Your Breakfasts Are About to Become Incredible Thanks to TikTok’s Latest Craze
A recipe developer shares tips to know before trying pesto eggs.
Baked feta pasta is so three months ago. These days, TikTok users are all about a savory breakfast dish called pesto eggs. As the meal’s name implies, it features pesto sauce and, well, eggs. However, instead of cooking the eggs in butter or cooking oil you cook them in a nice helping of the hearty Italian sauce.
Registered dietician Amy Wilichowski was one of the early adopters of pesto eggs, and she shared a TikTok video of the recipe late last month that has already been viewed more than 8.8 million times. In the video, Wilichowski simply spreads a few tablespoons of pesto around in a frying pan and breaks the eggs directly in the sauce. “The oil in the pesto will keep the eggs from sticking to the pan,” she explained of the “incredible” dish.
Want to try these flavorful eggs for yourself? Food Network recipe developer Amanda Neal has a step-by-step guide. “Instead of adding oil or butter to a skillet, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of pesto (either homemade or store-bought). Turn the heat on medium-low to medium,” she explains. “Once the pesto just starts to sizzle, add 1 large egg and season with a pinch of salt and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook to your desired doneness.”
According to Neal, sunny-side up or over-easy eggs work best for this method, and if you’re following the TikTok trend, the eggs can be served on toast with toppings such as smashed avocado or fresh mozzarella.
However, Neal notes that there are other ways to enjoy this meal too. “Pesto eggs would also be great on flatbreads, veggie burgers and even on top of hearty greens for a protein-packed salad,” she says.
Neal points out that the pesto variety you choose will also have an impact on how your eggs taste. She suggests going for the freshest option possible. “When purchasing pesto, look for brands that are refrigerated (typically next to other fresh pastas and sauces),” she says. “These products tend to be fresher than shelf stable varieties, making your pesto eggs even tastier.”
And even though whipping up some pesto eggs is a relatively easy task, there are some pointers you should keep in mind. For example, Neal says it’s important that you don't turn the heat up too high while you’re cooking the eggs. “You want the pesto to warm up and sizzle, but not fry and burn,” she explains. “Pesto typically contains fresh herbs, nuts, garlic and olive oil; all of these ingredients can overcook and burn if left on high heat for too long.”
If you’re looking to have a bit of fun with this TikTok trend, Neal recommends experimenting with different types of pesto that are just as flavorful as the traditional kind. “You can make this dish with red pesto (or Sicilian pesto) as well!” she explains. “Red Pesto is typically made with sundried tomatoes, but is pureed with olive oil and garlic similarly to green pesto.”
Will you be making pesto eggs this weekend?
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