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    Home » Breakfast

    Paprika Fried Egg

    4.86 from 7 votes
    Published by Rebecca Eisenberg ⁠— August 25, 2021 (updated August 23, 2022) — 20 Comments

    422 shares
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    This post may contain affiliate links

    paprika fried egg on toast

    This paprika fried egg recipe might seem counterintuitive, but will help you get a well-seasoned egg yolk and flavorful egg white every time. Dig into your spice cabinet and you can really get creative with this technique!

    An extreme close up shot of a paprika fried egg on toast with a zig-zag of bright red hot sauce over the top.

    Try combining this technique with my two-step trick for a perfectly runny egg yolk and serving it up on a slice of crusty no knead bread or soft homemade English muffins!

    Why This Technique Works

    One of the biggest challenges when it comes to making any fried egg is getting the seasoning deep into the egg white.

    Whether you're serving your fried egg sunny-side up, over-easy, over-medium, poached, hard-boiled, or fried, by the time you add salt and pepper, the white has begun to set. And if the yolk is whole, it's hard to get salt and pepper into that golden center.

    Since working from home, an egg on toast (or cacio e pepe egg-in-toast) has become one of my quick go-to breakfasts. For years I seasoned fried eggs the way most people do, with a little salt and pepper; occasionally mixing it up and using Trader Joe's lemon pepper instead.

    But the best way to season a fried egg, imo, is with a bit of paprika bloomed in oil before the egg even hits the pan. Once I started doing this, there was no going back.

    An overhead shot of a paprika fried egg on toast with a zig zag of hot sauce over the top. A fork rests to the right of the toast. The plate is flat and black with a low lip and is sitting on top of a linen napkin with a floral embroidery in the corner.

    🍳 Ingredient notes

    Here's what you'll need to make this well seasoned fried egg:

    • Egg - Whatever size or type of egg you like. Wanna try this with an ostrich egg? Go for it.
    • Oil - Vegetable or olive oil, or if you prefer avocado or sesame oil, that's fine too. Peanut oil? Also fine. You could even do this with butter.
    • Paprika - See notes below for how to pick types of paprika.
    • Salt and pepper - To season!

    🍳 How to make a paprika fried egg

    This technique is perhaps unconventional, but it's how I ensure that the paprika flavor penetrates the egg white and egg yolk as much as possible. And when you keep your yolk runny, you can still dip your toast in it without feeling the need to add more salt — the flavor is already there.

    (BTW, in doing some research for this post I was delighted to learn that a similar technique is featured on Food 52 as a "Genius Recipe" so perhaps not as unconventional as I thought!)

    Instead of cracking the egg into the pan and then seasoning it with salt and pepper, start by blooming the salt, pepper, and paprika in the pan and then add the egg.

    (As always, remember to heat your stainless steel pans before adding oil.)

    The hot oil helps intensify the flavor of the paprika, which will fizz a little and become fragrant and dark red very quickly. By blooming the spices first, when the egg settles into the pan, the oil is already packed with flavor that cooks right into the egg.

    Once you crack the egg into the pan, all it needs is one last teeny-tiny pinch of salt and a grind of pepper over the yolk before it firms up to seal the yolk between two layers of flavor.

    Letting the egg it cook low and slow gives the yolk and the egg white time to absorb the flavors in the pan without overcooking it. A teaspoon of water added to the pan before you cover it creates steam, which helps the surface of the egg cook more evenly.

    TIP: At high heat, paprika burns quickly and takes on a bitter, unpleasant taste. Always cook low and slow to bloom the paprika, rather than burning it.

    🌶 Why paprika is perfect for seasoning eggs

    Salt intensifies the egg flavor, pepper adds some spice, and the paprika adds a subtle warmth and a sweetness.

    Of course, depending on what kind of paprika you use, you can really play around with flavor a lot! Some will make for a spicy fried egg while others will make it more savory and sweet.

    Fresh peppers are a classic addition to scrambled eggs and omelets, so it makes sense that paprika — which is made from red peppers — is one of the best seasonings for a fried egg.

    Paprika is also often sprinkled over deviled eggs, so when you think about it, it's kind of weird that we haven't always served fried eggs like this.

    🌶 Types of paprika

    There are many different kinds of paprika to choose from. I usually use a mild and sweet paprika, but sometimes reach for a smoked or hot paprika when I want a little more of a kick.

