I know people describing their dreams is boring, especially when they can only recall snippets... But let me tell you about a snippet of a dream I had, so you'll understand why these Easter deviled eggs exist and why I renamed them that.
My Deviled Egg Dream
Let's rewind to a few week ago, early in that period of semi-wakefulness when pale gray light is filtering around the edges of the curtains. That's the time when you're going to remember any dream details, if you're going to at all. I was beginning to stir from this dream I had wherein I recalled a snippet. In the dream I was making deviled eggs in my kitchen, but instead of topping them with sea salt, ground black pepper, and paprika, I veered off course.
I took a jar of quick pickled red onion that was cut into thin slices and laid two pieces into a cross shape atop the deviled egg, which I smoothed flat. Normally I mound up the filling, or pipe it into the egg white. Then I took a very specific type of microgreen — the amaranth microgreen — grown by Meadows Specialty Farm, and delicately placed it in a small semicircle at the top of the onion cross. It was a crown of... thorns. In my dream I declared them Jesus Eggs.
I woke up with that image affixed in my mind. Wow, Jesus eggs. Before you go thinking I am sacrilegious, just think about the fact that I know enough about the Bible to put a crown of thorns over the cross. I don't go to church these days, I don't practice religion, and don't really care to (so save it, thanks). But still, Jesus eggs. By the way, they are delicious.
Easter Deviled Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1-2 tablespoons yellow prepared mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
- pickled red onions
- amaranth microgreens (or other microgreens)
Instructions
- Hard boil the eggs using your preferred method. Here's mine: put 1 cup of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot insert. Put the trivet in the bottom. Place the eggs on top of the trivet and put the lid on. Set to sealing. Press Manual and set the timer for 5 minutes. Once the timer goes off, set your stove or phone timer for 5 minutes. After that time has elapsed, carefully release the pressure using the lid valve. Use tongs to remove the hot eggs to an ice water bath. Let rest submerged for 5 minutes. Remove from water, dry off, and peel.
- Slice the eggs in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the yolk and place in a mixing bowl. Repeat for all 12 halves. For clean cuts, wipe the yolk off the blade before each cut.
- Mix together the yolks, mayo, and mustard. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Use a spoon to put the yolk mixture back in each egg half. Smooth it out well so you have a flat egg surface to work with. You'll probably have a little leftover yolk mixture here.
- Use a knife as needed to cut the pickled onions into the length needed and make crosses on top of each egg. Lightly press the cross into the yolk mixture with your finger to secure it.
- Sprinkle the top part of the cross with amaranth microgreens in whatever amount you want, but use my photos for reference.
- Serve immediately. These can keep in a tightly sealed plastic container in the fridge for a few days but the onions may discolor slightly due to oxidization.
Source the Ingredients
Make your pickled onions ahead of time with this recipe for pickled red onions from Foodie Crush. You only need a small handful of pieces for this particular project, but go ahead and make a full onion's worth. There are tons of ways to use these in other meals!
As for the microgreens, I got my amaranth microgreens from Meadows Specialty Farms. In my case, I picked some up from Primal Gourmet, but I've also seen them at 14 Carrot in Lexington. If you're not in the Midlands of South Carolina, you can grow your own amaranth microgreens, source them from health food stores, or try another type of microgreen that's more readily available in your area. Amaranth has a slightly nutty taste, like quinoa. It's also a vibrant fuschia and is more angular, giving it a "thorny" look like I was going for here.
They'd be a great addition for your Easter celebration. They aren't offensive, I don't think, as long as you don't tell your preacher they were called Jesus eggs in some crazy food writer's dream. Just do like I did for this post and rename them Easter deviled eggs.
Looking for more Easter recipes?