Tips for Seasoning Eggs
Posted on: September 13th 2021
Eggs are a beloved kitchen staple because they are quick, cost-effective and easy to make, while still offering great taste and nutritional value. From basic scrambled eggs to a fluffy omelet, eggs are the core ingredient of many iconic breakfast dishes. Along with breakfast, eggs can be the star of a delicious dinner, such as egg-and-veggie quesadillas or a fried egg flatbread.
So how can you sneak more eggs into your diet while keeping your meals fresh and exciting? Seasoning is the secret to regularly enjoying eggs without ever getting bored. When you sprinkle in the perfect mix of spices, you can even make plain old scrambled eggs pop.
Whether you’re searching for how to season scrambled eggs, a good seasoning for omelets, or the secret to a flavorful quiche, this article is for you. We’ll walk you through the top ways to dress up eggs, so you can start cooking like a pro chef. Once you’ve mastered these essential spices and strategies, you can craft all kinds of egg-based culinary masterpieces.
The Best Seasonings for Eggs
If you’ve grown tired of plain eggs, but still crave the convenience of a quick frittata or scrambled eggs in the morning, you need some innovative ingredients to spice up your scramble. With the right seasonings and herbs, you can have an efficient and delicious egg breakfast in the blink of an eye.
Below is a brief list of seasonings that can save you cooking time while making your old omelet recipe taste brand-new.
Salt and Pepper
Salt and pepper is a classic seasoning combo for a reason — this dynamic duo gives eggs a subtle flavor boost that won’t overwhelm your senses at the crack of dawn. These kitchen essentials are crucial for giving eggs any flavor at all. Specifically, salt suppresses bitter tastes to help bring out the eggs’ natural taste, while pepper adds a pop of outside spice.
You can switch up your eggs’ flavor by using different types of pepper. While black and white pepper come from the same plant, they have slightly different tastes. Traditional black pepper uses the black pepper berry with intact skin before it has fully ripened, which gives it a piney, hotter taste. On the other hand, white pepper uses the ripened pepper berry without its skin, producing a simpler, earthier flavor that is less hot, but more aromatic.
You can use either type of pepper in your eggs depending on your flavor preferences and what you want your eggs to look like. For an extra punch of flavor, consider using seasoned salt, which will give your eggs a more layered flavor profile.
Garlic
Minced garlic has an intense flavor that will surely liven up your egg dish. Garlic is a base ingredient that can give other spices and herbs an extra zing of flavor. If you don’t want the hassle of peeling and mincing fresh garlic, you can still give your eggs a distinct garlicky taste by sprinkling in some garlic powder.
Try roasting the garlic to mellow out its bold flavor while giving it a nuttier, smokier taste. Roasted garlic also has a creamy texture that makes it spreadable. Put roasted garlic directly on your eggs or use it as a condiment on toast to create a savory breakfast sandwich.
Onion
Like garlic, onion is a kitchen staple many home cooks use to season their favorite recipes. Minced or chopped onions can provide an intense burst of fresh flavor to your eggs. If you’re running short on time, adding a dash of onion powder to your eggs will give them a similar kick with no chopping required.
While raw onions can add a refreshing crunch to an egg dish, cooking them in a skillet for a bit will soften them up and give them a smoother texture. To give your onions a sweeter taste, carmelize them in the frying pan before cooking your eggs. Incorporating caramelized onions into your eggs will give the dish a more sophisticated flavor profile overall.
Chives
If you’re looking for a subtler oniony flavor, chives will give your eggs a hint of onion notes that are just robust enough to stand out. Chives are a classic scrambled eggs seasoning because their fresh, savory taste perfectly complements the eggs’ relatively bland flavor. As a bonus, chives lend a fun visual component to your meal by adding bright flecks of green to the sunshine yellow background of scrambled eggs.
Dill
Like chives, dill brings a subtle flavor to scrambled eggs, which makes it one of the best seasonings for the dish. Tossing some dill in your morning egg scramble is perfect if you enjoy your breakfast with a tall glass of orange juice, because dill has a slightly sweet flavor with citrus elements.
On its own, dill will give your scrambled eggs a light herbal quality, but dill also works well with other seasonings by underscoring their brightness. Using fresh fronds of dill as a garnish will also give your dish an attractive contrast of green with the colors of scrambled eggs.
Parsley
Another bright green herb, parsley is a fun seasoning to sprinkle on your eggs because it contributes flavor and color. With its slightly bitter nature, parsley can perfectly balance the richer tastes of many savory egg dishes. You can fold parsley into your egg dish or use it as a garnish after removing the eggs from the pan.
