Julia Turshen's Olive Oil-Fried Eggs With Yogurt & Lemon Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Genius Recipes

September27,2017

4

32 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 5 minutes
  • Serves 1, but easily multiplied

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Author Notes

When was the last time you got a brand new egg routine? Not just an experiment, but an egg delivery method that was truly quick, repeatable, and satisfying enough to make it into the rotation (and displace the regulars)?

This is your moment! Memorize this recipe, and it will reshape your morning, or night, or right now. Adapted slightly from Small Victories (Chronicle, 2016). —Genius Recipes

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

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Julia Turshen's Olive Oil-Fried Eggs With Yogurt &Lemon

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) plain yogurt (Greek or not, your choice)
  • 1/2 lemon
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped leafy fresh herbs, such as basil, dill, chervil, chives, and/or parsley
Directions
  1. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt and a big squeeze of juice from the lemon half (don’t discard the lemon half) and whisk together. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and adjust the lemon to taste, too. Scrape the mixture onto a plate and spread and swoop it so the yogurt covers most of the plate.
  2. In a nonstick skillet over medium high heat, warm the olive oil. Crack the eggs into the pan and sprinkle each egg with a bit of salt and pepper. Sprinkle a few drops of water (less than a teaspoon) into the skillet, being sure to let the water hit the bottom of the pan and not the eggs, and immediately, carefully cover the pan with a lid or the bottom of another wide, lightweight pan.
  3. Let the eggs cook until the whites are cooked through but the yolks are still a bit wobbly, just a minute or two. Transfer the eggs to the prepared plate, setting them on top of the yogurt, then pour the remaining olive oil from the pan over the top. Squeeze whatever juice remains in the lemon half and scatter over the herbs. Serve immediately.

Tags:

  • American
  • Lemon
  • Olive Oil
  • Egg
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Summer
  • Father's Day
  • Mother's Day
  • Winter
  • Spring

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Mame Noonan

  • amy

  • Rochelle Winston Davies

  • Rachel Mural

  • Matt Mathews

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

45 Reviews

cosmiccook July 24, 2023

I like the yogurt twist--sometimes eggs aren't enough and we're trying to adhere to Glucose Goddess's recommendation for savory breakfast. I always sprinkle smoked paprika & garlic on our eggs as we love the taste and health benefits of both. I also use Farmers cheese.

Rochelle W. July 24, 2023

Great ideas!! I love to sprinkle garlic and Chipotle powder but since I’m also a fan of smoked paprika, I will definitely give this a try.

cosmiccook July 24, 2023

Paprika is reputed to be heart healthy but we just plain love it (along w garlic), but hey we're from N.O. and we put garlic in just about everything.

Mame N. December 29, 2021

Absolutely delicious. I have added it to my breakfast rotation. I didn't make any changes to the recipe but I do enjoy it with a piece of homemade sourdough toast.

amy December 28, 2021

I'm mad for this recipe and currently have it on repeat. Today I added some turmeric to the oil - tossed on an absurd amount of chopped dill and topped with some pickled red onions - gorgeous to look at and insanely delicious!

Mame N. November 9, 2021

Excellent and easy! I used my well seasoned cast iron pan and brought the eggs and yogurt to room temperature first. Delicious and reminds me of eggs Benedict without the meat.

Rochelle W. December 26, 2020

I absolutely love making this; it has become a favorite of mine and on a real lazy evening when I just don’t want to do much in the kitchen, this has been known to be my dinner. Great idea and what a good use of the myriad of Meyer lemons I get every year from my tree.

Rachel M. June 24, 2020

I made this for breakfast this morning. I used fresh thyme and parsley, and the only change I would make would be too add more of the herbs, because they really complemented the tangy yogurt. Wonderful with some good bread to dredge the yogurt/yolk at the end. Delicious! Definitely will be making it again :)

Rachel M. June 24, 2020

Also - it may be worth noting after reading some comments - I think the kind of yogurt you use really matters here, despite what the recipe says. I used some better quality, thick Greek yogurt and it was perfect

LM May 28, 2020

Wow, this was good. The eggs, olive oil and yogurt make for a delicious, silky combination. I snipped basil and chive blossoms over it, and it was as beautiful as it was tasty.

