Scotch Egg Recipe Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Bake

by: molly yeh

November8,2013

4.7

3 Ratings

  • Prep time 45 minutes
  • Cook time 25 minutes
  • makes 4 Scotch eggs

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Until very recently, Scotch eggs were like unicorns. Even though I hadn't met a Scotch egg, I knew I was in love. Like a colorful, prancing, song-singing unicorn, there is objectively nothing not to love about a Scotch egg recipe. Eggy, meaty, fried. Done. Get me one. Get me 7.

So starting smack in the center of the Harrods Food Hall last summer, I began my Scotch egg tour of the universe. It took me to a perfect little pub in the perfect little countryside town of Lewes, East Sussex, where my friend Sam explained that a freshly boiled egg must be placed in an ice bath prior to its Scotching. It took me to Boston where a wonderful restaurant, Myers + Chang, blew my mind with the idea of wrapping the egg in potsticker filling. It took me to my new home in rural North Dakota where I am suddenly forced to make most of my favorite foods from scratch.

So I pulled together the best parts about each of my favorite Scotch eggs and made one mega awesome Scotch egg that's officially the number one reason why I need to join a gym. It has an extra-runny yolk thanks to an ice bath (ohhh I love 'em runny), it uses the genius idea of potsticker filling as a wrapper, and it uses not just any potsticker filling, but a super-special filling that's used in my family's beloved potsticker recipe.

Warning: Scotch eggs are messy creatures to make! Give yourself a lot of space to make them and invite a few friends over to help (cause if they're good friends they'll help with the cleanup too).
—molly yeh —molly yeh

Test Kitchen Notes

The Scotch eggs in this recipe are quite hefty (which we love!) but 6 medium eggs and the same quantity of chicken will make smaller, more manageable ones. Reduce frying time slightly to prevent overcooked yolks. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

Watch This Recipe

Scotch EggRecipe

Ingredients
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 poundground chicken
  • 2 teaspoonseach: sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonsground ginger
  • a few good grinds of black pepper
  • 2 stalks green onion, minced
  • 1/2 cupflour
  • 1 cuppanko bread crumbs
  • 2 teaspoonskosher salt
  • oil for frying (I use canola)
Directions
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully place four eggs in and boil for five minutes (this is for a runny yolk, if you want it firmer, add a bit of time). While they're boiling, prepare a large ice bath. When five minutes is up, immediately place the eggs in the bath.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, black pepper, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, and the green onions.
  3. In three smaller bowls, set up your breading station. In the first bowl, combine flour, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper to taste. In the second, whip up the remaining 2 eggs with a splash of water. In the third bowl, combine the panko, remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon of ginger, and black pepper.
  4. Working with wet hands, divide chicken into four equal parts. Place them on separate squares of parchment paper and flatten out into circles, about 1/2 inch thick. Peel the eggs, coat them in a little flour, and then wrap each in chicken. It helps if you fold up the parchment paper to help the chicken onto the egg.
  5. Once the egg is fully encased in the meat, coat it in flour, and then egg, and then panko. Place back on the parchment and hold in the fridge until the rest of the eggs are ready to go.
  6. Fill a large pot with about 3-4 inches of oil and heat it to 350°F. Fry the Scotch eggs for 5-6 minutes, until they're golden-brown and cooked through. Enjoy!

Tags:

  • British
  • Green Onion/Scallion
  • Soy Sauce
  • Egg
  • Vinegar
  • Chicken
  • Bake
  • Fry
  • Hors D'Oeuvre
  • Appetizer
  • Side
  • Snack

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • @SamuelMoore

  • KakiSue

  • dymnyno

  • nancy essig

  • molly yeh

Recipe by: molly yeh

molly yeh recently moved from brooklyn to a farm outside of grand forks, north dakota, where her husband is a fifth generation farmer. she writes the blog my name is yeh.

Popular on Food52

10 Reviews

Deedledum June 16, 2017

Has anyone got any ideas on reheating? I don't want to be frying each day till they're gone...

nancy E. June 18, 2017

They are made to be eaten room temperature. Bring on picnics etc

@SamuelMoore March 28, 2014

Any advice for baking these instead of frying?

molly Y. March 28, 2014

Hi Samuel,
I've never tried baking them but I just did a little search and found these which bake for 35 minutes at 400. (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/baked-scotch-eggs/f0e01f73-fb39-478b-9a2c-f242359d24af) I like the idea of baking them at a high temperature to get a crispier crust, but I would be nervous about the yolks staying runny enough. Definitely worth a try, I'd say!

@SamuelMoore March 28, 2014

Yes, I want that runny runny yolk, but the health conscious better half wants to bake them, trying to find that happy medium. Thank you!

molly Y. March 28, 2014

this could be crazy, but i wonder if freezing a peeled soft boiled egg and then coating it in the meat and baking it could help...

@SamuelMoore March 28, 2014

That could be crazy... crazy genius! I'll try it with one or two and report back. Have a great weekend.

@SamuelMoore April 1, 2014

Alright, it's better to not even attempt to bake. You just can't get that golden brown and deliciousness without frying... It's probably easier to explain that frying isn't as unhealthy as inserthealhtymagazine says. Great recipe, the fried ones came out perfect, runny yolk and all.

KakiSue November 17, 2013

molly you hit all the right notes here--this will be next weeks brunch. ditto on your love of runny eggs

dymnyno November 15, 2013

I stopped making Scotch eggs years ago because they were so heavy and fattening . These sound delicious! I especially like using pot sticker filling ...so much more flavor.