If you enjoy the pop of flavor parsley gives dishes, try using gremolata the next time you make eggs. Gremolata is a classic Mediterranean condiment composed of parsley, lemon zest, and chopped garlic. Putting a bit of gremolata on your eggs will give them a bright and tangy flavor while adding a touch of citrus.
Hot Sauce
If you enjoy spicy foods, kick-start your day by adding hot sauce to your eggs. Drizzling some hot sauce onto your eggs will give the dish some heat and a bit of acidity, which works nicely against the mild background of scrambled eggs. Most notably, sriracha is a spicy chili sauce that will give your eggs an exceptional zip of flavor.
You can use hot sauce for seasoning eggs before cooking, during the cooking process, or after you’ve plated the dish. If you choose to mix in the hot sauce while the eggs are cooking, much of the hot sauce’s moisture will evaporate, so the scrambled eggs won’t be wet.
Cayenne Pepper
If you want to spice up your eggs without the moisture that comes with using hot sauce, try adding a dash of cayenne pepper to your breakfast. Using cayenne pepper powder will give your eggs a more intense heat than hot sauce without adding the acidity or liquid that most hot sauces do.
Want to add some punch to your eggs but aren’t quite sure you’re ready for cayenne pepper? Chili powder is a great seasoning to start with if you’re newer to spicing up your eggs. Crushed red pepper flakes are another solid seasoning alternative for getting your early-morning dose of chili powder.
Wasabi
For a less conventional way of bringing some spice to your scrambled eggs, try using wasabi instead of chili peppers or hot sauce. Wasabi is a strong enough seasoning to give your eggs some hard-hitting heat, but the fiery flavor won’t linger on your taste buds as much. Because the source of wasabi’s heat is water-soluble, the spice fades quickly. This quality makes wasabi the perfect scrambled eggs spice to perk you up in the morning without knocking you out.
Curry Powder
Adding a pinch of curry powder to your eggs will give them a rich flavor and vibrant color. As a unique blend of savory and sweet spices, curry powder will simultaneously give your egg dish earthiness and a bright, peppy quality, setting its taste apart from any other breakfast experience. Get adventurous and sprinkle some curry powder into your scrambled eggs to create a complex flavor profile.
Thyme
Cooks often use thyme to add flavor to a dish without being overpowering. Seasoning your eggs with a sprig or two of thyme will give them a sweeter, more pleasant taste. Fresh thyme will pack a bit more of a punch than dried thyme, but the fresh herb’s flavor is still mild overall.
Due to its subtle flavor, thyme plays well with stronger herbs like rosemary or tarragon. If you’re using thyme for seasoning your eggs, consider tossing in a few more herbs to create a tasty mix of flavors.
Cumin
Cumin is a semi-hot spice that will add a powerful burst of flavor to your egg dish without making your mouth burn. The understated, warm, and earthy spice of cumin makes it the perfect seasoning for adding depth to your scrambled eggs. Cumin will make your eggs taste richer and heartier, while giving them a refreshing edge of citrus.
You might be familiar with cumin as one of the most prominent flavors in taco seasoning and many Tex-Mex foods. Its subtle, unexpected spice makes it excellent for Mexican-style egg dishes. By stirring some cumin into your eggs and topping them with salsa, you can whip up a delicious Mexican breakfast like huevos rancheros.
Za’atar
Get creative in the kitchen by using za’atar to season your scrambled eggs. Za’atar is an herbaceous mixture of spices commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking. This tasty spice blend has a lovely woodsy flavor with a slight tang, making it the perfect ingredient to round out the richer flavor of most egg dishes. You can beat za’atar into a frittata or omelet, or sprinkle it onto your scrambled or fried eggs as you would with salt and pepper.
Garam Masala
Another bold blend of spices, garam masala is a mixture of Indian spices that usually includes turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. These warm spices work together to create a delightfully deep and earthy flavor that does not pack a harsh heat but still has an intensity that will captivate your taste buds. If you decide to add garam masala to your eggs, consider topping them with chutney to complete the dish.
Oregano
Transport yourself to the Italian countryside each morning by sprinkling your breakfast eggs with a handful of oregano. This pungent, peppery herb has a sharp taste that will wake your taste buds up and give your eggs some extra flavor. Along with tasting delicious, oregano will also make your kitchen smell divine.
Basil
Basil is a sophisticated aromatic herb that adds a touch of savory and sweetness to any dish. The tones of black pepper in basil make it a bolder herb, while its sweet finish lightens it up. You can mix dried basil into your eggs before cooking them or place a fresh piece of basil on top of the finished dish as a garnish.
Basil is also the main ingredient in pesto, which goes wonderfully with eggs. Pesto is a rich spread made from ground herbs and nuts blended with olive oil. Using basil in an omelet or as an egg sandwich condiment will produce a decadent meal.
