional poutine recipe with classic breakfast ingredients like crispy fried bacon and sunny-side-up eggs. French fries are topped with cheese curds and homemade gravy and then dotted with fried onions and crispy bacon and served with a side of ketchup.”
Mexico: Huevos Rancheros
Huevos Rancheros (Spanish for ‘rancher’s eggs’) is a popular Mexican recipe that’s made up of three signature ingredients; tortillas, fried eggs, and salsa. However, as with most things, not all versions of huevos rancheros are created equal! Good quality ingredients are essential for this recipe, including fresh and soft corn tortillas, quality refried beans and fresh salsa cruda.”
USA: Corned Beef Hash
“The secret to this hash is roasting the potatoes first – that way they get that amazing crusty crispness in a shorter amount of time without all the fuss of flipping and turning. From there, all you need to do is throw those potatoes onto a skillet with your desired veggies and of course, your corned beef.” (See photo, top of page.)
That ought to be enough to get you started!
Since eggs have been cleared of their former negative image as cholesterol bombs, we can all dive in and enjoy them again! As long as we don’t over-do it…
~ Maggie J.