Eggs in Purgatory, Tex-Mex Style

Yesterday was one of those full and productive weekend days that I've needed recently as we prepare this month to welcome friends visiting Sydney, pack up and move house, then fly overseas for a few weeks for a very full schedule of work and play. Woke up early, got stuff done, and felt ready for the week ahead. We ended that productive day with a fantastic night out with friends in Surry Hills: pub drinks, then banquet menu Lebanese food (YUM, love those meals where you're stuffed at the end mostly due to the veg and chickpeas), and excellent Aussie red wine nightcap(s) at our friends' place... finally got home way late for this no-longer-in-her-twenties gal.

eggs sunny-side up over sautéed peppers, spinach, onion, garlic,
with avocado and crispy tortilla strips

So today is yesterday's polar opposite: pretty unproductive. I slept later than I have in ages. Breakfast needed to be lunch-ish, a healthy but filling, steadying meal. I've seen the Italian-origin dish uova in purgatorio, eggs in purgatory, on various cooking blogs and decided to throw together a Tex-Mex version, sort of huevos rancheros meets uova in purgatorio. We can't use tomatoes in our food due to allergies, so instead of the traditional tomato sauce I broiled, peeled, and chopped a couple of red bell peppers (like this). Sauteed some diced onion, garlic, and jalapeños with the chopped bell peppers and some spinach, then dropped in the eggs when the vegetables were nice and softened. Grated a little cheddar over the eggs just before they were finished, and topped everything with some crispy baked corn tortilla strips, rather than serving over crusty bread like most uova in purgatorio recipes advise.

eggs in purgatory, Tex-Mex style (and gluten-free)

Pairing the eggs with sliced avocado on the plates cut the heat from the jalapeños just enough, and a side of chopped honeydew and papaya made for a perfectly balanced, fuzzy-head-curing breakfast. Whether you seek the perfect meal after a late night out, or just a hearty, vegetable-heavy brunch (or breakfast for dinner!) option, these Tex-Mex style eggs in purgatory are a good go-to. Wishing you a weekend well balanced with productivity, leisure, and quality time with friends and family.

Eggs in Purgatory, Tex-Mex Style
2 hearty servings

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
half a brown onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)

2 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled and diced

3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped jalapeños
1/4 cup frozen spinach, defrosted
4 eggs
2-3 tablespoons freshly grated cheddar or monterey jack cheese

to serve:
1 tortilla (gluten-free if cooking g-f), cut into long, thin strips and toasted under the oven broiler till crispy
half an avocado, sliced
hot sauce (Cholula, Tabasco) and additional jalapeño slices (optional)

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan, then add the onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until onion begins to turn translucent. Add the diced bell peppers, garlic, jalapeños, and spinach, and sauté for another 5 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat down to medium-low, cover, and continue to cook for another 7-8 minutes, until the bell peppers are soft.

Remove the cover from the vegetables, and crack four eggs over the vegetables, leaving about an inch between each egg and taking care not to break the yolks. Cover again, and continue to cook until the eggs are just about done-- the whites opaque and the yolks still runny. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the eggs, and continue to cook for another minute or so, until the cheese is melted.

Arrange the avocado slices on the side of each plate, then serve two eggs in purgatory onto each plate, topping the eggs with the crispy tortilla strips (make sure the tortilla strips are gluten-free if cooking g-f). Serve immediately with Cholula, Tabasco, and additional jalapeño slices, if desired.