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Eggs with dates and onions
Bayd wa tamr: Emirati scrambled eggs with soft onions and dates
On a winter morning in the Emirati countryside, when the date palms have given their harvest, a pan of eggs scrambled with onion and chopped dates is a quick, filling breakfast eaten with flatbread and a glass of sweet tea. The dates melt into sticky pockets among the eggs, the onions add savoury sweetness and a pinch of cardamom ties it together. It is homely food rarely seen in restaurants, made in minutes from what every Gulf kitchen has. Chef's tip: use soft, moist dates such as khalas or medjool; dry ones stay chewy and never melt into the eggs.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ghee or butter
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 6 soft datespitted and chopped
- 1 pinch ground cardamom
- 4 eggs
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Melt 1 tbsp ghee or butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Fry 1 onion for 5–6 minutes, stirring, until soft and pale gold.
6 minStep 2: Add 6 soft dates and 1 pinch ground cardamom and stir for 1–2 minutes until the dates soften and start to stick to the onion.
2 minStep 3: Beat 4 eggs with ¼ tsp salt and 1 pinch black pepper. Turn the heat down to low and pour the eggs into the pan.
Step 4: Stir slowly with a spatula, pushing the set egg in from the edges, for 2–3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat while the eggs still look slightly wet; they finish setting on the plate. Common mistake: cooking the eggs over a high heat, which makes them rubbery and lets the dates scorch.
3 minStep 5: Serve straight away with warm flatbread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does eggs with dates and onions take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ghee or butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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