Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (2024)

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It's surprisingly delicious.

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Sara Haas

Sara Haas

Sara Haas RDN, LDN, is a food and nutrition expert with formal training in the culinary arts. She works as a freelance writer, recipe developer, media authority, public speaker, and consultant dietitian/chef. Sara has over 20 years of experience as a registered and licensed dietitian. She has also been a professional chef for 15 years and a food photographer for 10 years.

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Published on 11/24/23

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Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (1)

I always keep a carton of eggs in my refrigerator. They’re a lifesaver for when hunger strikes and I need something nourishing to eat that’s also quick and easy to make. I typically resort to the usual preparations, relying on either scrambling or frying. If I have some foresight, I’ll hard-boil a few as a gift to my future self. I’ll peel them and season with salt and pepper and that’s enough to satisfy. But when I came across the unique way that Jacques Pépin prepares his hard-boiled eggs, I knew I had to give it a try.

A Mother’s Touch

Pépin is a culinary great, known around the world for his impeccable cooking skills and impressive food. That’s why I was surprised to hear that one of his favorite meals was one that his mother used to make for him. It was a family favorite with a humble main ingredient: eggs.

She would hard-boil them, mix the yolks with seasonings, and stuff them back into the egg white halves. Then she would sear them, stuffed-side-down, in oil in a hot pan and serve them with a tangy vinaigrette. Pépin lovingly named them, “Oeufs Jeanette,” after his mother.

How To Make Oeufs Jeanette

Pépin begins the recipe as his mother did, with hard-boiling eggs. Once cool, peel the eggs and slice them in half lengthwise. Remove the yolk and place in a bowl along with a bit of minced garlic, fresh chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and a splash of milk. Smash and mix with a fork, then stuff into the egg white halves, leaving a bit of yolk mixture behind to make the vinaigrette.

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (3)

Heat a bit of neutral oil in a skillet, then add the eggs, stuffed-side down, and cook until the filling is golden-brown and caramelized, one to two minutes. To make the vinaigrette, whisk extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and water with the leftover yolk mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the eggs to a plate and serve with the vinaigrette.

Jacques Pépin Has the BEST Recipe for Extra Crispy Potato Pancakes

I’m Smitten

I’m often left feeling under-whelmed by recipes these days. They’re either too complicated or require steps or ingredients that don’t seem necessary. Or worse, they just don’t taste good. This recipe is none of those things. It’s absolute perfection.

The filling is deliciously seasoned and the caramelized crust of the filling feels rich and decadent. The accompanying vinaigrette is essential. It balances the dish, adding the perfect acidic kick to cut through the creaminess of the eggs. I’m a fan and forever smitten and am already dreaming of the next time I make it.

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (5)

Tips:

The recipe is straight-forwad and easy to execute, but there are a few things that might be helpful to know before you give them a try:

  1. Prep the eggs: If you have the time, consider hard-boiling the eggs up to one day in advance of making. This will save you time and make prep much more enjoyable.
  2. Substitute ingredients: If you’re out of garlic, no problem! Substitute one-eighth teaspoon garlic powder for one clove of garlic (which is about what you’ll need for this recipe). As for the parsley, fresh is nice, but not necessary. You can substitute dried, about one-quarter teaspoon, or leave it out entirely.
  3. Heat your pan: Searing requires heat. Set your pan over medium-high heat and then add a neutral oil. It might need a minute or so to heat up. Once the oil moves around easily in the pan (it kind of looks like water, less viscous than the cold oil you started with), add the eggs and don’t touch them. They need constant contact with the oil and pan to get the caramelization you’re after!

Julia Child's Unusual Tip for Perfect Scrambled Eggs

Jacques Pepin’s Weird and Wonderful Recipe Is Better Than Deviled Eggs (2024)

FAQs

How do you make deviled eggs Jacques Pepin? ›

This is the dish that Pépin says she made for him regularly and he hasn't seen it anywhere else. To make them, you mix hard-boiled yolks with grated garlic and parsley, return the yolks to the egg whites, then sauté them in a skillet, stuffed-side down. The eggs are served on top of a mustard vinaigrette.

Are deviled eggs popular in France? ›

Deviled eggs seem to be a favorite at any party… and for good reason! This popular French version, known as “Oeufs Mimosa”, presents hard-boiled eggs cut in half and stuffed with a rich and creamy filling of egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and fresh herbs for classic French flavor.

