Pesto Eggs

Start your day with a burst of flavors with these Pesto Eggs that are a viral TikTok breakfast recipe! Discover the irresistible combination of homemade pesto, creamy avocado toast, and perfectly fried eggs in this high protein breakfast that you have to add to your rotation!

Updated July 2023

Pesto Eggs: Elevate Your Breakfast Game with this Flavorful Delight

If you’re tired of the same old breakfast routine and craving something fresh and exciting to start your day, look no further! Pesto Eggs will undoubtedly become your new morning favorite! This mouthwatering and delectable dish combines the rich flavors of homemade pesto with a perfectly fried egg on a bed of creamy avocado toast. It’s a delightful explosion of tastes and textures that will leave your taste buds begging for more. Plus, it’s easy to make and customizable to suit your preferences.

Recipe Ingredients

Homemade pesto (you can also use your favorite premade pesto brand):

• Fresh Basil Leaves: The key to any good pesto is fresh basil. Its aromatic and peppery notes add a burst of herbal flavor to the sauce.
• Garlic: Garlic not only enhances the taste but also adds depth to the pesto, making it a more complex and irresistible condiment.
• Sunflower Seeds: These seeds provide a nutty taste and creamy texture to the pesto, serving as a fantastic alternative to traditional pine nuts.
• Lemon Juice: The acidic tang of lemon juice brightens the pesto and balances its richness, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.
• Nutritional Yeast (or Parmesan): For a vegan twist, we use nutritional yeast to impart a cheesy taste to the pesto. If you’re not vegan, feel free to use grated Parmesan instead.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: A good-quality olive oil is crucial for a luscious and smooth pesto texture.
• Sea Salt or Kosher Salt: To bring out all the flavors in the pesto, a pinch of salt is added. Adjust according to your taste preferences.
• Ground Black Pepper: Just a dash of black pepper adds a subtle kick to the pesto.
• Filtered Water: Only as needed to achieve your desired consistency. Add a teaspoon at a time, if necessary.

Fried Eggs:

• Large Egg: For the star of the dish, the fried egg. Make sure to use fresh, high-quality eggs for the best taste.
• Red Pepper Chili Flakes: These add a gentle heat that complements the richness of the egg and pesto.

Optional Toast

• Toast: A slice of rustic gluten-free sourdough or your preferred crusty loaf acts as a base for the delightful toppings.
• Avocado Oil or Olive Oil: To drizzle on the toast before toasting, providing a golden and crunchy finish.
• Dairy-Free or Regular Cream Cheese: Spread on the toast for a creamy and tangy layer that perfectly complements the pesto and egg.
• Arugula Leaves or Baby Spinach: Add a fresh, vibrant element to the toast.
• Avocado: Sliced and beautifully arranged on top, this creamy fruit enhances the overall texture and taste of the dish.

Make the vegan pesto (skip this step if using a premade pesto):

• Make the pesto: To a food processor or a small blender, add the basil, sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, salt and black pepper. Process / blend on high until combined and the mixture resembles a paste. Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the food processor until a thick pourable sauce forms, or until desired consistency is reached, scraping down the sides, as needed. If the pesto is still too thick to your liking, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time, only as needed, until desired consistency is reached. Pulse a few times to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more seasonings. Transfer to a small / medium resealable glass jar. Chill until ready to use.

Fry the eggs

• Add pesto: Spoon in 1 ½ – 2 tablespoons of the pesto (or more as needed) into the same nonstick pan over medium heat and tilt the pan to spread them around.
• Crack in egg: Gently crack the egg into the pesto and season with salt and black pepper. Fry the egg until the edges are golden and the whites are puffy and bubbly, about 3-4 minutes or to your liking. Tilt the pan on an angle while cooking as needed to ensure that the whites are fully cooked while leaving the yolk intact and nice and golden.
  
• Cook: Fry the egg until the edges are golden and the whites are puffy and bubbly, about 3-4 minutes or to your liking. Tilt the pan on an angle while cooking as needed to ensure that the whites are fully cooked while leaving the yolk intact and nice and golden.
  
• Serve: Remove the pan from heat and use a spatula to carefully remove the egg from the pan (while ensuring that the yolk doesn’t break) and place it on a plate or serve on top of the avocado toast.
  

Assemble the optional toast

1. Toast bread: Lightly drizzle some avocado oil on the bread. Toast in a nonstick skillet on low / low medium until golden and crunchy (or to your desired doneness) on both sides.
2. Add toppings: Remove from the pan and spread with a little bit of cream cheese. Add arugula then top with avocado slices evenly on top, fanning it out to cover the spinach.
3. Serve: Top with egg and sprinkle with a touch of the red pepper chili flakes. Cut in half, breaking the yolk and enjoy.
   

