Piperade Basque Scrambled Eggs Recipes

POACHED SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Add the eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a small bowl and whisk with a fork until frothy. Set aside.
• Add about 2 inches of water to a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer (about 190 degrees F) over medium heat. Small tiny bubbles should come up to the surface, but not large bursting ones.
• Stir the water vigorously with a small whisk several times in a circular motion so it creates a whirlpool. Immediately pour in the eggs. Cover with a lid, turn off the heat and let stand until the eggs are set, about 3 minutes.
• Lift the eggs out with a fine-mesh sieve and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Transfer to a serving plate and season with salt and pepper.

BASQUE PIPERADE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based, non-stick saucepan. Add the onions and cook gently, stirring often, for 10 minutes.
• Add the chopped green peppers to the onion, mixing well. Cover the pan and cook gently, stirring now and then, for 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, garlic, bay and thyme. Season with sugar, Cayenne pepper, salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover the pan and cook gently, stirring now and then, for 25 minutes.
• Mix the beaten egg into the pepper mixture. Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Serve the piperade at once garnished with Bayonne ham.

PIPERADE (BASQUE SCRAMBLED EGGS)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saute pan and cook onion until softened and beginning to turn golden. Add peppers and cook 15 minutes, until tender. Add tomatoes, garlic, basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer until tomatoes are pulpy. Thoroughly beat eggs in a small bowl, add to tomato mixture, and stir until they begin to thicken; remove from heat before they solidify. Serve on heated plates, topped with fried ham slice or slices, and surrounded with croutons.;

PIPERADE BASQUAISE

Steps:

• Prepare the piperade by first heating the 4 tablespoons of fat of your choice in a heavy 8-inch frying pan or, better still, in a small oval copper or enamel pan that you can bring to the table. Add the chopped onions and garlic and cook them for about 5 minutes over moderate heat, stirring them frequently until they are soft but not brown. Stir in the pepper strips, turning them in the fat now and then, letting them cook for about 10 minutes, at which point they should be tender but still crisp. Drain the chopped tomatoes thoroughly and add them to the pan, sprinkling in at the same time the dried or fresh basil and the pepper flakes or hot pepper sauce. Raise the heat and cook the tomatoes briskly for a few minutes and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until all their moisture has evaporated. Be careful that the piperade doesn't burn. Put it aside until you are ready to reheat and serve it.
• At that point, combine 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in an 8-inch heavy frying pan, and over moderate heat, cook the julienned ham for a few minutes until the strips are thoroughly heated through. Remove them at once with a slotted spoon and spread them out on paper toweling to drain.
• Meanwhile let the fat in the frying pan cool to lukewarm before pouring it into the eggs, lightly beaten with salt and pepper. Over low heat, stir the eggs with a rubber spatula until they begin to form soft, creamy curds. Remove them from the heat when they are not quite set and gently spread them over the reheated piperade. Let some of the colorful vegetables show through. Lightly scatter the ham on top, sprinkle with the chopped parsley and/or chopped chives, and serve at once.

PIPERADE (SAUTE OF PEPPERS, ONIONS AND TOMATOES)

Steps:

• Preheat broiler with broiler rack about 2 inches from heat. Broil peppers for 10 minutes, turning as skins blister and blacken. Remove peppers. When cool enough to handle, carefully peel and seed, discarding skins and seeds. Cut peppers into thin strips.
• In large skillet, using no butter or oil, combine peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and herbs and cook, covered, over very low heat for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Mixture should be quite thick.
• Piperade can be made ahead and put into 4 half-cup ramekins or molds. To reheat, place in boiling water bath and cook on top of stove until warmed through, about 10 minutes.