How to make scrambled eggs Jacques Pepin? ›

"The way I scramble eggs is to put them into a heavier saucepan over moderate heat, and to use a whisk to constantly move the eggs, ensuring that they get the creamiest texture without large curds. This is usually finished with a little bit of cream.

Why deviled eggs are the best? ›

As a snack food, deviled eggs have an edge over many store-bought snacks: they're whole and unprocessed. “It's usually a better bet to have a snack that is made with fresh ingredients rather than something packaged or processed,” says Amy Keating, RD, a CR dietitian.

Why do people put paprika on deviled eggs? ›

The paprika will determine the depth of flavor of each bite. You can garnish with any kind (hot or sweet Hungarian, or hot or sweet smoked), but the better the quality, the more complex the flavor.

What makes deviled eggs rubbery? ›

Just be sure to taste the filling to keep it from being too tart. Why are my deviled eggs rubbery? Boiling eggs too long can cause rubbery whites and yolks with a green tint. Set a timer, and watch it closely to avoid overcooked hard-boiled eggs.

What do Christians call deviled eggs? ›

At church functions in parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States, the terms "stuffed eggs", "salad eggs", and "dressed eggs" occur instead, to avoid reference to the word "devil". For this reason, the term "angel eggs" is also occasionally used.

What's the difference between deviled eggs and angel eggs? ›

There is no difference between angel eggs and deviled eggs; they refer to the same dish. Angel eggs are just another way to refer to the popular appetizer. The term is popular among southerners, church folks, and anyone else who just doesn't want to refer to them as “deviled eggs.”

What ethnicity is deviled eggs? ›

According to The History Channel, deviled eggs go all the way back to ancient Rome, where eggs were boiled, seasoned with spicy sauces, and then served at the beginning of meals. In the 13th century, stuffed eggs began to appear in the southern, Andalusian regions of Spain.

How to make Dolly Parton scrambled eggs? ›

Dolly Parton Scrambled Eggs

"When you crack your eggs in the bowl, say if you're going to scramble them, use ice water. Put a few drops of ice water as you're cooking them and that makes them fluffier — it really does!" "So put a little ice water in that, it'll fluff them up for you," she added.

Why do chefs add water to scrambled eggs? ›

But you don't need that much water to achieve fluff. Even a little makes a difference. As cookbook author J. Kenji-López-Alt explains it in The Food Lab, adding water to scrambled eggs “means more vaporization occurs, creating larger bubbles in the eggs and lightening them.”

Is it healthy to eat deviled eggs? ›

Eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, the nutritional content of deviled eggs can vary based on the ingredients used in the filling. To make deviled eggs healthier, consider using ingredients like Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for the filling, and adding herbs and spices for flavor.

How do you boil eggs so they peel easily? ›

Boil eggs with little salt in water . Once they are boiled run them under cold water to make them easier to peel. Once they are cooled off , roll them off on a flat surface, pressing them little bit to make little cracks on them. Now gently peel them.

Are deviled eggs bad for high blood pressure? ›

In the past, because eggs are high in cholesterol, people with hypertension were often advised to avoid them. But that's no longer the case. “In general, eating eggs doesn't impact either systolic or diastolic blood pressures.

How to make deviled eggs Gordon Ramsay? ›

  1. Peel boiled eggs and cut each in half lengthwise. ...
  2. Add the yolks to a medium bowl, and add mayonnaise, melted Challenge Butter, mustard, pickle relish (optional), salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Scoop or pipe the deviled egg mixture into each egg white, then top with crumbled bacon and chopped chives.

What is the best method for boiling eggs for deviled eggs? ›

Instructions
  1. Place your eggs in a single layer on the bottom of your pot and cover with cold water. ...
  2. Over high heat, bring your eggs to a rolling boil.
  3. Remove from heat and let stand in water for 10-12 minutes for large eggs. ...
  4. Drain water and immediately run cold water over eggs until cooled.

What is the difference between angel eggs and deviled eggs? ›

A simple and delicious appetizer, this angel eggs recipe is everything you love from the classic with a nicer name. The only difference between angel eggs and deviled eggs is the name! The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, making it the perfect finger food option for parties, potlucks, and BBQs.

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