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Eggs with basterma
Fried eggs with cured beef
Cairo-style fried eggs over spiced cured beef in ghee
Beid bil basterma is a Cairo breakfast and late-night supper, made in homes and served at the old ful-and-falafel cafés downtown, always brought to the table in the small pan it was cooked in with baladi bread for scooping. Basterma is air-dried beef cured under a thick coat of fenugreek, garlic, cumin and paprika; a few thin slices are warmed in ghee until they curl and release their spice, then eggs are cracked over the top. The common mistake is frying the basterma too hot or too long: it is already cured and only needs warming, and it turns hard and bitter if it crisps. Chef's tip: leave some of the spiced crust on the slices; it melts into the ghee and seasons the eggs. For pregnant people, young children, older or vulnerable people, cook the yolks until firm.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ghee or butter
- 2 ⅞ oz basterma (spiced cured beef)thinly sliced
- 4 eggslarge
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 1 pinch ground cumin (optional)
To serve
- 1 tomato (optional)sliced
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Melt 1 tbsp ghee or butter in a small frying pan over a medium-low heat. Lay in 2 ⅞ oz basterma (spiced cured beef) in a single layer and warm it for about 1 minute a side, until the edges just start to curl and the ghee turns orange from the spices. Don't let it crisp.
2 minStep 2: Crack 4 eggs over the basterma, spacing them out. Cover the pan with a lid.
1 minStep 3: Cook over a low heat until the whites are completely set and the yolks are as you like them: about 3 minutes for soft, 5 minutes for firm.
5 minStep 4: Season with 1 pinch ground black pepper and 1 pinch ground cumin (the basterma is salty, so taste before adding salt). Serve in the pan with 1 tomato and warm baladi bread for scooping (use gluten-free bread if needed).
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 25 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does eggs with basterma take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 8 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 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 eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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