Paprika
You may be most familiar with paprika as the spice used to top deviled eggs. However, a dash of paprika can spruce up nearly any egg-based dish. Though it is not an overly distinctive spice, it will lend your eggs a sweet pepper flavor without any heat. You can’t get that from any other seasoning.
For even more flavor boost, use smoked paprika. Smoked paprika offers a bit more of a punch than regular paprika, making the spice stand out in the eggs.
7 Tips for Seasoning Eggs
Now that you know some of the essential seasonings and spices for eggs, all you have left to learn is how to use them effectively. Here are our top seven tips for how to season any egg dish.
1. Mix and Match Seasonings
When making your eggs, try combining some of the seasonings listed above that complement each other’s flavors. By experimenting with different blends, you can add many more layers of flavor to your eggs.
Here are some essential spice combos to ensure you use seasonings that work well together.
- French: For a refreshing French-style egg dish, stir in some thyme, rosemary and marjoram while cooking your scramble. Wrap the eggs in crepes to stick with the French theme.
- Mexican: Mexican-style eggs will include seasonings like garlic, cumin, paprika, and chili powder. Serve the scramble in warm tortillas with a side of salsa or guacamole to complete the dish.
- Italian: Use oregano, basil, thyme, and parsley to make an Italian-style egg scramble. Eat the eggs with toasted Italian bread or place them on top of a breakfast pizza.
- Indian: An East Indian-style scramble will include a curry powder blend, such as turmeric, cloves, coriander, cardamom, and even ginger. Turn the eggs into a breakfast sandwich by tucking them between two pieces of naan or serve the scramble alongside rice.
2. Gradually Season Your Eggs
In general, you can season your eggs to taste, which means sprinkling in as many spices and herbs as your taste buds prefer. Because there are no strict rules about how much seasonings to put on your eggs, start slowly with only a pinch of whichever spice you choose and add more as needed. Be aware that some flavors are potent, so you don’t want to start with a heaping tablespoon of anything.
3. Wait to Season Scrambled Eggs
When seasoning scrambled eggs, patience is crucial. Instead of immediately seasoning your eggs with salt and pepper while they are still raw, wait to sprinkle on seasonings until the end of the cooking process. Seasoning eggs before cooking gives the salt too much time to break the eggs down and turn them into a watery mess. Mixing in seasonings once the eggs have mostly cooked will preserve their fluffy texture.
4. Use Fresh Herbs to Season an Omelet
While it’s easy to get away with using dried herbs when making scrambled eggs, you will want to use fresh herbs for making an omelet whenever possible. Tucking a pinch of fresh herbs into an omelet will complement the delightful tastes of its other ingredients, while using fresh herbs as a garnish will give the omelet its finishing flavor boost.
5. Use Nutmeg to Season a Quiche
A dash of nutmeg is essential for a good quiche. Cooks commonly add a pinch of nutmeg to creamy recipes to cut the dairy with a bit of subtle heat. Because quiche includes many heavy dairy ingredients such as eggs, cream, and cheese, a little nutmeg can balance its more savory components.
Keep in mind that nutmeg is a strong spice, so a light dusting should be enough to properly season the quiche.
6. Make the Most of Condiments
Condiments are one of the quickest and easiest ways to add a pop of flavor to regular scrambled eggs. From hot sauce and pesto to kimchi and ketchup, a wide range of condiments can spruce up your eggs. Try to pick a condiment that matches your meal, such as salsa for a Mexican scramble or gremolata for an Italian omelet.
If you are going to cook eggs with a condiment, make sure you stir in the condiment at the very end of the process so the sauce can make the eggs creamier while simultaneously cooling them down, which will prevent them from overcooking. In this way, condiments can enhance your eggs’ flavor and texture.
7. Add a Variety of Ingredients
Along with spices and condiments, other ingredients can elevate the flavors of an egg dish. For example, you can make your eggs saltier by including a cured meat like prosciutto instead of reaching for the salt shaker. A spicy cheese like pepper jack is another effective strategy for adding a bit of heat to your eggs without directly using any more seasonings.
By incorporating a mix of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and herbs into your egg dish, you can create a more complex and flavorful culinary experience. Seasoning your ingredients before cooking them, such as pre-salting raw tomatoes or marinating the meat, will make the finished product even more delicious.
Use Sauder’s Eggs With Your Seasonings
If you’re ready to start experimenting with different seasonings and spice blends, stock up on fresh, quality eggs from Sauder’s Eggs. When you purchase from our brand, you can be confident that you’re getting top-quality eggs from reliable sources. We partner with different farms to help farmers sell and market their eggs to a broader audience — delivering farm-fresh eggs from one family to another.
When you use our online store locator, getting farm-fresh eggs is as simple as a trip to your local grocery store.
