Recipe: ‘Nduja Beans and Crispy Fried Egg
Spicy, umami, Italian beans and a perfect crispy fried egg
‘Nduja Beans and Crispy Fried Eggs add a little kick to a normal breakfast or brunch plate by teasing a slight hit of chilli to the Italian flavours of tomato and parmesan.
What is ‘Nduja?
‘Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the region of Calabria in Southern Italy. Commonly spread on bread or mixed into pasta sauces. It comes in a sausage form or as a jarred paste.
What are ‘Nduja Beans
Making these beans is a fairly simple cooking technique speeded up by using passata rather than tinned tomatoes to reduce cooking time. Italian borlotti beans are one of the tastiest tinned Italian available and their creamy texture and subtle taste absorb and complement the spicy sauce very well.
Mustard Parmesan Croutons
A garnish worth the extra effort, these tiny morsels of salty parmesan crunchiness add the perfect layer of texture without loading your stomach full of carbs. Each mouthful you catch a crouton in adds a satisfying crunch and hit of mustard and cheese, finishing the dish off with perfect balance.
Spinach, Kale or Swiss Chard
The satisfying earthiness of spinach elevates the beans and eggs into a complete dish. However, feel free to replace the spinach with kale or swiss chard for an equally satisfying green boost.
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Nduja Beans and Crispy Fried Egg
Ingredients
‘Nduja Beans
- 1 onion diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tin borlotti beans drained
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes
- 3 heaped tbsp of jarred ‘Nduja paste
- 250 ml passata
- 100 ml chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 large handfuls spinach
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp finely grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs – 4 eggs
Mustard Parmesan Croutons
- 60 g crusty bread
- 3 tbsp finely grated parmesan
- 1 tbsp grain mustard
- Sea salt flakes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Fry onions and garlic over medium heat until soft.
- Add oregano, chilli flakes, ‘nduja, passata, borlotti beans, red wine vinegar and stock to the pot. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn to a simmer for 15 minutes.
- Mustard Parmesan Breadcrumbs: Chop bread into fine cubes. Transfer to a bowl. Add mustard, salt, and grated parmesan. Stir to combine. Next, add olive oil and combine again.
- Heat a non-stick frying pan and toss breadcrumbs around until crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Remove beans from the heat and stir through the grated parmesan and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, then cover to keep warm.
- Using the same pan, sautee spinach in a hot frying pan with a little oil and salt until just wilted. Remove from pan, set aside and keep warm.
- Wipe the frying pan down until clean, heat oil until very hot then crack in eggs. They should bubble away furiously so the edges become nice and crispy. Season with salt.
- Plate up: Add a large scoop of beans to the plate. Top with a crispy fried egg and a side of spinach. Garnish with croutons.
Notes
Where can I buy ‘Nduja?
‘Nduja is available in its original sausage form or blended into a paste and jarred. Find it in Italian grocers or online
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