    There are Hungarian paprikas and Spanish paprikas and within them, even more variations.

    There's a lot of room to explore, and so many great ways to spice up fried eggs with paprika! Be careful with the spicier paprikas though... a little goes a LONG way.

    Here are some types of paprika to try:

    • Hungarian Paprika - Spicy taste but not spicy hot.
    • Smoked Spanish Sweet Paprika - A sweet, rich smoky flavor.
    • Smoked Paprika - Adds a woodsy, smoky flavor. Very warm and cozy.
    • Hungarian Half-Sharp Paprika - Tastes like a combination of red bell pepper and fiery cayenne pepper. Use this for a spicy fried egg.

    There is no "right" paprika to use for a paprika fried egg — whichever one you like best (or already have in your kitchen) is the one you should use.

    an overhead shot of a fried egg on toast with a zigzag of hot sauce

    📋 Take your paprika fried eggs to the next level

    Now that you know how to make a paprika fried egg, consider serving yours:

    • On a slice of crusty cheddar-jalapeño bread
    • Inside a bell pepper ring
    • With finely grated fresh parmesan over the top
    • Cooked in bacon fat
    • On a juicy turkey burger
    • Over smashed avocado or small batch guacamole
    • With a crispy scallion potato pancake
    • With a zig-zag of homemade hot sauce
    • Others???? Leave a comment below and tell me how you serve yours!

    5 star reader review

    “Best fried egg recipe!! I bloom more paprika in butter and add to my toast. This recipe is great for scrambled eggs too, but my favorite application is a paprika fried egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. Yum!”

    —Gracen
    Add your review →

    🧂 Other great seasonings for eggs

    You don't have to stop with paprika. There are lots of other herbs and spices that benefit from being bloomed in oil before you add your egg. Here are some to try:

    1. Za'atar - A Middle Eastern spice blend made from sumac, sesame, cumin, and other herbs.
    2. Pepper & Lemon Seasoning - A well-balanced blend of black pepper and tangy lemon zest.
    3. Berbere - A hot spice blend made from paprika, salt, coriander, ginger, cumin, methi leaves, cayenne, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and garlic. (Berbere is also great on popcorn!)
    4. Chives - Fresh or dried, perfect if you want that onion-y flavor without the punch of raw onion.
    5. Girl Carnivore's Over Easy Egg & Everything Seasoning - A spice blend designed specifically for eggs featuring citrus, dill, and tomato flakes.
    6. Penzey's Sandwich Sprinkle - This spice blend has a cult following for good reason. It's a great addition to sandwiches, but the combo of salt, garlic, black pepper, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram is also great with a fried egg.
    7. European Peppercorn Blend - Freshly cracked peppercorns bloom beautifully in warm oil and this blend of Tellicherry and white Sarawak peppercorns is the perfect pairing for a delicate protein like eggs.
    8. Chile De Arbol and Cumin Seeds with a pinch of Chile Powder - This combo from Priya Krishna's Indian-ish cookbook makes up a condiment called Chhonk which can be stirred into stews or drizzled over toasts. It's so good, and a great base for frying eggs.
    9. Rosemary Dijon - Tangy dijon with the herbal freshness of rosemary.
    10. Amore Pizza Seasoning - A blend of minced garlic, basil, salt, garlic, thyme, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, pepper, chili flakes, and minced onion.

    🔪 Suggested tools

    • Wide slotted turner (aka fish spatula) for removing the egg from the pan.
    • Small, non-stick skillet with lid (if the lid doesn't fit perfectly, that's okay, as long as it will cover the egg without squishing it).
    an extreme close up of a paprika fried egg on a piece of toast with hot sauce

    💭 Technique FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you use this technique with fresh herbs? You can but I don't recommend it. Fresh herbs are much more delicate than their dried counterparts and will quickly wilt and become brown and unappetizing looking. Fresh herbs are better added at the end of the egg cooking process.

    Do you need to use oil if using a non-stick pan? For this technique, I recommend it. The idea is to bloom the spices in the oil and infuse the oil with flavor. Without the oil, you're just toasting the herbs and spices which is fine but will give you a different flavor profile. It's also much easier to accidentally burn the spices this way.

