Orsini Eggs, otherwise known as Cloud Eggs, is a fun, trendy brunch dish that’s as beautiful as they are delicious. Pillowy, Parmesan scented meringue clouds that cradle a rich, perfectly soft-cooked, baked yolk is the exact thing you didn’t realize you were craving. Now.
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The famous French Impressionist, Claude Monet, kept a diary of recipes that he loved to use when entertaining at his home in Giverny. He preferred rustic recipes using simple ingredients.
The recipe for Orsini Eggs was found in that diary and then shared with the world in the Monet Cookbook: Recipes From Giverny. It is said that Monet created the dish for a guest by the name of Count Orsini. Obviously, the Count loved the dish and the rest is culinary history.
WHAT ARE EGGS ORSINI OR CLOUD EGGS
This trendy brunch dish was an internet sensation about a year ago. You couldn’t scroll through Instagram or Pinterest without seeing several photos and recipes for it. All with good reason. It’s a pretty dish. And tasty. And pretty easy.
Basically, you separate eggs. Then whip up the whites until they form stiff peaks. How do you tell if they are at stiff peak stage? Turn your bowl upside down. If the egg whites stay in the bowl, you are at stiff peaks. A safer way to tell is to pull your whisk up and out of the eggs. If a pretty “peak” forms, you got it.
Then you make pretty little clouds of egg white on a baking dish and make a little nest in the center.
Next, you bake the clouds part way and then slide in the egg yolks and bake again.
Garnish and enjoy. See? Easy as can be.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS TRENDY BRUNCH DISH
- Use very fresh eggs that are straight out of the refrigerator. Cold eggs separate easier.
- Be sure that you don’t have even a speck of yolk in the egg whites. If you do, they won’t whip up.
- Use the biggest whisk that you have to whip up the egg whites and make sure that your bowl is very clean metal or glass. Stay away from plastic. There could be a very thin film of oil on plastic that will prevent your whites from whipping up.
- Play around with the cheese that you use. Finely grated cheddar, gruyere, Emmenthaler would all be delicious.
- Also, add minced herbs like chervil, parsley, chives or minced meats, like ham or cooked sausage.
EQUIPMENT USED:
- Checkered Chef Half Sheet Aluminum Rimmed Baking Sheets (set of 2) – I own 6 of these and love them.
- AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mat Sheet, Set of 2 – Why pay for the fancy French name? These are amazing…and inexpensive.
- 12 Inch. Diameter Solid Copper Beating Bowl, 5 Quart
- Best Manufacturers Balloon Whip 14-inch
Need some eggy inspiration? Here are a few more delicious brunch recipes.
- Eggs In Purgatory
- Vegetarian Migas Tacos
- Zucchini And Red Pepper Frittata
- Broccoli and Cheese Egg Muffins
- French Style Scrambled Eggs
- Classic Eggs Benedict
- Crispy, Creamy Egg Boats
ORSINI EGGS (aka Cloud Eggs)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2
Description
This trendy brunch dish is an easy, impressive and delicious treat. Fluffy, Parmesan scented clouds of egg whites cradle a rich, sunny yellow, baked yolk. Serve it on an English muffin or slice of toast.
Ingredients
2 eggs
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat.
Gently separate the eggs. Place the egg whites in a glass or metal bowl. Add the egg yolks to a small shallow bowl.
Use a very large wire whisk to beat the egg whites to a stiff peak. Add a small pinch of salt and whisk to combine. The egg whites should be firm enough to withstand the weight of a teaspoon without sinking into it.
Gently fold in the grated cheese, taking care to not over mix and deflate the egg whites.
Use a large spoon to create two mounds of egg whites on the prepared baking sheet. Use the back of the spoon to create an indentation in the center of the mound.
Bake in the preheated oven for 3 minutes.
Open the oven and gently slide one egg yolk into each of the indentations. Return the baking sheet to the oven and continue baking for another 3 minutes.
The clouds are ‘done’ when the tops are crispy and lightly golden and the yolks are just set.
Garnish as desired and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: French
Keywords: Orsini eggs, cloud eggs, trendy brunch dish, egg recipes, baked eggs, breakfast, brunch recipes, brunch