CSM March 1, 2020

I just made this for breakfast and it was yummy! This is a keeper for a special quick and easy brunch. Thank you Food 52

Matt M. February 27, 2020

And here I thought I discovered steam basting. Oh, well. It's a good technique.

Alura728 September 16, 2019

Our taste buds were screaming Yum!

jbfalise January 12, 2019

Made this for breakfast with my daughter: very light, refreshing and tasty. A welcome change from the everyday. ❤️

Karen October 17, 2018

All those thoughts that scream “eggs and yogurt don’t go together”?? Listen. To. Them. I love yogurt and I love eggs, but never together again.

kathleen September 26, 2018

I didn't understand what the excitement was about. Good, but not the 4th of July.

Natalia S. July 6, 2018

I’m very excited about this recipe, as all the ingredients listed are a big favourites of mine. But, am I missing something? It says the prep time is 10 hours. Please help! Is that just a simple mistake, or I missed something in the description?

Kristen M. July 6, 2018

Hi Natalia, that was definitely wrong—this couldn't be quicker to make. I've fixed it!

Bob Q. January 24, 2019

It includes the time allowance for chicken laying the egg! LOL!

Rita V. June 25, 2018

First time I made this... my knees went weak. Good for breakfast. Lunch. Or dinner...

Kathryn R. May 23, 2018

Absolutely terrific..I tried this and served it to my younger son and he said it was 'state of the art' as far as egg dishes go!!The whole dish topped with chives,parley,basil(from my garden)was so delish!! I had a peach/mango type of yogurt so next time I shall buy for the occasion just plain!! Thank you so for this interesting and nourishing recipe..WE are truly fans!!! They(the egg dish) began our day so nicely!!!

Noor S. February 1, 2018

Must say that I started out very skeptical about this combination and the recipe because of how simple it was. So pleasantly surprised! It's delicious and very satisfying without being heavy. I added some arugula. Will be repeating this for sure!

Rita V. June 25, 2018

OMG, same here. I was SUPER skeptical... Now that all my herbs are up and out, going for it again. It is such a transformative dish!

W J. January 22, 2018

Here is another tip on serving eggs for breakfast including this dish. Make your toast, if serving it, first thing. Then put your serving plate(s) with the toast on top of the toaster, pushing the empty toaster to start another cycle if necessary. This will warm the plate(s) and keep the toast...well, toasty, while you complete your other preparations.

If I have more than one plate for service, I try to swap the top and bottom (empty) plates occasionally. Be careful for the plates can get too warm to touch, and you do not want to burn yourself or to drop hot plates. Use a pot rag, a napkin, or dishtowel for safety when handling and filling the warmed plates for service.

Also, I add dill, fresh if I have it, to this dish for something a little different.

Caryl January 22, 2018

I loved it! I agree that it tasted like a hollandaise sauce. I used "OUI" French style yogurt by Yoplait and it was less tart then other plain yogurts I've tried.
Served it with a sprinkle of parsley, Feta slices and, blackberries . Dinner next time, maybe over angel hair pasta?

Beth C. March 20, 2019

I had it with leftover Lebanese style brown rice pilaf. Delicious!

Celia A. December 21, 2017

just made this. It was wonderful! The lemon and the yogurt make a great foil to the eggs and olive oil!

Julia Turshen's Olive Oil-Fried Eggs With Yogurt & Lemon Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Is it bad to fry eggs with olive oil? ›

Yes, you can cook eggs with olive oil. It adds flavor and makes them taste even better. Cooking eggs with olive oil is healthy because it contains good fats that can help lower bad cholesterol levels and boost good ones. Olive oil has a high smoke point of up to 410°F (210°C) and remains stable when heated for frying.

