Bill Granger teaches us how to cook eggs

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Posted at 12:02PM, 12 September 2011 by Bill Granger - Chef

Poached, scrambled, boiled or fried; eggs are the perfect foundation for a weekend breakfast. Bill Granger shows us the different ways to cook an egg...

Bill: Early morning is my favourite time of day, always has been. I love waking up early and pottering in the kitchen while it's still dark outside... there's something very comforting and nurturing about it.

I make an effort to have breakfast with my family. We usually all decide on our breakfast, whether it be buckwheat pancakes, or soft-boiled eggs or whatever, and we all share in its preparation while getting ready for the day. I can't wait until my girls are old enough to bring me breakfast in bed, but until that time comes we usually have a gang of friends over on a Sunday morning.

Bill's eggs...

FRIED
Place a large non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat for 1 minute. Add 2 tsp olive oil and swirl until the base of the pan is evenly coated. Carefully crack 2 eggs into the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. If you like the yolks of your eggs harder, cover the pan with a lid and cook for another minute. Serve with sourdough or wholemeal toast and spicy tomato relish.

SCRAMBLED
Place 2 eggs, 80 ml cream and a pinch of salt in a bowl and whisk together. Put 10g butter in a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Once the butter is melted, pour in the egg mixture and cook for 20 seconds, or until it begins to set around the edge. Using a wooden spoon, stir and bring the egg mixture on the edge of the pan into the centre. It is important to fold the eggs, not scramble them. Leave for 20 seconds, then repeat the folding process. When the eggs are just set, turn out onto a plate and serve with sourdough or wholemeal toast.

I love waking up early and pottering in the kitchen while it's still dark outside... there's something very comforting and nurturing about it.

BOILED
Place a saucepan of water over a high heat and bring to the boil. Gently place your eggs, which should be at room temperature, into the water then adjust the heat until the water is simmering. For a soft-boiled egg, cook for 4 minutes, medium-boiled 5-6 minutes and hard-boiled 10 minutes.

POACHED
Fill a shallow frying pan with water until it is 5 cm (2 inches) deep and place over a high heat. Once the water boils, turn off the heat and break the eggs directly into the water. Crack the shells open at the water surface so the eggs simply slide into the water. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and leave to cook for 3 minutes, or until the egg whites are opaque. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on a clean tea towel (dish towel).

The recipes and images are taken from Best of Bill by Bill Granger (£25), published by Murdoch Books.

Get more egg inspiration from our breakfast recipe collection.

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Comments

Kieran

16 September 2011, 3:08PM
Kieran

To get a best looking (poached) eggs, I add a couple of caps of vinegar to the water, this helps keep the whites in place. Also I crack the eggs into a ramekin first. Another tip, before adding the eggs into the water, take your spoon and swirl the water around in one direction, till you get a whirlpool, then at close range, drop the eggs in.

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Dawn

21 September 2011, 1:32PM
Dawn

I make a poached egg for breakfast regularly, vinegar is essential for keeping the whites toegther, especially if the egg is not completely fresh. Swirling the water is also helpful and stops the egg sticking to the bottom of the pan. In terms of time - the egg should be in the water almost as long as the bread takes to pop out of the toaster

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Michealleo

23 September 2011, 8:08AM
Michealleo

Hi thanks for sharing some new way of cooking ... ever person has it's own way to cook food . But i love to eat fried eggs in my breakfast . some peoples just eat eggs white but i can't go through that way . Because eggs yolks are also heathy for our body because yolks having Vitamin A which is really good for skin and hairs .. <a href="http://spokanefitnesssecrets.com/spokane-nutrition-success/spokane-health-clubs/">spokane health clubs</a>

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Michealleo

23 September 2011, 8:09AM
Michealleo

Hi thanks for sharing some new way of cooking ... ever person has it's own way to cook food . But i love to eat fried eggs in my breakfast . some peoples just eat eggs white but i can't go through that way . Because eggs yolks are also heathy for our body because yolks having Vitamin A which is really good for skin and hairs . http://spokanefitnesssecrets.com/spokane-nutrition-success/spokane-health-clubs/

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beach hut

23 September 2011, 6:49PM
beach hut

I love to add grated cheese to my scrambled eggs. Delicious

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deedee

28 September 2011, 2:44PM
deedee

having purchased far to many eggs am having fun experimenting with several different methods . will update how i get on

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deedee

28 September 2011, 2:46PM
deedee

Has anyone eaten turkey eggs? they're on sale at a local farm an would be interesting to know the best recipe for them

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bexrecipes

4 October 2011, 11:39AM
bexrecipes

Anyone cooked with an Ostrich egg? I saw them reduced in my local Waitrose the other day for Â£18.99 to Â£7.00. I didn't buy one because: a. I had no idea what to do with it b. Even for an avid baker 24 hens eggs could be too much for even me c. Cholesterol could be an issue. Ideas and thoughts please.

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Kamaeni

11 October 2011, 3:04AM
Kamaeni

My family very like fried or boiled egg fried, sometimes I mix the eggs with chicken meat celery green onion prey and fried http://www.healtydiettips.com

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k2

20 November 2011, 12:38PM
k2

interesting! some good techniques i'd really like to try..

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