Steaming Onions: Egg-Cellent Soft Boiled Side Dish

Steaming is a great way to cook eggs and onions. Eggs can be steamed in a steamer basket or a pot with water at the bottom. This method makes the eggs easier to peel and more tender. Onions can be steamed in a pot of water, in a milk-and-butter broth, or in a microwave. A whole onion can be steamed and served with an egg, creating a simple yet indulgent dish.

How to steam an egg

Steaming eggs is a great way to cook them gently and evenly, and it makes them easier to peel than boiled eggs. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam an egg:

Prepare the pot and steamer basket:

First, you need to decide whether to use a steamer basket or not. If you are using a steamer basket, fill a saucepan with enough water to reach the bottom of the basket (about 1 inch of water). If you are not using a steamer basket, fill the bottom of a saucepan with 1/2 inch of water.

Heat the water and add the eggs:

Heat the water on high heat until it is boiling and producing steam. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and gently place the eggs at the bottom of the steamer basket or the saucepan. Turn the heat back on to medium-high, and cover the pot. It is best to cook the eggs in a single layer if possible, but you can stack them if needed—just be aware that this may increase the cooking time.

Set the timer and steam the eggs:

The steaming time will depend on how you like your eggs cooked. Set a timer for 6 minutes for soft-boiled eggs, 10 minutes for hard-boiled eggs with a translucent yolk, or 12-15 minutes for cooked-through hard-boiled eggs. If you have stacked your eggs, you may need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.

Cool the eggs:

After steaming, remove the eggs with a spoon and place them in a bowl of icy cold water to cool down. If you are serving the eggs cold, it is best to leave them in the ice water for at least 15 minutes before peeling. If you are serving them hot, you can peel them immediately after cooling them down.

Peel the eggs:

To peel the eggs, gently tap them on the side of the sink until the shell is cracked all over. Then, remove the shell under a thin stream of running water. The water will help to lift the shell off the egg.

Storage:

You can store shell-on cooked eggs in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If the eggs are peeled, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

How to steam an onion

Steaming an onion is a great way to cook the vegetable whole while infusing it with flavour. This simple technique can be used to create a tasty broth that can be served as a soup or stew.

Firstly, peel the onion, leaving it whole. Place the peeled onion in a saucepan and add enough water to cover the onion. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the onion simmer until it is soft and tender but not falling apart. This should take around 45 minutes, depending on the size of the onion.

Once the onion is cooked, drain it in a colander. Return the onion to the pot and add milk and butter. Warm the milk but do not let it boil. Season the onion with salt and pepper to taste.

The onion can be served in a bowl with some of the warm milk poured over it and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. This method of cooking onions is a simple classic New England dish that delivers big flavour.

Alternatively, for a Japanese-style steamed onion, cut the onion into four equal-sized wedges and place them on a heat-safe dish. Loosely cover the dish with plastic wrap or an unsealed lid and microwave for around 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Arrange the onion wedges on plates and sprinkle with soy sauce and katsuobushi before serving.

Another option is to cook the onion slowly in a frying pan with oil until it is golden brown and very soft. This will create an ultra-caramelized onion with a slightly burnt texture, which can be served as a side dish or used in other recipes.

How to peel a steamed egg

Steaming is a great way to cook hard-boiled eggs, as it makes them easier to peel. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to peel a steamed egg:

• Prepare your equipment: You will need a large pot with a steamer basket insert and a lid. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can fill the bottom of a saucepan with 1/2 inch of water instead.
• Heat the water: Fill the pot with 1 inch of water and place it on the stove over high heat. Bring the water to a boil.
• Add the eggs: Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and gently place your eggs at the bottom of the steamer basket or directly into the pan if you don't have a steamer basket.
• Cover and steam: Turn the heat back on to medium-high and cover the pot with the lid. For soft-boiled eggs, steam for 6 minutes. For hard-boiled eggs, steam for 10-15 minutes, depending on how firm you like the yolk.
• Cool the eggs: When the eggs are done, remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl of ice water or run cold water directly into the pan to quickly cool them down. This step is important to stop the cooking process and make the eggs easier to handle.
• Crack the shell: Once the eggs are cool, gently tap them on your counter or a hard surface to crack the shell all over.
• Peel the shell: Start peeling the shell from the larger end of the egg, where the air pocket is. Use your thumbs to gently lift the shell away from the egg white. You can do this under a thin stream of running water, which will help get under the shell and lift it off the egg more easily.
• Enjoy your eggs: Your peeled steamed eggs are now ready to be enjoyed! You can serve them hot or cold, depending on your preference.

By following these steps, you will have perfectly peeled steamed eggs that are ready to be used in your favourite recipes or enjoyed as a healthy snack!

How to boil an onion

Boiling an onion is a simple process, but it delivers big flavour. This method of cooking onions is the basis for the traditional New England dish, boiled onions, and is also used in an Ashkenazic dish called "eier mit tsibeles" in Yiddish. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to boil an onion:

First, you will need to peel the onion, leaving it whole. Take care not to cut into the layers beneath the skin as you peel. Place the peeled onion in a saucepan and add enough water to cover the onion. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the onion simmer gently. The onion is done when it is soft and tender but not falling apart. This should take around 45 minutes, depending on the size of the onion.

Once the onion is cooked, drain it in a colander. Return the drained onion to the pot and add milk and butter. Warm the milk, but do not let it boil. Finally, season the onion with salt and pepper to taste.

Boiled onions can be served in individual bowls with a little warm milk poured over them and a sprinkle of salt and pepper on top. The milk broth takes on a subtle oniony flavour, which many people enjoy.

Alternatively, you can steam an onion in the microwave. First, peel a new onion and divide it into four equal-sized wedges. Place the wedges on a heat-safe dish and loosely cover them with plastic wrap or an unsealed lid. Microwave for about 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Arrange the steamed onion wedges on plates and sprinkle with soy sauce and katsuobushi before serving.

How to serve steamed eggs

Preparation

Before serving steamed eggs, you must first prepare them. Here is a simple method for steaming eggs:

• Use a steamer basket or a deep pot with a lid and a steaming rack.
• Fill the pot with around an inch of water and place it on high heat until the water boils and produces steam.
• If using a steamer basket, gently place the eggs inside. If not, carefully place them at the bottom of the pot.
• Cover the pot and turn the heat down to medium-high.
• For soft-boiled eggs, steam for around 6 minutes. For hard-boiled eggs, steam for 10-12 minutes.
• Once the eggs are cooked to your liking, remove them from the pot with a spoon and place them in a bowl of icy cold water to cool them down quickly.
• To peel the eggs, gently tap the shell all over to crack it, then remove it under a thin stream of running water.

Serving Ideas

There are many ways to serve steamed eggs. Here are some suggestions:

• If you are serving the eggs hot, they can be served immediately after cooking.
• If you are serving them cold, place the eggs in a bowl of ice water for at least 15 minutes to cool them down, then peel and serve.
• For a simple dish, serve the steamed eggs as they are with some light seasoning, such as a drizzle of light soy sauce and sesame oil.
• For a more substantial meal, serve the steamed eggs with a side of crispy pork, salted duck eggs, or thousand-year-old eggs.
• For a rustic dish, add some vegetables like okra or mushrooms.
• For a fancier presentation, serve the steamed eggs in individual ramekins with some scallions or chives sprinkled on top.
• If you want to get creative, treat the steamed eggs as a blank canvas and add your own choice of toppings and garnishes.

Frequently asked questions