Eggs and kale sounds boring I know! But this is my luxury (non-diet!) version, with creamy cheesy kale and soft golden egg yolks.
An easy one-pot breakfast or lunch – ready in under 10 minutes.
My absolute favourite grown-up version of dippy eggs and soldiers.
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Cheesy, creamy kale topped with a perfectly runny egg and a sprinkle of seasoning. That essentially sums up the whole ingredient list. It’s so quick and simple I often make this for lunch, and sometimes I skip the toast and use the kale stalks for a little crunch instead.
I love nibbling the stalks. You might assume I live on health food, but I’m far from that — I adore chocolate, cakes and pastries as much as anyone. I just really like kale. (Also: I sometimes wonder what chocolate-covered kale would taste like.)
📋 What do we need?
🔪 How to make this creamy breakfast eggs recipe for one
Full recipe with detailed steps is in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Heat the cream in a small frying pan until hot but not boiling, then add chopped kale and most of the grated cheddar. Put a lid on and let the kale wilt for about a minute.
- Create a well in the centre of the kale and crack an egg into it.
- Sprinkle the reserved pinch of cheddar, season with salt and pepper, replace the lid and cook over low heat for 5–7 minutes until the white is set and the yolk is at your preferred doneness.
- Serve straight from the pan, with toast soldiers for dipping if you like.
Although it’s a very simple dish, this is actually my fifth iteration of eggs and kale. Early versions involved baking the eggs in the oven (en cocotte), but the kale tended to crisp up too much whether I used a water bath or not. Later attempts added more cream or covered the dish in the oven, but those approaches either felt too heavy or left the kale mushy and the eggs overcooked.
Eventually I realised a stovetop pan gives the best control over heat and timing. That’s how version five — this creamy eggs and kale — was born, and it’s the method I use now.
🍲 More fantastic Breakfast recipes
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Creamy Eggs and Kale Breakfast Recipe
1 minute
8 minutes
9 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp heavy/double cream
- 35 g (1/3 cup) kale chopped
- 25 g (1/4 cup) grated cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg
- pinch salt and pepper
To serve:
- toast ‘soldiers’ for dipping optional
Instructions
-
Heat the cream in a small frying pan over a medium heat until hot but not boiling.
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Stir in the kale and sprinkle on all but a pinch of the grated cheese.
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Cover the pan and let the kale wilt on low heat for 1 minute.
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Remove the lid and make a well in the centre of the kale large enough for the egg white to spread.
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Crack the egg into the well, sprinkle with the reserved cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper.
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Cover again and cook on low for 5–7 minutes until the egg white is set and the yolk is cooked to your liking.
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Serve straight from the pan, on its own or with toast for dipping.
Video
Notes
- Make the well large enough so the egg white can spread; this helps the white cook faster than the yolk and prevents a hard yolk.
- Keep checking by removing the lid and giving the pan a little wobble to ensure the white is set and the yolk remains soft.
- Once the yolk is perfect, serve immediately.
Can I make it ahead?
No — this recipe is best made and served immediately.
Can I use single (half-fat) cream or crème fraîche instead?
Do not use single (half-fat) cream — it will split when heated. Full-fat crème fraîche can be used as a swap if you prefer a slightly tangier finish.
Can I add an extra egg?
Yes. Make two wells in the kale and cook for the same amount of time as for one egg.
Making it for two people
Double the ingredients and use a larger frying pan. You can share straight from the pan if you’re feeling sociable.
Nutritional information is per serving, without the toast.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was first published in November 2014 and updated in February 2021 with new information, photos and a video.
Some links in this post may be affiliate links — if you buy through them I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nutritional information is approximate and can vary. Please refer to the site’s terms and conditions for more details.