Did you know eggs are considered a superfood? That’s right! It’s no wonder why eggs are a staple food in many countries. So, it’s quite logical that different people have their unique ways of preparing egg dishes.
That’s why today we are going on an egg trip around the globe. Let’s find out what’s the secret ingredient in the egg recipes of other cultures. In addition to well-known egg dishes like scrambled egg, French omelette, quiche, deviled eggs and frittata, there are other ways to eat eggs.
When did people start to eat eggs?
People have been eating eggs since forever. Well, almost forever. Some evidence suggests eggs have been popular in India since 3200 BCE. There are also records that say China and Egypt have consumed eggs since 1400 BCE.
Archeological findings say egg consumption goes back to the Neolithic age. It is believed that Romans found eggs in England, and among the German people. Eggs have been in North America since Columbu’s second journey to America in 1493.
10 unusual ways people eat eggs around the world
Know that great feeling when you come home after traveling enriched with new ways of eating food? Well, here it goes. Who says you can explore different cuisines only when traveling? So, check out the following list and enjoy this mini, virtual-around-the-world trip.
NOTE: Fresh eggs may contain bacteria called Salmonella, even if the eggs have a clean and uncracked shell. That means every undercooked or runny egg may cause foodborne illness, food poisoning. So, check this guide on how to safely eat eggs. It’s best to always fully cook your eggs.
Huevos Motuleños (Mexico)
From the city of Yucatan comes this traditional Mexican breakfast. Huevos Motulenos or Motul is a very satiating meal. It’s good that you can modify it to your taste. But, a basic recipe consists of:
- Two fried tortillas
- Refried beans
- Ham
- Fried eggs
- Salsa roja with peas
The key is to place everything on fried tortillas. If you love peppers you can put some chopped jalapenos on top of it. But, if you want a milder taste you can adjust it. Of course, you can prepare this dish anytime you want.
But, as breakfast, it really gives some much-needed energy to start the day.
Croque Madame (France)
This is a very popular egg dish in France. It might be a perfect brunch choice. It’s made with ham, cheese, and of course, eggs. All ingredients, except the eggs, are placed between bread pieces.
You can then spread butter on the outer sides of the bread and golden it in a pan. Then comes the fried egg. Place it on top of the croque, and voila! You’ve just made croque madame.
Shakshuka (Israel and North Africa)
The name shakshuka comes from Arabic. It actually means “a haphazard mixture” or “all mixed up.” This egg dish has poached eggs in it, enriched with spiced tomato and pepper sauce.
Some shakshuka recipes feature artichoke or olives, but that’s up to personal taste. When it comes to spices, you can play as long as you like. This dish can be a good choice for whatever meal you want. From breakfast to dinner. It’s very comforting.
Shakshuka is a one-pan meal. That means, no pile of dishes to wash. But, be sure to use a non-stick pan, as tomato sauce may stick onto other pan materials.
Rolex (Uganda)
Rolex or rolled eggs is a Ugandan traditional egg dish. This is actually an egg wrap. It’s very simple to make, and its secret lies in yummy chapati.
So, all you will need is to:
- Beat the eggs.
- Add onions, tomatoes, and cilantro.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Add oil to a pan and egg mix.
- Cook until golden brown.
- Place fried eggs on the chapati and roll it.
Simple as that. Your traditional Ugandan Rolex is ready to munch.
Note: You can try adding these Rolex veggie ingredients into egg muffins. It can be a nice addition to your old recipe.
Eggs Beauregard (USA)
If you love well-known Eggs Benedict then this recipe might be your gem. Beauregard Eggs are very similar to classic Benedict eggs, but with a southern twist.
Evergreen biscuits combined with sausage patties, fried eggs, and, of course, country gravy. But, for those bacon lovers, you can keep it instead of sausage, don’t worry.
This is a very filling breakfast option. It gives energy, yet is so creamy. Traditional Eggs Benedict are made with poached eggs. But, you can see people preparing them in various ways.
The same applies to Eggs Beauregard. If you like fried eggs more, do it like that. The key is to slice the biscuit in half and top it with some sausages or bacon. Put biscuit slices together, place the prepared egg on top of it and garnish with creamy white gravy.
Telur Balado (Indonesia)
This dish screams Indonesia. For all hard-boiled egg lovers, here comes a treat. Telur Balado is a savory meal made with hard-boiled eggs. The eggs are deep-fried and cooked in Sambal Balado.
