Blow Up Food

Huevos Rancheros

I’ve never been to Mexico so this recipe is probably far from authentic, but it’s a good way to eat your eggs in the morning, and it makes a pretty photograph.

INGREDIENTS

1 onion (diced, with some reserved for the guacamole)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
1 green pepper (diced)
1 red chilli
1 tin of tomatoes
Cayenne pepper (2 tsp)
Ground Cumin (1 tsp)
Sea salt and black pepper
Few drops of tabasco (or a lot if you’re a fan)
1 avocado (super ripe)
A bunch of fresh coriander
A few baby tomatoes (diced)
1/2 lime
1 free range egg (per person)
Olive oil
1 tortilla wrap (per person). I like the seeded ones.
You’ll also need a frying pan that can be covered by a lid or a plate

RECIPE

Fry the onion in some olive oil, then add the green pepper and garlic when the onion has softened and become translucent. After a few minutes of stirring, add the tin of tomatoes, and some extra water (about half a tin’s worth). Season with salt and pepper, then add the spices, the sliced chilli and tabasco. Leave to reduce and thicken (about 15-20 mins), stirring occasionally. Add more salt and pepper if needed.

In the meantime, make the guacamole. I like to blend 1 half of the avocado, and dice the rest. Mix together and add some diced onion (or spring onion if you prefer), the diced tomatoes, some roughly chopped coriander. Add a squeeze of lime at the end. I don’t put salt in my guac as I think it mutes the taste of the avocado, but this is probably the only thing I don’t season.

When the sauce is ready, crack your egg into a small bowl or ramekin. Then make a dent in the middle of the sauce in your pan and pour the egg in. Cover your pan with a lid or plate and leave the egg to cook.

In a separate pan, fry your tortilla off in a little olive oil until it is crisp. Place it on your plate and check on your egg. If the white is all cooked you’re ready to serve. I like a little extra tabasco on my egg yolk, and some extra coriander. Add some sour cream if you fancy it.

As I say, it’s probably not that authentic. It’s probably a very British interpretation, but it’s a brilliant Saturday morning breakfast, or quick weekday tea.