Creamy Scrambled Eggs with Cheese

 

Forget everything you know about cooking eggs. If you want that silky, custard-like texture served in top restaurants, the secret lies in patience, a cold pan, and adding the cheese at the exact right moment.

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs (cold)
• 1 tbsp cold butter (unsalted is best)
• 1 tbsp Crème fraîche OR Cream Cheese (this is the secret to the texture)

Grated Cheese: A small handful of Cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan (optional, for extra cheesiness)

Fresh chives, finely chopped

Salt & black pepper (freshly cracked)

1 thick slice of sourdough bread, toasted

Instructions:

The Cold Start: Crack the eggs directly into a cold non-stick saucepan (saucepan, not a frying pan!). Add the knob of cold butter. Do not whisk the eggs yet and do not add salt yet (salt breaks down the eggs and makes them watery).

The Stir: Place the pan on medium-high heat. Start stirring immediately with a rubber spatula. You must stir continuously, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan. You are combining the yolks, whites, and melting butter as they warm up.

The "On/Off" Technique: This is the game-changer. After about 30 seconds, when the eggs start to thicken slightly, take the pan off the heat. Keep stirring for 10 seconds (the residual heat continues cooking them). Put it back on the heat for another 30 seconds. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times. This prevents the eggs from getting rubbery or overcooked.

The Finish: When the eggs look soft, thick, and creamy (like soft porridge), take the pan off the heat permanently. Now is the time to add your magic ingredients.

Stir in the Crème fraîche/Cream Cheese. This stops the cooking process and cools the eggs down slightly.

Fold in your grated cheese (if using) and the chopped chives.

Finally, season with salt and pepper.

Serve: Pile the creamy eggs onto your hot buttered toast immediately. They continue to cook even on the plate, so serve instantly!

Waitrose or M&S (Marks & Spencer): These stores offer the best selection of free-range and organic eggs. Look for the Clarence Court (Burford Browns) brand—they have dark brown shells and incredibly rich yolks.

Tesco / Sainsbury’s: Look for the St. Ewe brand or the Finest/Taste the Difference line. They have excellent taste and colour.

Aldi / Lidl: If you are looking for a budget-friendly but high-quality option, their organic eggs often win blind taste tests.

A thick-bottomed saucepan or a high-quality non-stick frying pan is ideal for Gordon Ramsay's method:

John Lewis: A huge selection of brands from budget to premium (Tefal, Le Creuset, Ninja).

ProCook: Specialised cookware stores where you can find professional frying pans at very reasonable prices.

TK Maxx: Here you can often find expensive brands (such as Jamie Oliver by Tefal or Scanpan) at discounts of up to 60%.

Argos / Dunelm: Good options for a quick purchase of basic but reliable cookware.