Huevos Pericos (Colombian Scrambled Eggs with Tomato and Scallion)
In short: Soft scrambled eggs cooked with ripe tomato and scallion, the everyday Colombian breakfast, served with arepa, hot chocolate or coffee. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 2 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 380 kcal
Huevos pericos are the scrambled eggs Colombians make on busy mornings, with tomato and scallion softened first so the eggs stay soft and juicy. Perico means parakeet, a nod to the red and green flecks. Serve them with a warm arepa and hot chocolate or coffee. The dish takes about ten minutes and works for weekend brunch too.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook the scallions for 1 minute, until they soften.
- