Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (2024)

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It's surprisingly delicious.

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Sara Haas

Sara Haas

Sara Haas RDN, LDN, is a food and nutrition expert with formal training in the culinary arts. She works as a freelance writer, recipe developer, media authority, public speaker, and consultant dietitian/chef. Sara has over 20 years of experience as a registered and licensed dietitian. She has also been a professional chef for 15 years and a food photographer for 10 years.

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Published on 11/24/23

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Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (1)

I always keep a carton of eggs in my refrigerator. They’re a lifesaver for when hunger strikes and I need something nourishing to eat that’s also quick and easy to make. I typically resort to the usual preparations, relying on either scrambling or frying. If I have some foresight, I’ll hard-boil a few as a gift to my future self. I’ll peel them and season with salt and pepper and that’s enough to satisfy. But when I came across the unique way that Jacques Pépin prepares his hard-boiled eggs, I knew I had to give it a try.

A Mother’s Touch

Pépin is a culinary great, known around the world for his impeccable cooking skills and impressive food. That’s why I was surprised to hear that one of his favorite meals was one that his mother used to make for him. It was a family favorite with a humble main ingredient: eggs.

She would hard-boil them, mix the yolks with seasonings, and stuff them back into the egg white halves. Then she would sear them, stuffed-side-down, in oil in a hot pan and serve them with a tangy vinaigrette. Pépin lovingly named them, “Oeufs Jeanette,” after his mother.

How To Make Oeufs Jeanette

Pépin begins the recipe as his mother did, with hard-boiling eggs. Once cool, peel the eggs and slice them in half lengthwise. Remove the yolk and place in a bowl along with a bit of minced garlic, fresh chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and a splash of milk. Smash and mix with a fork, then stuff into the egg white halves, leaving a bit of yolk mixture behind to make the vinaigrette.

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (3)

Heat a bit of neutral oil in a skillet, then add the eggs, stuffed-side down, and cook until the filling is golden-brown and caramelized, one to two minutes. To make the vinaigrette, whisk extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and water with the leftover yolk mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the eggs to a plate and serve with the vinaigrette.

Jacques Pépin Has the BEST Recipe for Extra Crispy Potato Pancakes

I’m Smitten

I’m often left feeling under-whelmed by recipes these days. They’re either too complicated or require steps or ingredients that don’t seem necessary. Or worse, they just don’t taste good. This recipe is none of those things. It’s absolute perfection.

The filling is deliciously seasoned and the caramelized crust of the filling feels rich and decadent. The accompanying vinaigrette is essential. It balances the dish, adding the perfect acidic kick to cut through the creaminess of the eggs. I’m a fan and forever smitten and am already dreaming of the next time I make it.

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (5)

Tips:

The recipe is straight-forwad and easy to execute, but there are a few things that might be helpful to know before you give them a try:

  1. Prep the eggs: If you have the time, consider hard-boiling the eggs up to one day in advance of making. This will save you time and make prep much more enjoyable.
  2. Substitute ingredients: If you’re out of garlic, no problem! Substitute one-eighth teaspoon garlic powder for one clove of garlic (which is about what you’ll need for this recipe). As for the parsley, fresh is nice, but not necessary. You can substitute dried, about one-quarter teaspoon, or leave it out entirely.
  3. Heat your pan: Searing requires heat. Set your pan over medium-high heat and then add a neutral oil. It might need a minute or so to heat up. Once the oil moves around easily in the pan (it kind of looks like water, less viscous than the cold oil you started with), add the eggs and don’t touch them. They need constant contact with the oil and pan to get the caramelization you’re after!

Julia Child's Unusual Tip for Perfect Scrambled Eggs

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Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (2024)

FAQs

How to make scrambled eggs Jacques Pepin? ›

"The way I scramble eggs is to put them into a heavier saucepan over moderate heat, and to use a whisk to constantly move the eggs, ensuring that they get the creamiest texture without large curds. This is usually finished with a little bit of cream.

Why deviled eggs are the best? ›

As a snack food, deviled eggs have an edge over many store-bought snacks: they're whole and unprocessed. “It's usually a better bet to have a snack that is made with fresh ingredients rather than something packaged or processed,” says Amy Keating, RD, a CR dietitian.

Are deviled eggs popular in France? ›

Deviled eggs seem to be a favorite at any party… and for good reason! This popular French version, known as “Oeufs Mimosa”, presents hard-boiled eggs cut in half and stuffed with a rich and creamy filling of egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and fresh herbs for classic French flavor.

What is the hardest egg dish? ›

Despite how simple they might seem, omelets may be the hardest egg dish to make. The best part of these eggs is that you can pack them full of veggies, cheese, and protein to make a nutritious and delicious meal any morning.

How to make Dolly Parton scrambled eggs? ›

Dolly Parton Scrambled Eggs

"When you crack your eggs in the bowl, say if you're going to scramble them, use ice water. Put a few drops of ice water as you're cooking them and that makes them fluffier — it really does!" "So put a little ice water in that, it'll fluff them up for you," she added.

Is it healthy to eat deviled eggs? ›

Eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, the nutritional content of deviled eggs can vary based on the ingredients used in the filling. To make deviled eggs healthier, consider using ingredients like Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for the filling, and adding herbs and spices for flavor.

Is deviled eggs bad for your cholesterol? ›

Deviled egg halves usually contain about 120 mgs of cholesterol each, which is a lot. If you eat two or three, you've already used up your suggested 200 mgs of dietary cholesterol a day for most adults just on this one item.

Are deviled eggs bad for high blood pressure? ›

In the past, because eggs are high in cholesterol, people with hypertension were often advised to avoid them. But that's no longer the case. “In general, eating eggs doesn't impact either systolic or diastolic blood pressures.

What do Christians call deviled eggs? ›

At church functions in parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States, the terms "stuffed eggs", "salad eggs", and "dressed eggs" occur instead, to avoid reference to the word "devil". For this reason, the term "angel eggs" is also occasionally used.

Does England have deviled eggs? ›

While devilled eggs had their moment in the UK – at about the same time the hostess trolley held sway – they are an essential part of the American entertaining tradition.

What ethnicity is deviled eggs? ›

According to The History Channel, deviled eggs go all the way back to ancient Rome, where eggs were boiled, seasoned with spicy sauces, and then served at the beginning of meals. In the 13th century, stuffed eggs began to appear in the southern, Andalusian regions of Spain.

What is the world's hardest food dish? ›

Suodiu, which literally translates to “suck and dispose”, requires people trying out the dish to suck off the flavours, and then spit out the rocks. Originating from the eastern Chinese province of Hubei, the small rocks are covered with a rich and spicy flavour.

How not to boil eggs? ›

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Hard-Boiled Eggs
  1. Using the wrong pot. Don't try to cram too many egg in a pot that's two sizes too small. ...
  2. Starting with boiling water. ...
  3. Using eggs that are too fresh. ...
  4. Overcooking them. ...
  5. Skipping the ice bath.
May 1, 2019

What is a beaten fried egg called? ›

Omelet. The Spruce Eats. An omelet uses one or more beaten eggs that are cooked quickly (usually flat) in a frying pan. Omelets are often folded over a filling of cheese, vegetables, meat, or a combination of ingredients.

What is the chefs secret to best scrambled eggs? ›

First, he cracks eggs into a cold skillet without whisking first. Then, he adds butter. Then, he cranks up the heat to high and stirs continuously with a rubber spatula for 30 seconds. He then takes the pan off the heat, stirs for 10 seconds, then puts it back on the heat for 30 seconds.

What are 3 tips for making perfect scrambled eggs? ›

This Is the Best Way to Make Scrambled Eggs
  1. Crack the eggs on a flat surface.
  2. Don't be afraid to pre-salt eggs.
  3. Add a splash of milk.
  4. Use a fork, not a whisk.
  5. Cook in a nonstick pan.
  6. … and make sure it's cold.
  7. Keep the heat relatively low.
  8. Let them finish cooking off the stove.
Nov 18, 2022

How do chefs cook scrambled eggs? ›

The approach is simply to crack the eggs into a non-stick sauce pan, add in a few pats of cold butter, turn on the heat and begin to stir constantly and vigorously, on and off the heat. The result of this technique is creamy, soft, silky scrambled eggs.

How do restaurants make such good scrambled eggs? ›

Scrambled eggs are cooked over lower heat and stirred slowly. This lower heat, slower process keeps the eggs fluffy and soft. Beat in a bit of water or milk (1 Tablespoon liquid per egg), pour the egg into a heated pan, let it SIT for a minute or two and then gently fold it over as it cooks.

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