Sambal Balado ingredients:
- Fresh tomato sauce
- Red chili peppers
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Kaffir leaves
- Bay leaves
- Sugar and salt
These eggs tend to be spicy, but if you don’t like spicy food, you can opt-out of chili. Telur Balado is both a restaurant and street food. So, you really can’t skip it if you go to West Sumatra.
When preparing at home, you will need to:
- Deep fry peeled hard-boiled eggs.
- Prepare Sambal Balado.
- Add fried eggs into cooked Sambal Balado.
Quite a simple, yet interesting way to prepare eggs and explore new cuisine. So, next time you want to eat hard-boiled eggs, try this Indonesian version. Your taste buds will appreciate it.
Tamagoyaki (Japan)
Japanese omelette is quite popular outside of Japan. The word ‘’tamagoyaki’’ means grilled egg, which somewhat describes this dish. Unlike a regular omelette, this omelette is rolled in layers of eggs and seasoning. Here you can find an authentic recipe for tamagoyaki. Basically, you roll the omelette and add more eggs, then roll that new layer of eggs and so on.
Tamagoyaki ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- Soy sauce
- Mirin
- Sugar and salt
- Olive oil
Scotch egg (England)
If you like boiled eggs and deep fried food, you should try Scotch egg. It is called Scotch after the name of the inventor. Originally, boiled egg was covered in fish paste instead of sausage meat as it is made today. Instead of deep frying, you can bake these boiled eggs wrapped in seasoned sausage meat and breadcrumbs. A perfect dish for picnics!
Ingredients for Scotch egg:
- Sausage meat
- Boiled eggs
- Salt and pepper
- Dry onion
- Breadcrumbs
Menemen (Turkey)
This is the Turkish traditional way of making scrambled eggs. It’s very creamy and full of nutrients. But, it’s also very simple to make. So, here’s what Menemen is usually made of:
- Veggie sauté
- Spices
- Scrambled eggs on top
Basically, sauté is prepared with peppers, onions, and tomatoes. But, you can add any other veggies you like. The secret is in the eggs on top of cooked greens. Eggs are whisked into the veggies and cooked. They serve Menemen with crusty bread.
So, you could enjoy dipping into the hot meal. There are also variations to this basic recipe. In Turkey, they would offer you combos with cheese, sausage, ham, pastrami, spinach, or any other veggie you like.
Spanish omelette
If you have already traveled to Spain, you couldn’t pass their famous omelette. Traditional Spanish omelette (Tortilla Espanola or Tortilla de Patatas) is a very popular dish. It’s also very simple to make. You can eat it hot, at room temperature, or cold. That makes it a great main meal and snack at the same time.
So, to make this Spanish delicacy you’ll need:
- Eggs
- Potatoes
- Onion (optional)
See, quite simple! All you need to do is to fry the sliced potatoes, add onions and cook together for a bit. After that, drain excess oil, and add the mixed eggs and stir all in a bowl. Let it rest. Then, heat the oiled pan and add the mixture to it.
Cook it thoroughly. Enjoy this thick juicy tortilla.
Bonus way to eat eggs
If you’ve come along this far in today’s topic, you’re a true egg lover. So, here is one bonus way to prepare an egg meal.
Khachapuri (Georgia)
Okay, so you definitely love eggs. But, do you love cheese and dough? If yes, then you will love this traditional Georgian dish.
Khachapuri is actually a cheese bread and it’s really popular around the globe. It’s like boat-shaped pizza. As its dough resembles pizza dough.
Khachapuri has a bread-like taste and it’s stuffed with melted cheese and topped with an egg. So, be sure to check this yummy khachapuri recipe for more details.
Any substitute for people who don’t eat eggs?
Some people simply don’t like eggs, or can’t eat them due to medical reasons, or need a vegan option. But, it’s good to know there is an interesting replacement for eggs.
More precisely, it’s an egg whites substitute. As you might have guessed, it’s Aquafaba. It can be great for making meringue cookies.
But, it’s best to make it yourself or choose a reputable store-bought aquafaba powder. This clear liquid is actually leftover cooking water from legume seeds, usually chickpeas. So, the seeds need to be washed and treated properly to give a good Aquafaba.
Note: Despite being an egg white substitute, it really doesn’t have any special nutrients in it.
So, how did you like this little egg journey around the world? If you know some other interesting ways people prepare eggs, be sure to share them in the comments below.