Scotch Egg Recipe Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How do I stop my Scotch eggs splitting when cooking? ›

Place the egg in the middle and wrap the egg with the meat. Pinch the edges together and smooth the ball so that there are no gaps or bumps. (If the covering isn't even, the Scotch egg will split during cooking.)

Do Scotch eggs have to be deep-fried? ›

We've made the popular scotch egg recipe much healthier than the classic version by baking them, instead of deep-frying in oil. We've made the popular scotch egg recipe much healthier than the classic version by baking them, instead of deep-frying in oil.

What is traditionally served with Scotch eggs? ›

Mustard sauce

Mustard is a common condiment served with various meat-based dishes, and Scotch eggs are no exception. This combination has become a traditional and classic pairing - the piquant and zesty notes of the mustard sauce bring out the best in the Scotch eggs and give it an extra punch.

What makes a Scotch egg a Scotch egg? ›

Scotch eggs were originally spiked with cloves and highly spiced in an attempt to sweeten the often putrefying meat. The term itself is obscure but may come, though I doubt it, from a corruption of the word 'scorch' (which in Elizabethan times had ribald associations).

Why do my eggs split when boiling? ›

Why eggs tend to crack while they're boiling. Eggs are prone to cracking because the force from the boiling action causes them to clash into each other. This leads to the shell splitting open and the whites spilling out of it. What you'll end up with is a boiled egg that's safe to eat, but will have a mushy texture.

Why do my eggs keep splitting? ›

If you put cold eggs directly in hot water for boiling, there are high chances of them cracking up. This is because the gases heat and expand within the shell and expand pressure, thus causing them to crack.

How do you know when Scotch eggs are done? ›

Depending on the size of your pan, lower as many eggs as you can into the oil, and cook for 8-10 mins until golden and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper, leave to cool a little, then serve halved with some piccalilli.

Why do my Scotch eggs crack? ›

Brush the glaze over each of the scotch eggs – this will help the breadcrumbs stick and stop the meat from cracking. Gently roll each scotch egg through the breadcrumbs, so each one is coated evenly. When done you shouldn't be able to see the sausage meat on any of the scotch eggs.

Should Scotch egg be hard or soft boiled? ›

Scotch egg is a hard-boiled egg that is completely coated in the sausage that is then dredged in flour, dipped in an egg wash, covered in breadcrumbs, and fried until golden brown.

What is the nickname for a Scotch egg? ›

It is often eaten in pubs or as a cold snack at picnics. In the Netherlands and Belgium, Scotch eggs may also be called vogelnestje ("little bird's nest"), because they contain an egg. One 1880s Scottish recipe also calls them birds' nests.

How healthy are Scotch eggs? ›

Scotch eggs are not specifically good for weight loss, but they are a relatively low-calorie and filling snack. Each egg has about 150 calories, and they are generally high in protein and fiber. This makes them a good option for people looking for a healthy snack that will help them stay full between meals.

What is a Dutch Scotch egg? ›

It resembles a giant type of croquette. Then you find a layer of ragout and a whole egg inside its crispy coating. Whether you want to try all of the culinary surprises Groningen presents, or simply feel like a late night snack: the eierbal (Dutch Scotch egg) is something you must try at least once in your life.

What is a Scotch egg in England? ›

Scotch egg, a traditional British dish consisting of a shelled hard-boiled egg that is wrapped in sausage, covered in breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried or baked until crispy. It is a popular pub and picnic dish and is commonly served cold in Britain. The Scotch egg has competing origin stories.

Do Americans have Scotch eggs? ›

But while these hearty snacks have been served at picnics, pubs and corner stores in the United Kingdom since the late 18th century, the Scotch egg's modish repute stateside is a fairly recent phenomenon. Why, then, has it become one of the hottest rising trends on American menus?

What is the Scotch part of a Scotch egg? ›

A Scotch egg is a boiled egg that has been wrapped in sausage, breaded, and deep-fried or baked. Despite its name, this likely has English (not Scottish) origins.

How do you keep fried eggs from spitting? ›

If the oil starts to spit it's because it's too hot, so turn the heat right down. Cook until the tops of the whites are set but the yolk is still runny. When they're ready, remove the pan from the heat and take the eggs out using a spatula. Place on a plate and dab them with some paper towels to soak up any excess oil.

Why do eggs split when fried? ›

How do I keep an egg yolk from breaking when frying an egg? Not when flipping, but when entering the pan. If your egg yolk is breaking, either you are cracking the shell too forcefully or you are letting the egg fall into the pan from too great a height.

How do you keep eggs separate when frying? ›

Use a smaller pan... or treat yourself to some egg rings - circles of stainless steel or silicone which you put in the pan, and crack the eggs into, for perfectly shaped fried eggs. Egg rings make perfect size to put in a roll too!

How do you keep fried eggs separate? ›

Fry your egg in a smaller pan

Accordingly, a pretty simple way to keep your fried eggs from spreading is just to use a small pan, of which there are plenty on the market.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Last Updated:

Views: 5657

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Birthday: 1992-02-16

Address: Suite 851 78549 Lubowitz Well, Wardside, TX 98080-8615

Phone: +67618977178100

Job: Manufacturing Director

Hobby: Running, Mountaineering, Inline skating, Writing, Baton twirling, Computer programming, Stone skipping

Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.