A classic Italian brunch item that will bring color to your morning meals.
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If you have ever read any of my other pieces you know there are several things I truly love about food. I love culturally significant dishes, things that come from years of tradition, and I love brunch, any excuse to sleep in and still get a breakfast dish with a side of alcohol is a great idea to me. I am always looking for different options when it comes to brunch, especially dishes with a cultural relevance, whether they are breakfast nachos or Mediterranean omelets, I love a brunch dish that comes from another culture. In one of my many searches, I found eggs in purgatory, a delicious blend of eggs, tomato sauce, and spices, topped with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. I had eggs in purgatory for the first time while out to brunch in Little Italy with some friends and knew I had to learn how to make it myself. I found this recipe and there was no turning back, I think you will enjoy this dish as much as I do.
Eggs in purgatory are a traditional Italian dish known as uova in purgatorio, originating in southern Italy. The name is actually in reference to the red tomato sauce that surrounds the eggs. The dish has been around for centuries and was originally enjoyed by the working class of farmers and laborers as a quick and easy breakfast full of flavor and nutrients. The rich flavors of the tomato sauce, with a touch of spice that comes from the red pepper flakes, make for a perfect way to start your day.
Is Eggs in Purgatory Healthy?
The star of the show is fresh eggs which are rich in protein and vitamin B12 as well as many other nutrients and antioxidants. You also have the tomato sauce which contains antioxidants that aid your immune system, plus vitamins A, C, and K which are essential for good health. With fresh garlic, onions, and basil all adding additional vitamins and minerals and the Parmesan cheese adding calcium, the dish as a whole is well balanced. Even with all these health benefits it is important to enjoy in moderation as overindulging in anything is bad for you.
Is Eggs in Purgatory strictly a breakfast dish?
I know that I keep praising eggs in purgatory as the perfect brunch dish, and for a lot of people they see eggs and automatically think a dish is breakfast. However, the richness and versatility of eggs in purgatory make it a dish that is good for any meal. The rich garlicky tomato sauce gives a flavor that resonates just as much with breakfast as it does with lunch or dinner.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- Salt to taste
- 4 large eggs
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
INSTRUCTIONS
Sauté
Cook onion and garlic in oil.
Simmer
Add tomatoes and seasonings, then simmer.
Poach
Crack eggs into sauce, cover, and cook.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
To make and store eggs in purgatory in advance I recommend making the sauce, letting it cool to room temperature and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you are ready to make your dish put the sauce into the skillet and crack your eggs to cook.
While the dish traditionally does not have meat in it you can easily cook ham or bacon and dice it and add it to the dish while it is cooking. If you worry that ham or bacon make it exclusive to breakfast or brunch you can also use chicken, cooked and shredded and then added in the cooking process.
Giving your sauce the opportunity to thicken before adding the eggs to the dish is essential to keeping your dish from having too much liquid. Allowing the sauce to thicken also gives you the perfect wells to cook your eggs in.
Serving Suggestions
As I have already stated eggs in purgatory is the perfect one-pan dish to eat alone or with a side of fresh baked bread. But that doesn’t mean you can’t spice things up by adding other components to the meal.
You can easily have them as a dish that rounds out breakfast alongside these Cornbread Waffles With Pulled Pork. If you are looking to have it for lunch or dinner make it a side with a hearty protein like Paleo Oven Baked Ribs or this Mini Meatloaf Recipe with Spicy Pineapple BBQ Sauce. Regardless of how you serve your eggs in purgatory, you will certainly be happy to have it in your repertoire.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 can 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- Salt to taste
- 4 large eggs
- Fresh basil chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese optional, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.
- Stir in red pepper flakes and crushed tomatoes. Season with salt. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Make four wells in the sauce. Crack an egg into each well. Cover and cook for about 6-8 minutes, or until the eggs are set to your liking.
- Garnish with fresh basil and optional Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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