Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (2024)

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It's surprisingly delicious.

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Sara Haas

Sara Haas

Sara Haas RDN, LDN, is a food and nutrition expert with formal training in the culinary arts. She works as a freelance writer, recipe developer, media authority, public speaker, and consultant dietitian/chef. Sara has over 20 years of experience as a registered and licensed dietitian. She has also been a professional chef for 15 years and a food photographer for 10 years.

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Published on 11/24/23

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Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (1)

I always keep a carton of eggs in my refrigerator. They’re a lifesaver for when hunger strikes and I need something nourishing to eat that’s also quick and easy to make. I typically resort to the usual preparations, relying on either scrambling or frying. If I have some foresight, I’ll hard-boil a few as a gift to my future self. I’ll peel them and season with salt and pepper and that’s enough to satisfy. But when I came across the unique way that Jacques Pépin prepares his hard-boiled eggs, I knew I had to give it a try.

A Mother’s Touch

Pépin is a culinary great, known around the world for his impeccable cooking skills and impressive food. That’s why I was surprised to hear that one of his favorite meals was one that his mother used to make for him. It was a family favorite with a humble main ingredient: eggs.

She would hard-boil them, mix the yolks with seasonings, and stuff them back into the egg white halves. Then she would sear them, stuffed-side-down, in oil in a hot pan and serve them with a tangy vinaigrette. Pépin lovingly named them, “Oeufs Jeanette,” after his mother.

How To Make Oeufs Jeanette

Pépin begins the recipe as his mother did, with hard-boiling eggs. Once cool, peel the eggs and slice them in half lengthwise. Remove the yolk and place in a bowl along with a bit of minced garlic, fresh chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and a splash of milk. Smash and mix with a fork, then stuff into the egg white halves, leaving a bit of yolk mixture behind to make the vinaigrette.

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (3)

Heat a bit of neutral oil in a skillet, then add the eggs, stuffed-side down, and cook until the filling is golden-brown and caramelized, one to two minutes. To make the vinaigrette, whisk extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and water with the leftover yolk mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the eggs to a plate and serve with the vinaigrette.

Jacques Pépin Has the BEST Recipe for Extra Crispy Potato Pancakes

I’m Smitten

I’m often left feeling under-whelmed by recipes these days. They’re either too complicated or require steps or ingredients that don’t seem necessary. Or worse, they just don’t taste good. This recipe is none of those things. It’s absolute perfection.

The filling is deliciously seasoned and the caramelized crust of the filling feels rich and decadent. The accompanying vinaigrette is essential. It balances the dish, adding the perfect acidic kick to cut through the creaminess of the eggs. I’m a fan and forever smitten and am already dreaming of the next time I make it.

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (5)

Tips:

The recipe is straight-forwad and easy to execute, but there are a few things that might be helpful to know before you give them a try:

  1. Prep the eggs: If you have the time, consider hard-boiling the eggs up to one day in advance of making. This will save you time and make prep much more enjoyable.
  2. Substitute ingredients: If you’re out of garlic, no problem! Substitute one-eighth teaspoon garlic powder for one clove of garlic (which is about what you’ll need for this recipe). As for the parsley, fresh is nice, but not necessary. You can substitute dried, about one-quarter teaspoon, or leave it out entirely.
  3. Heat your pan: Searing requires heat. Set your pan over medium-high heat and then add a neutral oil. It might need a minute or so to heat up. Once the oil moves around easily in the pan (it kind of looks like water, less viscous than the cold oil you started with), add the eggs and don’t touch them. They need constant contact with the oil and pan to get the caramelization you’re after!

Julia Child's Unusual Tip for Perfect Scrambled Eggs

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (2024)

FAQs

What recipe is Jacques Pepin known for? ›

40 Essential Jacques Pépin Recipes
  • 01 of 40. Maman's Cheese Soufflé ...
  • 02 of 40. Gnocchi Parisienne. ...
  • 03 of 40. Crêpes Suzette. ...
  • 04 of 40. Leeks with Tomato Vinaigrette. ...
  • 05 of 40. Fromage Fort. ...
  • 06 of 40. Beef Stew in Red Wine Sauce. ...
  • 07 of 40. Chicken Liver Pâté ...
  • 08 of 40. Gruyère Cheese Soufflé
Jul 14, 2023

What is Jacques Pepin favorite food? ›

Jacques Pépin's Favorite Pound Cake

The French call pound cake quatre-quarts ("four-fourths") because it was originally made with equal parts flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Jacques Pépin's mother, aunt, and cousin all have their versions.

