Courgette, Basil & Feta Baked Eggs

Brunch food has gotta be my favourite – I’m always looking for new places to check out in London and Leeds and I’m part of an instagram brunch club for god’s sake. That said, it can get a bit spenny going out for brunch, especially a bottomless brunch (which I’ve only had once a few months ago and I don’t know if I’ve recovered yet. So. Much. Prosecco.). Luckily, brunch food is also probably some of the easiest to make yourself! I know I’m crap at poaching eggs so I usually skip those types of recipes and go straight for pancakes (duh) and baked eggies!

When I’ve got eggs as the main component of a meal I feel it’s essential to use very fresh, superior quality ones. I find I can really taste the difference and oh, those deep golden yolks are just so gorgeous too. Here I’ve used Copper Marans eggs from Heritage Breeds whose chickens are looked after well and are free to roam on grassy pastures, just as they should be!

This recipe is almost like a green alternative to shakshuka. Cos don’t get me wrong, tomatoey baked eggs are delicious but they get boring pretty quickly. This is a fresher alternative, still with a salty spike from feta cheese. Remember to keep an eye on the eggs when they’re under the grill as you want those yolks runny for that sexy bread dunking action.

If you make this recipe (or any other from my site) don’t forget to snap a pic for instagram and tag @izyhossack and #topwithcinnamon so I can see it!

 

Courgette, Basil & Feta Baked Eggs

4.13 from 8 votes
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Course: Breakfast
Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 red onion , thinly sliced
  • salt
  • 3 medium courgettes
  • 2 cloves garlic , crushed
  • 4 eggs
  • 100 g frozen spinach
  • 3 tbsp finely grated parmesan cheese
  • black pepper
  • 30 g feta cheese
  • handful of basil leaves

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Once hot, add the onion to the pan with a pinch of salt and cook until softened – about 5 minutes.  
  • Slice 2 of the courgettes into coins about 2mm thick. Coarsely grate the last courgette. 
  • Add the sliced courgettes to the pan on the heat and another pinch of salt then sauté on medium-low, until golden all over – about 15 minutes. 
  • Stir in the garlic, grated courgette and frozen spinach with 60ml of water. Cover with a lid or large plate and leave on a low heat for the spinach to defrost (5-7 minutes). Remove the lid (careful of the steam!).
  • Spoon the contents of the pan to a 20cm pie tin (or oven proof frying pan) – you’re going to be baking the eggs in this.
  • Make 4 little wells in the mixture and crack the eggs into each well. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper and the grated parmesan.
  • Place under the grill in your oven until the whites are just set and the yolks are still slightly runny – 3-5 minutes. Remove from the oven and crumble over the feta cheese. Sprinkle on more black pepper and the basil leaves. Serve immediately with toasted bread for dipping. 
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it went! Mention @izyhossack or tag #topwithcinnamon!

*Thanks to Heritage Breeds for sponsoring this post!

8 thoughts on “Courgette, Basil & Feta Baked Eggs”

  1. I get you with the poaching eggs skill. It took me a long time to master it, but now that I’m getting consistent, beautiful eggs each time and it feels really satisfying.
    I have a few tips to share:

    1) Get rid of any excess egg whites by sieving it with a fine mesh sieve to a small bowl – just break it into a bowl, run it through the sieve and put the egg in a separated small bowl.
    2) The thing with the vinegar is actually helpful, and no, it doesn’t taste like vinegar at all.
    Just simmer a medium sized- pot with water and put 1-2 tablespoons of plain white vinegar.
    3) Don’t bring the water to a boil! keep it on simmer.
    4) Take a wooden spoon and stir the water in the pot for about half a minute, then immediately and carefully dump the sieved egg into the water, then stop stirring.
    5) Set the timer to 2-2.5 minutes (depending on how runny you like the eggs), and when it beeps – just remove it from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a clean paper towel sheet (you have to get rid of any excess water).
    That’s it!
    You can even make them ahead and store in the fridge by putting them in an airtight container filled with water, and reheat them when you want to eat them (in the same pot, just simmer for a few seconds).

    • Oh my, thank you for all the tips! I’ve used the whirlpool method before but my egg literally just spun out of control in the water haha. I’ll definitely have to keep practicing my poaching skillz

      • Maybe it’s due to the “redundant” egg whites, when the sieve catches about one- two tablespoon(s) of it every time I make it – I think it make sense that egg won’t make a cohesive shape otherwise. Before I stated to include this step my eggs used to have sort of a sci-fi-y “feet”. I just trimmed it with scissors, but I obviously prefer to get rid of this process in the first place.

  2. Hello, Izy!
    Thank you for the perfect recipe! I sent to my wife a link on your blog!
    John
    Weedit.photos

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