Spicy Scrambled Eggs

Some Sundays I like to prepare a quick light dinner, so that we can get to bed early for the next week. As far as possible I like to keep Sunday nights and weeknights vegetarian (I always categorize eggs as vegetarian LOL) One of the dishes made on Sundays (or even weekdays) is a spicy scrambled egg dish. Its a quick one pot dish, and can be made in a jiffy. (Except when it is made by my hubby Pramod, who will take ages to cook anything. (I swear he could manage to take an hour just to boil an egg).
This spicy scrambled egg recipe - Egg Bhurji,as it is known in India, is a dish popular in north and western India. Its preparation and appearance are similar to scrambled eggs. The difference lies in the addition of sauteed chopped onions, chilies, and optional spices. Paneer- a type of cottage cheese, may substitute for the eggs.





There are two variations of this dish, and here I have posted one of them. All you need for this easy scrambled egg dish is a few basic food staples from the fridge - I like to use a couple of eggs, and mix them with egg beaters for a healthier version:

SPICY SCRAMBLED EGGS
Serves 4

Ingredients:
8 large Eggs, beaten (or equivalent egg beaters)
2 large onions
1 large or 2 small tomatoes
3-4 chopped green thai or cayenne chillis to taste(optional)
1 tsp whole cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tbsp canola or olive oil
1 1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp chilli powder
a handful of chopped cilantro to garnish

Method:
In a large frying pan heat the oil and add turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and green chillis. Add the onions. Fry until just transparent. Add the tomatoes and fry some more. Add the chillis and the beaten eggs. mix well and keep scrambling until the scrambled egg mixture is dry. Turn off the heat and add chopped cilantro.

Authors note:
Serve this dish just as you would any other scrambled eggs - with or on toast, with sausages, on hash browns - or try rolling up into a wrap. Boiled potatoes cut into small cubes and added after the onions will make the eggs more filling and tastes yummy for all those potato lovers. Peas, carrots, green pepper spinach and almost any other veggies can go into the bhurji (along with the onions) and they make the bhurji taste awesome while simultaneously increasing the health meter. Just make sure that these veggies are finely chopped, so that they fuse with the dish. This is an incredibly simple, wholesome and tasty dish. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Spicy French Toast

This spicy version of french toast is a favorite snack of mine. Sometimes I aerve it for breakfast or as a mini meal. Mom used to serve us this quick, tasty dish pretty often. It's a great snack to make for kids, when they get a snack attack after school. It's quick, easy, healthy, nutritious and most of the ingredients are easily available in the pantry. Unlike the sweet version, this french toast has a little kick to it. I wager that you will find this toast really delicious and will have a hard time stopping at one slice :).

SPICY FRENCH TOAST:
Serves 2

Ingredients:

4 slices of white or brown bread (use your favorite kind)
2-3 eggs - beaten
A splash of milk
A pinch of turmeric

A pinch of ground cumin
1/2 tsp chilli powder (use paprika for less spicy)

1 green chilli chopped (optional)

1 onion, finely chopped
salt to taste
a pinch of sugar (optional)

a few cilantro leaves

One teaspoon of oil or butter

Method:
Heat oil or butter in a frying pan on medium heat. Pour the eggs into a shallow wide bowl. Add the milk, turmeric, chopped chillis, chilli powder, cilantro, salt and sugar to the beaten eggs and wisk lightly with a fork. With a pair of tongs, take a slice of bread and soak both sides with the egg mixture making sure that every inch of the bread is covered. Transfer the slice of bread into the hot oil in the frying pan. Fry on both sides until golden brown and crispy. Cut into triangles, and serve with tomato ketchup or your favorite dip.

Authors Note:

You can easily use egg beaters in this recipe, to make it healthier - and cooking spray may be used instead of oil or butter - however, make sure that you use a non-stick frying pan if you do.