Have you ever found a recipe that resonates with your soul?
Last weekend, while perusing the vast recipe book that is the internet, I stumbled upon a YouTube channel that enthusiastically sang the praises of Gordon Ramsay’s scrambled eggs.
In my not-so-humble opinion, I thought scrambled eggs were on the lowest rung of the breakfast ladder. Who would get excited about failed fried eggs?
Again, it is the movement and slow heat that made this dish greater than the sum of its parts.
Oh, how wrong I was.
These are, without a doubt, the crowning egg-chievement of breakfast. So rich, so tasty, so creamy as to make other egg dishes blush at their own inadequacy.
What’s the difference? What black magic does Gordon Ramsay cast upon his ovum to make them so delicious?
The secret ingredient… is movement.
When you make scrambled eggs, texture, more than seasoning, is what determines the final flavor. By keeping the eggs moving as they cook, you ensure the smallest possible curd is forming, making an almost custard-like texture.
Gordon Ramsay goes step by step to determine what order of operations will result in the
creamiest payoff:
- Crack the 3 eggs into a cold sauce pan and add three pads of butter, about 2 tablespoons worth.
- Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula over medium heat, taking the pot off the heat every minute or so for a few seconds and continuing to stir. Anytime you need to stop stirring, remove from heat!
- When the eggs are about set, add a tablespoon of Creme Fraiche.
- Season with a dash of salt and pepper and fresh chives to taste.
- Serve immediately over a thick slice of crusty toast, such as sourdough.
However, since I didn’t discover this directly from Ramsay himself, the first method I used came from Youtuber Binging with Babish. He replicated Ramsay’s recipe with his own flare, but it does have some distinct differences.
- Melt two tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Pour 3 beaten eggs into the pan once the butter is barely foaming.
- Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula, taking the pot off the heat every minute or so for a few seconds and continuing to stir. Anytime you need to stop stirring, remove from heat!
- When the eggs are about set, add a couple tablespoons of soft goat cheese.
- Season with a dash of salt and pepper and fresh chives to taste.
- Serve immediately over a thick slice of crusty toast, such as sourdough.
How was the result?
Both Ramsay and Babish agreed that adding salt too soon would make the eggs watery and too firm, so hold off on seasoning until the very end. My first time making this, I mistakenly used salted butter and then added more salt which resulted in a super-salinated scramble. So save the seasonings until the end!
While both cooks used a creamy component, they differed on preference. Babish used a soft goat cheese, while Ramsay used Creme Fraiche. While both do add richness to the dish, I prefer Ramsay’s more mild approach. The Creme Fraiche (similar to sour cream) ads a butteriness that helps elevate the eggs from good to really good. Plus, Creme Fraiche is fun and swanky to say.
Again, it is the movement and slow heat that made this dish greater than the sum of its parts. I encourage you to give it a try and make a normal breakfast into a bougie brunch affair.
Catch more of Gordon Ramsay’s greatness on Masterchef Junior Fridays at 8pm on FOX !