    How do you know when oil is shimmering? When the oil has loosened up and moves fluidly around the pan. If you look closely you should see a rippling effect as the oil moves across the surface. Check out the gifs in my post about heating stainless steel pans for good visuals and a detailed explanation of what "shimmering" oil looks like!

    Can you add paprika to scrambled eggs? Yep! Just be careful — if you add too much paprika to the oil in the pan before you add the eggs or if you whisk too much paprika into the raw eggs before cooking, you'll end up with orange-red scrambled eggs. If you don't mind orange-red scrambled eggs go for it, otherwise I would recommend reserving the paprika to shake overtop once they're cooked.

    📖 Recipe

    a close up of a paprika fried egg

    paprika-fried egg on toast

    Rebecca Eisenberg
    This technique will help you get a well-seasoned egg every time. Depending on your pan and how hot your stove is you may have to adjust the temperature and cook times to achieve your desired results. Keep a close eye on your egg while it cooks — don't wander off!
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved! Email
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 egg

    Equipment

    • Non-stick pan
    • Flexible fish turner spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 large egg
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 slice toast
    • unsalted butter (room temp)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Toast and butter a slice of bread. Set aside.
    • Heat oil in a small non-stick skillet on low heat.
    • When oil is shimmering, add the salt, pepper, and paprika to the pan. Swirl to distribute. The spices will quickly sizzle slightly and become fragrant.
    • Crack the egg directly into the skillet on top of wherever the oil and spices have collected. Add an itty-bitty-teeny-tiny pinch of salt directly over the yolk, along with another quick grind of pepper.
    • When the egg whites become translucent (about 30 seconds), gently shake the pan side to side to loosen the egg so it can slide around the pan.
    • Carefully tilt the pan forward so the egg and oil slide into the curve of the pan, and so the oil comes up over the top of the egg just slightly to encourage the surface of the egg to cook. You can also spoon the oil over the egg.
    • Add a small splash of water to the skillet and immediately cover it to steam the surface of the egg. Reduce temperature to simmer.
      Set a timer for 3-5 minutes, checking periodically to make sure the egg isn't sticking to the bottom and to prevent overcooking. Adjust the heat or add additional teaspoons of water as needed.
    • The egg is done when the egg whites have completely solidified and there's no uncooked egg white on the surface of the egg. The egg yolk may have a thin layer of cooked egg white over the surface, but the yolk itself should still appear jiggly when you shake the pan.
    • Use a spatula to transfer the egg from the skillet to the buttered toast.

    RECIPE NOTES

    • If paprika isn't your thing, you can use this technique with any of your favorite egg seasonings.
    • If you aren't confident about cracking directly into the skillet, crack the egg into a small bowl first so you can remove any shell pieces before adding to the skillet.

    YOUR NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes. Only you can see these.
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and let me how it was!

    This post was originally published on 1/16/2020.

    BreakfastUnder 30 MinutesFried
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.86 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Zachary

      April 02, 2021 at 5:29 pm

      5 stars
      This is now one of my favorite methods of cooking eggs for breakfast sandwiches to give them more flavor (though I cook my egg all the way through because I'm weird like that).

      Reply
      • Monika

        September 09, 2021 at 3:15 pm

        Yum! Just remember to bed careful with the paprika - it has a high sugar content so it burns VERY easily and very quickly! Be sure to do it on low and never high heat because burned paprika is awfully bitter.

        Reply
        • Rebecca

          September 09, 2021 at 3:21 pm

          I can't find any sources about paprika having high sugar content being the reason for this, but it can burn quickly: https://www.patiencefruitco.com/en-us/the-patience-club/the-mystery-of-paprika/

          Thanks for sharing, Monika! I'll update the post to include this tip.

          Reply
    2. Tom

      September 09, 2021 at 7:56 pm

      5 stars
      I do a very similar thing - Cumin and red pepper flakes

      Reply
    3. Gracen

      January 16, 2022 at 11:52 pm

      5 stars
      Best fried egg recipe!! I bloom more paprika in butter and add to my toast. This recipe is great for scrambled eggs too, but my favorite application is a paprika fried egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. Yum!

      Reply
      • Rebecca

        January 18, 2022 at 10:52 am

        This sounds delicious!!!

        Reply
    4. Ole

      September 13, 2022 at 8:55 am

      Add a splash of Worcestershire Sauce! 🙂

      Reply

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