Quail eggs make for a great substitute for regular chicken eggs, and they are some of our favorite eggs to fry in a pan, besides duck eggs.
But they are not built the same way as chicken eggs in fact, the shell is harder and the size makes it a challenge. I share how to break and cook quail eggs in a pan.
TL;DR
Quail eggs are the eggs from several mid-sized quail bird varieties. The eggs are spotted brown to white, and they are definitely the smallest eggs that you will find in your grocery store.
We love them because these eggs tend to be more flavorful as they are rarely mass-farmed.
But because they are smaller, it's more work to break them open. The shell is also harder than chicken or duck eggs.
That said, I think quail eggs are best enjoyed fried or boiled (as in my age-old quail salad recipe). I'll explain below how we crack open and fry our quail eggs with the help of Paul.
Ingredient Notes
- Quail Eggs — They are rather small, therefore plan about 3–4 eggs per person.
- Oil — I like butter for the flavor, Paul prefers seed oil as in sunflower oil. Use your favorite oil that you'd use for regular eggs too.
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Chives or Green Onions, to top
Process Overview
Step 1
Break the quail eggs one at a time in a glass or bowl to catch spoiled eggs or small eggshells. It's easier to use a butter knife to break the shell (alternative: quail egg scissor).
Collect them all in a bowl. Some will break, that's ok.
Step 2
Heat a skillet with the oil and slide the quail eggs into the pan. Season with salt, black pepper and freshly chopped chives or green onion stalks.
Cook the eggs the way you normally eat them. I like them well done. Serve up hot.
📖 Recipe
Pan-Fried Quail Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 Quail Eggs
- 1-2 Tablespoon Oil or Butter,
- Pinch Salt
- Pinch Black Pepper
- Green Chives or Green Onion stalks chopped to garnish
Instructions
- Break your eggs one by one into a bowl. Quail eggs have a thick shell, and they are smaller, so breaking them is a skill. A butter knife can help to crack the eggs.6 Quail Eggs
- Heat your skillet with the oil (or butter) and carefully slide your eggs into the pan. Keep on a medium heat setting and keep watch.1-2 Tablespoon Oil, 6 Quail Eggs
- Season with salt and black pepper. Top with some chopped chives or green onions.Pinch Salt, Pinch Black Pepper, Green Chives or Green Onion stalks chopped to garnish
- Cook your eggs to your liking. Portion them and enjoy them the same way you would enjoy chicken eggs.
Equipment
- Small Skillet
Nutrition
Tips
- Wash your quail eggs before you prepare to break them. You don't want to get any dirt in your food.
- Break the quail eggs one at a time, some have a harder shell than others. Use a butter knife to crack in for a clear, straight opening. An alternative is the quail egg scissor.
- Drop the egg, one at a time, first in a small glass or bowl so that you can spot spoiled eggs before mixing them with the others. You'll know if a quail egg is spoiled due to the rotten smell.
- Occasionally tiny shell pieces tend to fall in, and it's easier to pick those out first.
- Some eggs will break, that's ok. A few quail egg yolks are runny, either already in the shell, or they break when you are cracking them open and dropping them into a bowl.
- Collect all the cracked open eggs in a bowl.
- Slide the collected eggs into a pan with heated oil or butter. Use a small skillet to make your life easier.
- Cook as long as you like and serve and enjoy the same way as you'd do with chicken eggs.
Serving Ideas
Pan-fried quail eggs can be substituted for regular chicken eggs in breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner meals.
I use them to make Japanese green onion fried eggs, I top our Thai Basil Chicken with fried quail eggs, or I switch normal eggs with quail eggs in our fried cheese potato and egg meal.
I'm sure you'll be able to think of some more cool ideas!
Comments
No Comments