Baked Huevos Rancheros

Huevos rancheros ("rancher's eggs" in Spanish) is usually some combination of eggs, beans, salsa, and cheese, served with corn tortillas and various toppings. This version, which is topped with feta, reminds me a bit of shakshuka, which is a dish of eggs baked or poached in a spicy tomato sauce. And it’s delicious: saucy, a little spicy (or not!), and a perfect weekend breakfast or brunch. To be honest, it can work as lunch or dinner, too. 

If you’re pressed for time, you can skip sautéing the onion and garlic and just add a half teaspoon of garlic powder with the spices. If you don't feel like using the oven, this dish tastes just as good if you leave it on the stovetop to cook the eggs. For a more hearty meal, serve this dish with corn tortillas, which are relatively low in carbs.

Recipe details

Total time: 35-45 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Total carbohydrates: 22 grams per serving

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Something spicy (1/2 teaspoon cayenne or chipotle powder; 1 teaspoon canned chipotle en adobo; 1 tablespoon hot sauce or chopped fresh or pickled jalapenos)
• 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (diced tomatoes will work, too)
• 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• Cilantro leaves, crumbled feta, sliced radishes, avocado, and hot sauce, for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat oil in a 9- or 10-inch oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until the onion is quite soft and turning golden, about 6-7 minutes.
2. Add the cumin and the spicy something and sauté just until fragrant – a few seconds – then stir in the tomatoes, beans, and salt. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally and then more frequently, until thick, around 15 minutes. Taste the sauce, and add more salt if it needs it.
3. Use a spoon to make a little well in the sauce, then crack in an egg (I’m neurotic, so I crack the egg into a mug first to make sure I’m not going to ruin the whole dish with shell fragments or a broken yolk). Repeat with the remaining eggs, then put the pan in the oven. Note: If you are super-particular about your eggs and how done you like them, then you might want to poach or fry them separately, as cooking them in the sauce is an inexact science. That said, do you really want to wash another pan?
4. Bake until the eggs are as set as you like them, which will take anywhere from 7-15 minutes. (The eggs will be more cooked underneath than the way they look on top, just FYI.) Use the baking time to prepare the toppings, then top the finished dish and serve.

Photo credit: Catherine Newman