Of all the recipes I share, I love the ones that aren't actually recipes. In fact, I love the meals that come together quickly, focus less on the exact measurement and more about what you have on hand. Moreover, since these meals can be so simple, it sometimes feels silly for me to write them down. For example, this asparagus and egg dish. In this case, you fry a few asparagus stalks, crack an egg or two in the pan with a bit of cheese and you're done. It's the perfect, quick meal for breakfast, lunch, or even a light dinner.
PrintAsparagus and Eggs
A spring breakfast at it's easiest, this asparagus and eggs dish comes together in less than 20 minutes and can be doubled or tripled to feed more people.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Cuisine: breakfast
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 stalks asparagus
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup goat or blue cheese (optional)
- Pepper, for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the asparagus by cutting off roughly 1 inch of the bottoms of the spears.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Then add the olive oil, followed by the asparagus and salt. Shake skillet to coat asparagus and cook until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Spread asparagus out and crack eggs over the asparagus. Sprinkle cheese over asparagus and eggs. Reduce heat to low and cover. Let cook until egg whites are firm and yolk is done to desired consistency, 8 to 12 minutes.
- Serve with freshly cracked pepper.
Notes
Tips & Tricks: Since the asparagus continues to cook with the eggs, you could slightly undercook the vegetables before adding eggs if you prefer a crisper asparagus.
Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: Asparagus, Eggs
Nutrition: see the information.
Nutrition
- Calories: 304
- Sugar: .9
- Sodium: 1110
- Fat: 23.7
- Carbohydrates: 2.3
- Fiber: .4
- Protein: 20.2
- Cholesterol: 397
Asparagus and Eggs
variations
Since this recipe requires few ingredients and minimal time, it's easy to add in a few extra items or swap for things you might have on hand.
Cheese: Any cheese that melts is perfect because as it melts, parts crisp up in the olive oil. I've also been known to use a veg-friendly parmesan, fresh mozzarella, or a solid sharp cheddar.
Brassicas: I like thin, fresh asparagus for this recipe. However, if it's not in season, some of the brassica vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts are great substitutes.
Serving: Serve with a simple side salad or grains for lunch or with toast for breakfast. In general, there are quite a few options depending on what you're in the mood for at the time.
Explore Asparagus
One of the things I love most about asparagus is the simple prep and easy cooking to make the flavor shine. As a result, I find myself grilling and roasting asparagus as a side quite often. Nevertheless, a few of my favorite asparagus main dishes are:
Asparagus Stir Fry with Sesame Miso Sauce
Asparagus Flatbread
Grilled Asparagus Orzo Pasta
Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Such a fab skillet meal! Love the simplicity to this!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Hahaha, cute story.. it happens to us all though.
Love the ease of this meal, do you think it would work successfully with other vegetables as a base?
sandra says
you just described my life to a tee.
sandra says
You just described my life to a tee
Susan says
I love what you do with eggs! YUM
Sue@the view from Great Island says
This is brilliant---I will make it tonight!
Melissa Koski says
That sounds great!!! I love eggs for protein - all day long.
And if it makes you feel better - a few weeks ago I went to my doctor's appt, got there, and the woman told me that my appt was the following week. Whoops!
Danielle says
Such a winning combination!
GlitterInfatuation Jazz says
This is just what I have been looking for I love eggs and I am running out of ideas how to have them but this looks so perfectly perfect for lunch or a late breakfast. Yum!
Jamie-Lee | Orangen't You Lovely | Food, Diet, Health, Fitness
Joanne says
Just made this for dinner. It may be my dinner the next few days! Outstanding!
Josephine Malene says
Hi Erin.
I have been following your blog from time to time. Every time I return and browse around I always get so inspired, especially to make some of these skillet dishes, with all good stuff and runny yolks, it is totally my kind of food! This dish looks so delicious, and it pretty much sums up the simplicity of my own eating preferences the last month. I love your blog, pictures, atmosphere and the personal touch you always add! Thanks for inspiration and good food karma!
All the best from Josephine (from a tasty love story)
Fresh and Foodie says
I've been there. I recently showed up for a doctor's appointment a day early. Unfortunately they couldn't see me, so I had to come back the next day.
I love how a simple egg can turn practically anything into a meal. This looks wonderful.
Alanna Taylor-Tobin says
Oh jeez, I totally did that once when I was supposed to pick up a friend from the airport! I didn't have a cell phone at the time, and I showed up a day late. I still feel bad about it.
I would never have thought to make a dish like this - so simple, yet brilliant. Love your recipes and photos. Thanks!
islandmarsh says
It's happened. I made this for supper tonight and it was PERFECT!!!!
Diane Balch says
I just wanted you to know that I included your recipe in a collection of asparagus recipes that is on Simple Living and Eating today. I will be pinning and tweeting it this week too. http://www.simplelivingeating.com/2014/04/asparagus-recipes-seasonal-eating.html
Bec says
I have a few recipes like those.. for days like those.. maybe thats today. I Just tried to type my whole comment in the name field... duh!
Cheryl says
Love ur ideas with eggs and asparagus
Sandra says
My kids are picky eaters, but this recipe! They want me to make every Saturday!!!
That made my day! Thanks
★★★★★
Linda says
I love all of your ideas. I am also very grateful for the way your
print out! Thank you so very much.
★★★★★
Linda B. says
You just solved my 'what will I have for dinner tonight' question! I think I'll put a thick slice of whole grain toast on the bottom to soak up the runny egg yolk. Thanks!!
Autumn says
Like whoa! I pinned this awhile ago and knew i'd love it... but finally made it for dinner last night and OMG the flavors are so surprisingly complex for such a simple meal. Every bite I was like mmmmmm! I used feta instead since that's what I had. I'll be making this for myself again tonight 🙂
★★★★★
Nancy says
I made this for breakfast a few minutes ago, and loved it. I used about half of the blue cheese that you suggested, and the dish still came out deliciously! Thanks for the inspiration!
★★★★★
Dagmara says
Just had it for breakfast and absolutely loved it ?
Steph C. says
This was surprisingly really good! The fact that it's healthy fast and so easy makes it even better. Definitely will be making this again. Thanks for the idea!
Kathy says
My husband and I had this for breakfast this morning. So easy and delicious! I used queso fresco. Yum!
Eleanor Ollila says
I had this for breakfast today - really delicious and feels like a luxurious meal even though it's super simple to make! Thank you! :_)
★★★★★
Jon says
I like to put cayenne pepper on the eggs before I put the lid on, to add some spiciness!
Yara says
This was light and delicious. It definitely made it to our weekly breakfast menu. The asparagus was cooked to perfection. I did overcooked my eggs so I’d have to play around with the times. I left them for 10 minutes so maybe I’ll do the 8 or even 6-7 (love runny eggs). It was also my first time trying goat cheese. I gotta say I was surprised I liked it. Thank you, for sharing. I picture this dish in a fancy restaurant somewhere.
★★★★★