Eggs in Soy and Chili (Son-in-Law Eggs)
Serves 6.
Ingredients
6 eggs
3 tablespoons oil
1 medium onion, sliced thinly
2 fresh chillies, sliced
2 tablespoons palm sugar
3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons instant tamarind pulp
1 tablespoon fish sauce
coriander leaves
Directions
Bring the eggs to the boil, stirring gently to centre the yolks. Simmer for 8 minutes, then run cold water into the pot until they are quite cold. Shell the eggs and wipe dry on paper towels. Pierce each one 2-3 times with a very fine toothpick.
Heat the oil in a wok and fry the eggs until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Pour off all but a tablespoon of the oil. Heat it again and stir-fry the onion and chilies until the onion is golden and slightly crisp. Drain. Mix the palm sugar, water, tamarind and fish sauce. Stir over low heat for 5 minutes or until slightly thick.
Pour the sauce over the eggs, sprinkle the fried onion and chillies over, and garnish with coriander leaves and a chili 'flower'.
Serve with rice.
Recipe excerpted from Encyclopedia of Asian Food by Charmaine Solomon (Periplus Editions, 1998)