AI-generated image
Hunan scrambled eggs with chopped chillies
Duò jiāo chǎo dàn (剁椒炒蛋): fluffy wok-scrambled eggs with salty, sour fermented red chillies
Duò jiāo, salted chopped red chillies left to ferment in jars, is the backbone of Hunan home cooking, and this ten-minute dish is how many families use it on a weeknight. The eggs are cooked in hot oil until they puff into big soft curds, then tossed back through the bright red chillies, which are salty, sour and very hot. Serve with rice and a green vegetable. Chef's tip: get the oil properly hot before the eggs go in, so they puff and set at once instead of soaking up oil.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Beat 4 eggs with 1 tbsp water and 1 pinch salt until no streaks of white remain and the top is slightly frothy.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp of 2 ⅛ tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a high heat until it shimmers and a drop of egg sizzles hard. Pour in the eggs. Leave for 5 seconds until they puff at the edges, then push them gently from the sides into large, soft curds.
1 minStep 3: Lift them out when they're about three-quarters set and still glossy on top.
Step 4: Lower the heat to medium, add the rest of ⅞ tbsp vegetable oil, then 2 tbsp Hunan chopped salted chillies (duò jiāo) and 1 clove garlic. Stir for 30 seconds, until the oil turns red and smells sharp and garlicky.
1 minStep 5: Return the eggs, add 2 spring onions and toss for 20 seconds, just to coat. Common mistake: salting the eggs heavily; the chillies bring plenty of salt, so taste before adding more.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 3 g
- Fat
- 25 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hunan scrambled eggs with chopped chillies take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 5 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.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Caramelised clay-pot tofu and mushrooms
Kho is the slow braise of the Mekong Delta: food simmered in a little clay pot (nồi đất) with dark caramel and seasoning until the sauce is sticky and the flavours go deep. This vegetarian cousin of cá kho tộ (braised fish) uses golden tofu and meaty mushrooms in place of fish, cooked in coconut water, as cooks do in the south, and finished with plenty of black pepper. Serve it bubbling in its pot with steamed rice and a sour soup or plain boiled vegetables. Chef's tip: take the caramel (nước màu) to a deep mahogany, darker than you think, just before it smokes; pale caramel only tastes sweet, while dark caramel gives the bittersweet, smoky flavour of a real kho.
Spinach with mushrooms
A bright green, savoury puree of potato, mushrooms and fresh spinach cooked in home-made baby stock. Thick and smooth, it's a good way to get iron-rich greens into babies of 8–18 months. Serve warm; spare portions freeze well.
Black bean tacos with lime slaw
Proof that a meat-free taco night can be the best one. The beans are mashed with chipotle and cumin so they hold together in the tortilla, and a quick lime slaw adds crunch.
