Photo by Donna Turner Ruhlman
At an event to promote my new book on the mighty egg, I did a demo of some simple egg dishes with my friend and Cleveland chef, Doug Katz. He had prepared deviled eggs ahead of time, and I was struck by his decision to cut the eggs through their equator rather than lengthwise. He then sliced off some of the white at the bottom so that the eggs rested flat in a large tray.
What a brilliant idea! Why hadn’t I thought of this? My only problem with deviled eggs is that I love them so much; but, because they’re so big, I can eat only so many. Doug came up with a solution: Removing a chunk of the white means that each deviled egg is a little smaller and easier to eat, and that means that I can eat more.
While Doug topped each egg with an asparagus tip and a disc of pickled radish, we began listing variations to the audience, and I realized they were unlimited. What doesn’t go well with egg? Anchovy-caper-olive tapenade, fried chicken liver, pickled chile pepper, fines herbes, duck confit, broiled cherry tomato, corn with lime juice and black pepper, caponata, kimchi—any of these can elevate the humble deviled egg to a delicacy.
So, to enliven a standard deviled egg platter, I’ve created the five garnishes below—but again, you’re limited only by your imagination. If you want something a little more complex, choose some toppings below. But even in this group, simplicity rules, and simplicity is especially what I look to when I’m serving a large group. Top an egg with a slice of grilled hotdog and some ballpark mustard (see below). Give the deviled egg some crunch with broken potato chips—potatoes and eggs are always a great combination. Put leftovers to use—if you have grilled chicken, chop it and give it a squeeze of lime before setting it out as deviled egg topping. Fresh herbs go a long way quickly—tarragon and chives are my favorites for eggs. Or sprinkle the eggs with roasted cumin powder, cayenne or some truffle salt.
The following recipe for basic deviled eggs can be halved or doubled depending on how many you’re serving. For a heavy hors d’oeuvres event, I plan on two eggs per person. The garnish amounts below will garnish about five deviled eggs each. Using older rather than very fresh eggs can make peeling them easier.
(Photos by Donna Turner Ruhlman)
Basic Deviled Eggs
- 24 large eggs, hard-boiled and peeled
- 3 tablespoons minced shallots
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
- Cut off both ends of the eggs, then slice them in half crosswise. Remove the yolks to a mixing bowl and reserve the whites. (You can discard the ends or press them through a sieve and add them to the Japanese or Vietnamese garnish below.)
- Combine the shallot, lemon juice, and salt and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add the mayonnaise, mustard, pepper, cayenne (if using), and the shallot mixture to the yolks. Mash the yolks with a fork, stirring to combine all ingredients until the mixture is uniform. This can all be done up to 12 hours before serving, if kept wrapped and refrigerated.
- Shortly before serving, spoon the mixture into the egg white halves (or put the yolks into a plastic bag, snip off the corner, and pipe the yolks into the whites).
How to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs on the Stovetop:
- Choose a pan that will comfortably fit all the eggs you intend to cook in one layer.
- Cover the eggs with water by about an inch and put the pan over high heat.
- When the water reaches a full boil, cover the pan, remove it from the heat, and start a timer for 10-12 minutes (this time according to the American Egg Board; I cook mine for up to 15 minutes, and Doug Katz takes his as long as 18 minutes, so pay attention so you can determine the time that works bes for you).
- Prepare an ice bath—half water and half ice.
- When the eggs have been covered for 10-12 minutes, remove them to the ice bath for at least 10 minutes, stirring the ice water a couple of times during the first minutes of cooling. (This is the most important step in the process as far as I'm concerned.)
- Peel and use, or store in the shell in a covered container for up to two weeks.
Suggested toppings for a Deviled Egg Bar:
Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Dill
- ¼ pound cured salmon, thinly sliced
- 5 dill sprigs
- 5 ⅛-inch slices of cucumber
- Top each egg with a slice of salmon, followed by a sprig of dill. Place each on a cucumber slice.
BLT Deviled Eggs
- 2 thick-cut bacon slices, cut into 1½-inch pieces
- ¼ cup diced tomato, salted to taste
- 1 romaine lettuce leaf, julienned
- Fry the bacon till crisp and drain on paper towels. Top each egg with bacon, followed by diced tomato, and then lettuce.
The All-American Deviled Egg
- 1 grilled hot dog
- Bertman Ballpark Mustard (or any mustard of your choice)
- Slice the hot dog into ½-inch pieces. Press one piece into the yolk of each egg and top with mustard.
Japanese Deviled Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- 3 or 4 shiitake mushrooms
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon miso paste
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 10 fresh chive tips
- In a small sauté pan, heat a film of oil over high heat. Put the mushrooms in the pan and press them down with a spatula till they’re nicely browned, a couple minutes. Flip them and repeat.
- Remove them to a cutting board, season with salt and pepper to taste, and then dice them. Combine the diced mushrooms with the remaining ingredients (except the chive tips) and stir till they’re uniformly mixed. Top each egg with some of the mixture. Garnish with two chive tips.
