According to the Tao Restaurant Group’s Egghead, melted caramelized cheese, spicy chorizo and golden Jidori eggs are the star ingredients to make an egg-celent recipe aka El Chapo. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo.
El Chapo is a unique cheesy quesadilla made by Executive Chef Jason Hall and the Egghead team. Launching on Cinco De Mayo 2018, the cheesy egg-centric quesadilla – El Chapo will be kicking off Egghead’s late night menu.
Tao Restaurant Group’s Egghead is an “egg-centric” sandwich shop located at New York City’s Moxy Hotel in Times Square. The eatery that transforms the mundane, typical NYC breakfast classic (bagel and cream cheese) into an egg-celent one. The shop primarily offers breakfast sandwiches with a strong emphasis on eggs such as “The Classic”. It’s Egghead’s signature dish, consisting of Kennebec potato brioche, egg, bacon, American cheese, tomato, shallots and aioli, with all ingredients sourced from upstate New York farms. 
For those interested in making this egg-celent recipe an egg-celent one, an Egghead tip is to “melt the cheese directly in the pan and to source good chorizo. They can make a world’s difference.”
See below for the egg-celent recipe.
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El Chapo: An Egg-celent Cinco De Mayo Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Cheesy quesadillas with a twist! Melted cheese, spicy chorizo, and fluffy eggs make this a Cinco de Mayo standout.
Ingredients
- 4 pc 12-inch flour tortillas
- 2 cups (473 ml) queso chihuahua cheese
- 4 pc large Jidori eggs
- 1 lbs (454 g) fresh chorizo sausage
- 1 pc spanish onion
- 1 pc poblano pepper
- 1 pc serrano chili
- 3 pc Roasted Piquiilo Pepper
- 2 cups (473 ml) canned Black Beans
- 1 TBS Mexican Oregano
- 1 tsp Chili Piquin
- Butter
Instructions
- In a medium fry pan, cook the chorizo while breaking it up into chunks with a spatula and rendering it for 10 minutes. Add the onion, peppers, chili, and oregano; cook for 15 minutes until soft. Add the beans and cook out all of the liquid.
- While the chorizo is cooking, whisk the eggs with a little salt and pepper in a bowl. Scramble the eggs into the chorizo mixture.
- Preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle to medium-high heat (approximately 375°F – 190°C).
- Butter one side of a flour tortilla. Cook the tortilla for 20 seconds, then remove from the pan.
- In the same pan, drop ½ cup of cheese per quesadilla directly into the pan. When the cheese begins to melt, add the chorizo and egg mixture to the melted cheese and press with the toasted side of a single quesadilla.
- Once the cheese is golden brown, carefully flip the quesadilla and fold it in half.
- Toast on both sides and serve with your favorite condiment.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use a blend of cheeses like Chihuahua and Oaxaca.
- If you don’t have Jidori eggs, any large eggs will work. Adjust cooking time as needed.
- Leftover quesadillas reheat well in a dry skillet over medium heat until cheese is melted and tortilla is crispy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Brunch
- Method: Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quesadilla
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 200
With a menu boasting of classic and contemporary comfort food and conveniently located on street level, facing 7th Avenue. Egghead attracts both tourists and neighborhood locals. Make your egg-centric visit at 485 7th Ave New York, NY 10018
Frequently Asked Questions
What is queso chihuahua and what can I substitute?
Queso chihuahua is a semi-soft Mexican cheese that melts smoothly, similar to a mild Monterey Jack. Monterey Jack or a good melting mozzarella are reliable substitutes.
What is a Jidori egg?
Jidori eggs come from a Japanese breed of free-range chicken raised in California. They are known for a rich yolk and clean flavor. Any high-quality free-range egg is a suitable substitute.
Can I use pre-made chorizo instead of fresh?
Fresh (raw, uncooked) chorizo is needed here because it is cooked and broken up in the pan to build the filling. Cured dry chorizo has a different texture and will not work the same way.
What are Piquillo peppers and where do I find them?
Piquillo peppers are small, mildly sweet Spanish roasted red peppers sold in jars. They are available at specialty grocers and online. Jarred roasted red peppers are an accessible substitute.
How do I get a crispy tortilla without deep frying?
Cook the assembled tortilla in a dry or lightly oiled pan over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side until the outside is golden and crisp. A heavy pan or cast iron gives the most even browning.