Is cooking eggs with olive oil healthier than butter? ›

If you add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil to the pan, you may also be adding some extra health benefits to your eggs. Both of these oils are considered “healthy fats” which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive oil is also considered an antioxidant that may help fight inflammation.

Does olive oil work as a butter substitute when making over easy eggs? ›

Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.

What is the best olive oil for cooking eggs? ›

The Olive Oil Source details exactly what kinds of benefits different olive oils have. Extra virgin seems to be the best for fried eggs because it has the highest smoke point.

Why you should not heat olive oil? ›

When you heat olive oil to its smoke point, useful compounds such as polyphenols get transformed into potentially harmful compounds. While olive oil may not be an ideal cooking oil for frying at high temperatures, it can still be used for cooking at lower temperatures so that the nutrient content is preserved.

Which oil is best for frying eggs? ›

Fried eggs

Usually fried in sunflower or rapeseed oil, you can also use bacon fat left in the pan or a knob of butter. If you're adding a fried egg to a salad or grains how about using some olive oil? Eating curry or dhal? You might enjoy frying your eggs in coconut oil for a lighter flavour.

What is the healthiest way to eat eggs for weight loss? ›

Opt for methods such as poaching, boiling, baking, and scrambling to best retain the nutritional value of eggs without adding unnecessary fat or sodium. These methods also help reduce the risk of forming harmful compounds, like cholesterol oxidation products, during the cooking process.

Are scrambled eggs healthier than fried eggs? ›

Preparing eggs whole or scrambled leads to different absorption of the oil of fat used as frying medium. There is no changes in lipid profile after frying eggs whole or scrambled.

What is the healthiest oil to cook with? ›

The healthiest oil to cook with is olive oil. It's versatile, being used in everything from frying to finishing. It's also rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, and polyphenols, all of which have shown protective effects against cancer and liver, heart, and neurodegenerative diseases (27, 28).

How many eggs per person for scrambled eggs? ›

Whisk your eggs with the salt until they're well-mixed and uniform. Count on about two eggs per person, so this scrambled egg recipe (which calls for six eggs) serves about three people. Warm butter in a skillet set to medium-low heat. Once it's juuuuust beginning to bubble, pour the eggs in.

What are three foods you can add to scrambled eggs? ›

11 things to add to eggs
  1. A teaspoon of chopped, fresh stronger herbs like oregano, tarragon, or thyme.
  2. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh milder herbs like parsley, chives, chervil, basil, or mint.
  3. Tabasco, Worcestershire, or other prepared sauce, to taste.
  4. A quarter cup grated or crumbled cheddar, goat, or other melting cheese.
Mar 23, 2020

What is the healthiest way to cook eggs? ›

Overall, shorter and lower-heat cooking methods cause less cholesterol oxidation and help retain most of the egg's nutrients. For this reason, poached and boiled (either hard or soft) eggs may be the healthiest to eat. These cooking methods also don't add any unnecessary calories.

Is an egg fried in olive oil healthy? ›

Cooking eggs with olive oil is considered to be a healthier opinion when compared with butter (via Live Strong). The Olive Oil Source details exactly what kinds of benefits different olive oils have. Extra virgin seems to be the best for fried eggs because it has the highest smoke point.

Should you fry eggs with extra virgin olive oil? ›

The short answer is: Yes you can! This is a debated subject, and I want you to use whatever healthy oil you feel comfortable using for your fried eggs. When frying an egg in quality extra virgin olive oil, you'll use shallow amounts of the oil, over medium heat, for about 2 minutes or so.

Is it bad to fry in olive oil? ›

First, extra virgin olive oil is one of the “most stable oils you can buy”. That means even when heated to high temperatures, the oil does not degrade. More and more studies show that olive oils are the most balanced, safe, and healthy fat for both pan-frying and deep-frying.

Can you reuse olive oil after frying eggs? ›

The answer is yes, you can reuse olive oil. Researchers conducted a study where food was fried in olive oil and found that olive oil was stable even when reused 10 times. They concluded that for frying foods, olive oil maintains quality and nutrition better than seed oils.

References

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