Tips for Success:

1. Fresh Ingredients Matter: For the most flavorful pesto, use fresh basil and high-quality olive oil.
2. Pesto Consistency: Adjust the amount of olive oil and water to achieve your desired pesto thickness.
3. Egg Frying Technique: Fry the egg over medium heat, tilting the pan to ensure even cooking without breaking the yolk.

Storage and Freezer Instructions:

• If you have any leftover pesto, store it in a resealable glass jar in the refrigerator. It should last for up to a week.
• Unfortunately, pesto does not freeze well due to its high oil content, so it’s best to enjoy it fresh.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve your Pesto Eggs over the optional toast for a satisfying breakfast or brunch.
• If you’re feeling adventurous, try them on a bed of mixed greens or as a filling for a breakfast sandwich.

Variations and Substitutions:

• Get creative with the pesto by adding ingredients like pine nuts, walnuts, or even kale for a unique twist.
• Swap out the avocado toast for regular toast, a bagel, or even a breakfast tortilla wrap.
• Experiment with different cheeses like feta or goat cheese if you’re not a fan of cream cheese.

Make Your Morning Extra Special with Pesto Eggs!

Pesto Eggs are a delightful way to start your day with a burst of flavors and nutritious ingredients. This easy-to-make recipe allows for customization to suit your taste preferences, making it a perfect go-to breakfast or brunch option. Whether you’re a pesto enthusiast or looking to try something new, these Pesto Eggs are guaranteed to become a breakfast favorite that you’ll want to savor again and again.

So, why wait? Gather your ingredients, fire up the stovetop, and let the magic of Pesto Eggs elevate your breakfast game to a whole new level.

More easy egg recipes you will love:

Egg Muffins

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

Healthy Egg Salad

5 from 1 vote

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Pesto Eggs

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

Start your day with a burst of flavors with these Pesto Eggs that are a viral TikTok breakfast recipe! Discover the irresistible combination of homemade pesto, creamy avocado toast, and perfectly fried eggs in this high protein breakfast that you have to add to your rotation!

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: avocado and egg toast, egg toast, fried egg, healthy egg breakfast, pesto eggs, pesto fried egg

Servings: 1 serving

Author: Kelly

Ingredients

For the homemade pesto (or use your favorite premade pesto brand)

• 1 1/2 cups of fresh basil leaves about 2 small bundles
• 2 garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast can sub with 3 tbsp grated vegan or regular parmesan, plus more as needed
• ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more as needed
• Sea salt or kosher salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste
• Filtered water only as needed to thin out to desired consistency

For the fried eggs

• 1 large egg
• Kosher or fine grain sea salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Red pepper chili flakes

Optional toast for serving

• Drizzle of avocado oil or olive oil
• 1 slice of rustic gluten-free Sourdough , (or crusty rustic loaf of choice).
• dairy-free (or regular) cream cheese , we like Kite-Hill
• A small handful of arugula leaves or baby spinach
• ½ small avocado , sliced

Instructions

For the homemade pesto (skip this step if using premade pesto):

1. To a food processor or a small blender, add the basil, sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, salt and black pepper. Process / blend on high until combined and the mixture resembles a paste. Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the food processor until a thick pourable sauce forms, or until desired consistency is reached, scraping down the sides, as needed. If the pesto is still too thick to your liking, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time, only as needed, until desired consistency is reached. Pulse a few times to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more seasonings. Transfer to a small / medium resealable glass jar. Chill until ready to use.

For the fried egg

1. Spoon in 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons of the pesto (or more as needed) into a nonstick pan over medium heat and tilt the pan to spread them around.

   Gently crack the egg into the pesto and season with salt and black pepper. Fry the egg until the edges are golden and the whites are puffy and bubbly, about 3-4 minutes or to your liking. Tilt the pan on an angle while cooking as needed to ensure that the whites are fully cooked while leaving the yolk intact and nice and golden.

2. Remove the pan from heat and use a spatula to carefully remove the egg from the pan (while ensuring that the yolk doesn’t break) and place it on plate or over the top of the avocado toast below.

For the optional toast

1. Lightly drizzle some avocado oil on the bread. Toast in a nonstick skillet on low / low medium until golden and crunchy (or to your desired doneness) on both sides.
2. Remove from the pan and spread with a little bit of cream cheese. Add arugula then top with avocado slices evenly on top, fanning it out to cover the spinach.

3. Top with pesto fried egg. Sprinkle the egg with a touch of the red pepper chili flakes. Cut in half, breaking the yolk and enjoy.

Disclaimer: This updated post was generated on July 30, 2023 by ChatGPT, an AI language model, and all info should be reviewed and validated by a human for accuracy and relevancy before implementation.