I have vivid childhood memories of dyeing Easter Eggs. We always made my family’s traditional Craftsman flower eggs, but I also spent many a spring break waiting impatiently for the eggs to take on a deep color sitting in vats of vinegar with those little Paas tablets. Now that I am the mom, I try to recreate for the Nuni some of my own childhood joys, so I buy dozens of eggs each Easter, ripe for the decorating.
What I am faced with as an adult that I didn’t realize as a carefree kid is that after the fun of the Easter Egg hunt comes a long slong of trying to use dozens of hard boiled eggs. There are only so many plain hard boiled eggs you can eat, though a dash of tabasco helps matters immensely. Likewise, egg salad, although a love of mine, can quickly grow tireseome. Enter deviled eggs.
Deviled eggs are one of those foods that’s never fashionable but always popular. Reveal a plate of deviled eggs at a party and they will invariably be met with enthusiasm, and while everyone helps themselves to one (except for the few, sad egg haters), the talk will turn to recipes, because everyone has a favorite, and it’s usually their mom’s. Some people’s mothers always put curry powder in their deviled eggs, others pickle relish. My own mother was a fan of tarragon, but I myself like the combination of salted capers, parsley, and just a dab of anchovy. These deviled eggs are salty and flavorful and perfect for spring. You don’t even have to wait for the Easter eggs.
The perfect way to boil eggs is to put them in a pot of cold water. Ideally, the eggs will fit perfectly in the pot, without a lot of room to roll around, and the water should cover the eggs. Turn on the burner to high and set the timer for 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, immediately remove the pan of boiling eggs and place them in a bath of cold water to cool.
That’s the perfect way to boil eggs. I’m still working to find the perfect way to peel them so they don’t cling to the membrane and create a pockmarked appearance. I’ve heard the addition of baking soda to the boiling water can help, and you can bet that my Easter eggs were all boiled with a touch of baking soda this year. We haven’t yet tested how that affects the Paas and vinegar.
Planning your Easter menu? The Domestic Front has lots of great recipes. Try this Italian Stuffed Chicken, a Spring Pea Soup, or a Fruit Terrine with Tea Gelee, or this Potato Salad Gribiche. For dessert, our family always has a “bunny cake”, which could take the form of a Carrot Cake or this Springtime Strawberry Orange Cream Cake.
- 6 eggs, boiled for 15 minutes, cooled and peeled
- 3 T mayonnaise
- 2 T salted capers
- 2 T parsley, finely minced
- ½ t. anchovy paste
- 1 T apple cider vinegar
- Cut the eggs in half lengthwise, remove the yolks, and place into a small bowl. Add the mayonnaise, the anchovy paste and the apple cider vinegar, and mash with a fork until the ingredients form a paste. Add the parsley and the capers, stir until combined. Using a small spoon, fill the cavities in the egg white halves with the yolk mixture. Top with parsley sprigs.
These look amazing…deviled eggs, egg salad, I love it all!
Yeah Easter..
Yum! I love deviled eggs. I’ll be giving your “perfect hardboil” method a shot!
I love, love , love deviled eggs! I make mine with mayo, Dijon mustard and curry powder.
On the hardboil method, Mark Bittman suggests poking a teeny hole in the wide end of the egg before boiling with a pin. I do it because Mark Bittman says to. I’m not sure what the point is.
I like the capers touch!
“Older” eggs will peel more easily than “fresher” ones.
I always forget how much I like deviled eggs until I have one and then I wonder why I don’t make them everyday. Growing up Jewish, we never dyed eggs but it’s something I’d like to start with my boys.
This is the second deviled egg recipe I’ve come across today that uses anchovies. I’m one of those who has my own favorite deviled egg recipes (my mom’s….lol) but I can’t wait to try making deviled eggs with anchovies!
Oh man do I ever love deviled eggs – and with capers?! Yes please.
Those eggs look stunning with their brilliant yolks. Nice work.
Any suggestions on substitutions for the anchovy paste to make these vegetarian?
Danielle — you could eliminate it entirely, or add a bit of miso paste.
To ease the peeling og boiled eggs, in the kitchens where I worked, we lightly crack the eggs once they’re cold enough to handle, and then replace them in the cold water (this causes the water to enter and somehow “soften” the membrane under the shell) thus making them a lot easier to “peel”
Very simple yet super effective.