Why deviled eggs are the best? ›

As a snack food, deviled eggs have an edge over many store-bought snacks: they're whole and unprocessed. “It's usually a better bet to have a snack that is made with fresh ingredients rather than something packaged or processed,” says Amy Keating, RD, a CR dietitian.

Are deviled eggs popular in France? ›

Deviled eggs seem to be a favorite at any party… and for good reason! This popular French version, known as “Oeufs Mimosa”, presents hard-boiled eggs cut in half and stuffed with a rich and creamy filling of egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and fresh herbs for classic French flavor.

What is Jacques Pépin's signature dish? ›

Jacques Pépin, the famous French chef, author, and cooking show host, made the soufflé one of his signature dishes. But his was concocted with a bit of a spin on the classic dish, thanks to a mistake made by his mother before he was even born.

What kind of pan does Jacques Pépin use? ›

Why does Jacques Pépin prefer a cast iron pan for his omelets? - Quora. In the video included in the site linked below, Jacques uses a 7″ non-stick pan for an omelette for two.

What restaurant does Jacques Pépin own? ›

Jacques Pépin is a legendary French chef and longtime contributor to Food & Wine. Known for his work at New York City's Le Pavillon and his own restaurant La Potagerie, Pépin was also a culinary leader at Howard Johnson's, the World Trade Center, and the French Culinary Institute.

What kind of chef is Jacques Pépin? ›

Jacques Pépin
Culinary career
Cooking styleAmerican-French
Previous restaurant(s) Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Le Pavillon, Howard Johnson's, La Potagerie
Television show(s) The Complete Pépin (PBS; originally aired 1997; relaunched 2007) Fast Food My Way More Fast Food My Way Jacques Pepin: Heart & Soul (2015–2016)
8 more rows

Did Jacques Pépin ever own a restaurant? ›

1970. Jacques opened a specialty soup restaurant and lunch counter on Manhattan's 5th Avenue called La Potagerie.

Why are deviled eggs called angel eggs? ›

At church functions in parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States, the terms "stuffed eggs", "salad eggs", and "dressed eggs" occur instead, to avoid reference to the word "devil". For this reason, the term "angel eggs" is also occasionally used.

Is it okay to eat deviled eggs everyday? ›

Deviled eggs can be a part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. Eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, the nutritional content of deviled eggs can vary based on the ingredients used in the filling.

What makes deviled eggs rubbery? ›

Just be sure to taste the filling to keep it from being too tart. Why are my deviled eggs rubbery? Boiling eggs too long can cause rubbery whites and yolks with a green tint. Set a timer, and watch it closely to avoid overcooked hard-boiled eggs.

What do Christians call deviled eggs? ›

In some regions of the South and the Midwest, deviled eggs are also called salad or dressed eggs when they are served at a church function, to avoid the term "deviled." Deviled eggs have been a popular picnic offering as well as being a standard item in what has become known, especially in the South, as "funeral food."

Does England have deviled eggs? ›

While devilled eggs had their moment in the UK – at about the same time the hostess trolley held sway – they are an essential part of the American entertaining tradition.

What ethnicity is deviled eggs? ›

According to The History Channel, deviled eggs go all the way back to ancient Rome, where eggs were boiled, seasoned with spicy sauces, and then served at the beginning of meals. In the 13th century, stuffed eggs began to appear in the southern, Andalusian regions of Spain.

What is Jacques Pépin style of cooking? ›

Despite his classic French culinary roots, Pepin actually spearheaded a modern method of French cooking that offered instruction in recipes and dishes more simple than complex. In fact, his La Potagerie restaurant was originally opened to provide simple French soups and dishes that were affordable and fast.

How many cookbooks has Jacques Pépin written? ›

In addition to his work as a chef, culinary educator, television personality and artist, Jacques Pépin has authored over 30 cookbooks.

Did Jacques Pépin cook at the White House? ›

Pépin also dined at José Andrés house, and he once turned down a job offer to work in the White House kitchen under President John F. Kennedy. The Jacques Pépin Foundation also supports DC Central Kitchen.

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