gunpowder tea-STAINED EGGS

These are wonderful served all by themselves in lieu of traditional deviled eggs, but also incredibly delicious as accompaniments to salads, soups, noodles, and rice bowls.

Gunpowder Tea Eggs

Serves:  8 to 10 | Prep, Cook Time:  12 hours 

INGREDIENTS

12 large brown eggs

½ cup soy sauce

¼ cup sake or dry sherry

1 tablespoon Chinese five spice

2 teaspoons sugar

3 slices peeled, fresh ginger

1 teaspoon whole Sichuan or black peppercorns

1 teaspoon coarse salt

3 bags Gunpowder Green Tea, or oolong or jasmine

 

TECHNIQUE

To begin, make sure the eggs sit at room temperature for about an hour – cold eggs are more likely to cracker during the cooking process. 

Combine the soy sauce, sake, sugar, ginger, five spice, peppercorns and salt in a medium saucepan.  Add three cups of water with tea bags, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce the heat to a simmer while preparing the eggs; then allow to cool a bit. 

Bring a deep saucepan filled halfway with water to a boil, then carefully (yet quickly) add the eggs to the water with a slotted spoon – allow to cook for 6 minutes for a jammy egg, 7 minutes for set-yolks, and 8 to 10 minutes for hard-boiled yolks.  When desired time is reached, remove eggs one at a time, and submerge in a bowl of ice-cold water.  Allow eggs to cool, then remove. 

Tap the shells of the eggs with a spoon to create a marbled presentation – taking care to make some cracks larger than others.  For solid tea-colored eggs, remove all the shells.  Transfer eggs to the soy mixture and submerge completely; then allow to rest in the fridge for at least 12 hours or up to 2 days.  Before serving, peel eggs completely to reveal marbled tea-stained patterns.

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