Huevos Rotos is quite a classic Spanish dish that’s popular all across the country. You can run into several varieties of this simple, yet delicious meal, in the various parts of Spain. Seems like every region has a bit of a different version of Huevos Rotos, but some things are the same with all of them.
There are always eggs, either simple fried or poached eggs. The yolk has to be runny, that’s a must. The eggs are always served atop potatoes. Usually it’s homemade French fries, but I’ve seen fried potato wedges, rounds or chips used too. And there has to be some meaty ingredient to make this dish complete. Iberian ham is the preferred type, but Jamon Serrano or some sausages are popular too.
Huevos Rotos is a really simple dish, but don’t let that fool you. It can replace a lunch or dinner and I’m pretty sure you would be surprised how 3 ingredients can combine into something this delicious.
I still remember the day when I ordered it for the first time, a couple years ago on a business trip to Barcelona. On that evening, I wanted some dinner, but nothing big since I wasn’t that hungry. Someone suggested this Spanish classic to me and I got hooked.
That particular restaurant served their Huevos Rotos with poached eggs and Jamon Serrano, so that’s the version I’d like to show you today. Let’s go cooking!
TIP: Looking for more “Ethnic” dishes? Try my Hungarian Langos Recipe or Goral Lettuce Soup.
Huevos Rotos Ingredients
2-3 potatoes
2 eggs
50-80g (2-3oz) Jamon Serrano
salt & pepper to taste
How to make Huevos Rotos
Watch the video or scroll down for step by step instructions:
1. Slice the potatoes into strips, leave the skin on. These can be really thin or up to 1-2cm (½-1 inch) thick, based on your personal preference. The thicker the cut, the longer it will take for the fries to cook. Fry the strips until golden brown. If you want to stay authentic, you should fry the potatoes in olive oil. I’ve used classic sunflower oil though.
Note: It’s not necessary to make the fries really crispy for this dish, so don’t worry about the potato types too much. Gold, Yellow, Russet … all work fine. I’ve seen Huevos Rotos served with sweet potatoes too.
Tip: Rinse the potatoes in water, then pat try them before frying. This way, they will be more crispy on the outside.
2. While the fries are frying, cut the Jamon Serrano ham into smaller pieces, or simply tear the slices by hand… this is not a beauty competition 🙂
Once the fries are almost done, it’s time to make the poached eggs. Bring water to a boil in a pot or deep pan, add a tablespoon or two of vinegar and use a spoon to create a whirlpool. Carefully drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool and let it cook slowly on low heat. It takes 3-4 minutes for the egg whites to set, while the yolk remains runny and that’s what we aim for.
TIP: Crack the egg into a small bowl first, then drop it into the water. The whirlpool only works when you’re making one poached egg. So for this recipe, you have to repeat the process twice.
Alternatively, you can cook both eggs at the same time, just leave the water still and drop the eggs carefully to the opposite sides of the pot. Why go for the whirlpool then? The poached eggs look a bit prettier and more “round” this way 🙂
3. Once the fries are done, transfer them to a bowl and salt generously. Add half of the Serrano pieces and mix. Why are we doing this? The fries are still hot at this point which will cause the fat in the ham to start melting and releasing it’s flavor.
4. We are ready to serve. Place the fries on a plate, layer the rest of the Serrano ham atop the fries and put the poached eggs on top of it. Season the eggs with salt and garnish with chopped chives. Now break the eggs so the yolk starts to run down the fries. Our Huevos Rotos are ready, enjoy!
Optional Tips For This Recipe:
- Don’t want to mess with poached eggs? You can simply fry the eggs in the same oil that you fried the potatoes in. Just make sure you don’t overcook the yolks.
- No luck trying to buy Jamon Serrano? I’ve used other types of dried ham for Huevos Rotos with success. Use a Spanish type to stay authentic but there are many other types out there. And if you happen to shop at Costco, they do have great deals on Jamon Serrano every so often.
- Feeling lazy? You can use store bought frozen fries too, but homemade is HOMEMADE 🙂
Huevos Rotos | Spanish Broken Eggs With Jamon Serrano
Ingredients
- 2-3 potatoes
- 2 eggs
- 50-80 g Jamon Serrano
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Slice the potatoes into strips, leave the skin on. Rinse with water and pat dry. Fry the strips until golden brown.
- Cut the Jamon Serrano ham into smaller pieces, or simply tear the slices by hand.
- Once the fries are almost done, it’s time to make the poached eggs. Bring water to a boil in a pot or deep pan, add a tablespoon or two of vinegar and use a spoon to create a whirlpool. Carefully drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool and let it cook slowly on low heat. It takes 3-4 minutes for the egg white to cook, while the yolk remains runny and that’s what we aim for.
- Once the fries are done, transfer them to a bowl and salt generously. Add half of the Serrano pieces and mix.
- Place the fries on a plate, layer the rest of the Serrano ham atop the fries and put the poached eggs on top of it. Season the eggs with salt. Break the eggs so the yolk starts to run down the fries.
- Enjoy your Huevos Rotos!
Hello there I am your Instagram friend this looks fabulous good luck
I’m following your profile too! Thanks for the kind words 🙂