Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

shirred eggs (oeufs en cocotte)

Recipe by
Andy Anderson !
Wichita, KS

Shirred eggs are essentially baked eggs with some cream, some herbs and some cheese. They are deceptively easy to make… Not much more than frying the egg in a pan. But once you try this, you may never pan fry an egg again. Serve this with thin slices of toast, and you have the perfect savory breakfast. Serve this with a side salad, and you have a wonderful light evening meal. I picked this dish up at Cordon Bleu many years ago; where they are called “oeufs en cocotte”. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

yield 2 serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For shirred eggs (oeufs en cocotte)

  • 2 lg
    eggs
  • 2 tsp
    sweet butter, salted
  • 2 Tbsp
    cream, full fat
  • 2 Tbsp
    shredded gruyere cheese, or cheese of choice
  • salt, kosher variety, to taste
  • black pepper, freshly ground, to taste

How To Make shirred eggs (oeufs en cocotte)

  • 1
    ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT A oven-proof pan for the bain-marie (water bath). Two ramekins or other heat-proof dishes.
  • 2
    Gather your ingredients.
  • 3
    Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 370f (184c).
  • 4
    Add a pan to the oven large enough to hold the ramekins, and then fill with steaming water.
  • 5
    Chefs Note: The pan should hold enough water to go in approximately halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
  • 6
    Divide the butter between the two ramekins, and thoroughly coat the bottom and sides.
  • 7
    Add 1 tablespoon of the cream to each one of the ramekins, and swirl to coat the bottom.
  • 8
    Place the ramekins into the water bath.
  • 9
    Chef’s Tip: Wait about five minutes, until the cream gets hot.
  • 10
    Break an egg into each one of the ramekins.
  • 11
    Divide the cheese in half, and sprinkle each one with the cheese.
  • 12
    Add a dash of salt and/or pepper, to taste.
  • 13
    Bake for 7 to 10 minutes.
  • 14
    Chefs Note: the whites should be set but the yellow still a bit runny.
  • 15
    Serve immediately with some thinly sliced toast. Enjoy.
  • 16
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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