Vietnamese Deviled Eggs
- 1 scallion, white part only, thinly sliced on a bias
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon minced jalapeño pepper (seeded, if desired)
- 1 teaspoon Asian fish sauce
- Combine the scallions, the lime juice, and the salt and let sit for 5 minutes (reserve several slices for garnish on top if you wish). Add the cilantro, mint, jalapeño, and fish sauce and stir to combine. Top each egg with the mixture and garnish with the remaining scallions rings.
- Again, these are just a few suggestions of countless possibilities. With all these combinations, it’s easy for guests to make their own deviled egg flights, perfect food for a Fourth of July celebration.
For more great recipes and tips for deviled eggs, visit IncredibleEgg.org
I like a little Pickapeppa sauce on my hard-boiled and deviled eggs. Also, with Doug's idea you can use the whites as an ersatz shot glass, with the filling from those eggs used to augment the toppings for the other eggs.
It's look so delicious
Fun, fun ,fun.
Wasabi purée and top with frozen green fish roe, was hot and unique.
I love it. I'm so sorry I missed the event though. At least now I have a great tip to have perfectly boiled eggs.
An index of Deviled Egg recipes (a fair chunk of them mine): http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=27063
Fancy garnishes for deviled eggs are a thing in San Francisco, for your next trip, restaurant:garnish
Hog and Rocks: fried oyster
Eno Wine Bar: duck confit
20 Spot: smoked salmon, roe
Wayfare Tavern: his take on green eggs and ham, mixes peas with yolk and garnish with crispy prosciutto
Bar Agricole used to have uni, but they took it off the menu!
cool ideas, thanks!
Serious Eats Food Lab de-coded the "perfect" hard-boiled egg and basically found that starting the eggs in boiling water (instead of cold), plus a 15+min ice bath after cooking is the best method to ensure easy peeling. I've been doing it this way once a week all summer (I get a dozen eggs a week through my CSA!) with 100% successful peeling. Highly recommend. Also, try deviled eggs with schmaltz instead of mayo, topped with gribenes!
Yes I recall his tweeting about this. I'll have to give it a try!
I have an 1950's cookbook which advises using small eggs for making stuffed eggs, so that the half is one-bite. Easier on guests.
I slso own an old egg tray, with indentations sized for half a small egg.
Alas, i could never find small eggs in the grocery. But this system might work.
Great inspiration. I love the EGG book and have had lots of fun making many dishes. Today's deviled egg ideas were an inspiration. Much thanks!
I've had raves when stuffing the stuffing with shredded crab. Drizzle with lemon. Garnish with parsley.
I like to put a dab of sambal in the filling for a little kick.
A pinch of curry powder and a little Sriracha makes a pretty good addition to almost any deviled egg recipe.
I too add a small dollop of wasabi and a small spoon of tobiko or other fish roe and call them "Eggs Ova The Top" My in-laws loved them until they found out what the the little sparkly balls were. Ah well...
I haven't picked up your new book but I will soon. I was reading some information about deviled eggs yesterday and they said that if you lay the eggs on their sides in their container (won't be able to close it) for 24 hours before you boil them that the yolk centers itself. Could this be true? I just made a couple dozen last night but didn't have that option because I bought the eggs on my way home from work.
I've tried. didn't seem to do anything.
These look amazing, I found this post yesterday and have been thinking about the inventive toppings I can use ever since...
I'm thinking of making an avocado filling with the egg yolk and Dijon mustard, then topping with a piece of crisp bacon.
Slicing off the bottoms is just genius!
Thank you for the great idea on turning the eggs. I can't wait to try it. We are smoking a pastrami right now and think it might make a good top for the eggs.
Hi Michael. Have just finished reading The Making of a Chef.
And what an amazing journey. Thank you. Cheers Gail.
Adorable..!!! thanks for this wonderful post,, hope everyone would love it..
Pretty much
Woa this is really awesome, Michael Ruhlman
I'm not good at cooking but my wife loves to cook
I will send her this recipe, hopefully I'll enjoy it
Love, love, love deviled eggs but there are a couple of versions I haven't tried here. Will definitely be remedying that soon, as they look amazing. Thanks 🙂
Awesome and unique recipe. I love it thanks for sharing this recipe. I must say, my mother, to try this tonight.
I’ve had raves when stuffing the stuffing with shredded crab. Drizzle with lemon. Garnish with parsley.
Awesome and unique recipe. I love it thanks for sharing this recipe. I must say, my mother, to try this tonight.
Adorable..!!! thanks for this wonderful post,, hope everyone would love it..
Thank you for the great idea on turning the eggs. I can’t wait to try it. We are smoking a pastrami right now and think it might make a good top for the eggs.
Hi Michael. Have just finished reading The Making of a Chef.
And what an amazing journey. Thank you. Cheers Gail.
thanks!
I like to put a dab of sambal in the filling for a little kick.
Hey Michael. I heave just finished reading The Making of a Chef.
And what an amazing journey. Thank you. Cheers Gail.
thanks Gail!
Hey Michael, Eggs are looking yummy. Just wanna try these delicious eggs.
nice post
This is a pretty nice recipe. I am gonna try this for sure.
Nice Post
WOw! Thank you for sharing
How can I do This?
I like eegs
Can I use duck eeg
of course!
I want to eat it
Can I eat it without yolk
sure but why?