Also called egg-in-a-hole, this gourmet egg toastie made extra extravagant with duck fat.
Granted, for this spin on “egg in a hole” the use of duck fat is rather extravagant but everything from bread to brussel sprouts fried in duck fat is so good. 
The duck fat adds a rich almost meaty flavour to the fried bread. The recipe is not much of a recipe and could not be easier to make. Use a cookie cutter to remove the centre of a piece of bread. If you use a standard retailer bread ,make sure it is a sturdy bread and quite thickly sliced. A good quality sourdough or ciabatta would be fantastic as long as it does not have too many holes for the egg to run out.
Heat some duck fat in a pan and fry the bread on the one side until golden brown and crispy. Turn it over and gently break an egg into the cavity. The trick is to make sure so that the bread does not burn while the egg cooks. I find that cooking for a few minutes, then placing a lid on top, taking the pan off the stove and letting the egg cook further in the covered pan works best.
What you serve the Duck Fat Egg Toastie with is entirely up to you. You can serve it as is or with some roasted tomatoes and crispy bacon as I did in the images. Fried sausages will be delicious or something lighter like smoked salmon. A vegetarian option would be serving it with some smashed avocado and a dollop of homemade ricotta or labneh. The options are really endless. Enjoy!
Gourmet Egg Toastie
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 toastie 1x
Description
This gourmet egg toastie, also known as egg-in-a-hole, is elevated with the rich, meaty flavor of duck fat for a truly indulgent breakfast or brunch treat.
Ingredients
- 1 slice of sturdy bread (such as sourdough or ciabatta, not too thinly sliced)
- 2 heaped teaspoons of duck fat
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Use a cookie cutter to remove the center of the slice of bread, creating a hole.
- Heat 1 heaped teaspoon of duck fat in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Place the bread in the pan and fry on one side for about 2-3 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
- Turn the bread over and add the remaining teaspoon of duck fat to the pan.
- Gently crack an egg into the hole in the bread.
- Cook for a few minutes, then cover the pan with a lid and remove it from the heat. Allow the egg to cook in the residual heat until the whites are set but the yolk is still runny, about 3-4 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
For best results, use a sturdy bread like sourdough or ciabatta to prevent the egg from leaking. Serve with roasted tomatoes, crispy bacon, or smoked salmon for a more substantial meal. For a vegetarian option, pair with smashed avocado and homemade ricotta or labneh. Store any leftover duck fat in the refrigerator for future use.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 toastie
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 25
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 13
- Cholesterol: 210
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of bread works best for the Gourmet Egg Toastie?
A good quality sourdough or ciabatta is ideal, as long as it is thickly sliced and does not have too many holes for the egg to run out.
How do I prevent the bread from burning while the egg cooks?
After frying the bread until golden brown, place a lid on the pan and remove it from the heat, allowing the egg to cook further in the covered pan.
Can I use a different fat instead of duck fat for frying the bread?
While duck fat adds a unique flavor, you can substitute with butter or olive oil, but the taste will differ from the intended gourmet experience.
