How to make steamed eggs like a pro--Lisa

Grab a random person and ask them to list ways to cook eggs. The most common answers would be, “scrambled, boiled, fried,” and maybe “poached” and “pickled” here or there. But how many people do you know who eat their eggs steamed? This may have something to do with culture, because Asians such as Koreans and Japanese may commonly enjoy steamed eggs but Americans and Europeans are not as exposed to them. As an Asian who grew up in an Asian family in an Asian country living the Asian ways, I was very much exposed to steamed eggs, and now I realize, that this wonderful food must be shared among my closest friends and acquaintances. I realized not a lot of people know about steamed eggs, and knew I had to spread the pleasure around to everyone. So, if you ever get tired of eating eggs that are cooked the same old way each time, this is the perfect manual! Fried, poached, boiled, scrambled eggs may be good at first, but one’s bound to seek for new ways to enjoy eggs. Process of steaming eggs is much easier than one would think it would be, and the great thing about it is that it increases the quantity of an egg so it would fill up a stomach better than one fried egg. It’s soft and easy for everyone at all ages to eat. Those with weak teeth can enjoy eggs without pain or discomfort.

Ingredients

·       Microwavable bowl (glass or ceramic)

·       Minimum 2 eggs ( for one to two people, use 2 eggs. More than two, use as many number of eggs as there are number of people)

·       Water

·       Salt

·       Plastic wrap or lid

·       Rice (optional)

Steps

·       Prepare a microwavable bowl and crack two eggs into it. Be sure the bowl is big enough to contain about 4 eggs worth of content. Dispose of eggshells.

·       Beat eggs clockwise or counterclockwise (one way only!) with whisk or spoon until the white and yolk are well mixed together. If you change direction of whisking in the midst of beating the eggs, the egg will not have its soft texture in the end.

·       Add two pinches of salt to season the eggs, unless you prefer it bland.

·       Beat again until the salt has been dissolved into the egg mixture.

·       Add water to the egg mix at a ratio of 1:1. Stir together until mixture ends a watery yellow.

·       Put lid or plastic wrap over the bowl and put in microwave for 2 minutes.  Lid will prevent any spills from boiling out of the bowl in the extreme heat of the microwave.

·       Note: Beware the heat! Use kitchen gloves to prevent burning of hands.

·       Serve hot, best with hot white rice

·       Content should look fluffy and soft like yellow pudding. Dip a spoon inside to confirm that the insides have been thoroughly cooked. There will be excess water but you don’t have to drain it. People prefer for it to have plenty of excess juice to prevent eggs from becoming dry. If the egg is too watery and egg plops down to the mixture, put back into microwave and heat for 30 seconds. Continue heating at 30 seconds until eggs are cooked to desire.

I once told my mom when I was 4 years old, after several years of loving eggs that I wanted to eat them in a different way. I thought this would be a huge challenge for my mother because I thought eggs were only supposed to be eaten fried, scrambled, boiled, or poached. However, the next day, my mom served me something that looked like yellow pudding for breakfast. I had no idea that it would be eggs; so naturally, I was very surprised to taste it and realize that not only was it not sweet like a pudding, it tasted like eggs, but a thousand times better! My mother had steamed the eggs, and I knew this was my favorite style of eating eggs as soon as I felt the texture and swallowed it. My mother explained that she often fed me steamed eggs instead of baby food when I was a toddler because it was easy to make and to swallow with no teeth, and also because it was healthier than store bought processed baby foods. Because I had much interest in cooking as a child, I immediately learned how to make it, and was very surprised to find that it was simple and quick to make!