An Egg for a Quick Meal

CEBU, Philippines — Speaking of quick meals, eggs are certainly among the very first to come to mind. Eggs are so handy; there’s one or two (or more) lying somewhere in the kitchen at any time, for sure. The round excellent food is so versatile too; it can be cooked in the exact way that suits one’s fancy.

Eggs are the traditional heroes of the breakfast table, although many people go for an egg at other meals throughout the day as well. And eggs may not have to be limited to the main meals alone. An egg certainly makes for a hearty and healthy snack, too!

It can take a very long time for the taste buds to be bored with eggs. There are various ways to cook eggs – these can be made exciting for the palate every single time. Kelli Foster, at the website www.thekitchn.com, gives a few examples of how eggs may be cooked:

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are the MVP of protein-packed, grab-and-go meals. It’s a simple preparation that allows one to cook a big batch on Sunday and eat them all week long. The added nice thing about a hard-boiled egg is that it comes with its own carrying case.

Soft-Boiled Eggs

Soft-boiled eggs have firm, custard-like whites and a warm, runny yolk. It’s the kind of egg that can be scooped straight from the shell, and pairs well with buttered toast or freshly cooked rice. Making soft-boiled eggs might feel slightly trickier than hard-boiled eggs, but it’s achievable once one realizes that it just comes down to timing.

Fried Eggs

Fried eggs are a beautiful thing. Firm egg whites and velvety, runny yolks show up in under five minutes. Fried eggs are best cooked in a well-seasoned cast iron pan (or other nonstick pan) atop a layer of melted butter over a gentle, medium heat.

Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs are one of the most basic egg preparations, and perhaps one of the very first things many people learned to cook. One shall use a nonstick pan and low heat to cook up soft and creamy eggs every time.

Omelets

This is the egg dish that ups the ante on scrambled eggs. Cooked in a small, nonstick skillet, in just a couple minutes a good omelet should be gently cooked and golden on the outside, with a soft, creamy inside. It can be served simply as is, or wrapped around fillings like meat, veggies, or cheese.

Frittata

Either cooked on the stovetop or in the oven, frittatas are like a thick and fluffy egg pancake, waiting to be loaded with just about any extra veggies, meat, or the cheese that’s been sitting around. It can be enjoyed hot out of the oven, chilled, or at room temperature.

Poached Eggs

Poached eggs – with their tender, silky whites and lush, runny yolks – have a wonderful way of making any meal feel downright fancy. It might take a few tries to master this basic preparation, but there’s no need to sweat it if one has some wispy whites floating in the pan. The first step to success with poached eggs is starting with fresh eggs.

Overall, it does not take a kitchen master to turn up a delicious egg. Well, okay, those new to cooking eggs may need to have some practice under their belts before daring to join an egg-cooking contest. But if the egg is just intended for personal consumption, it’s all right to experiment – even if the result is not exactly as planned, it sure is still fit for a meal.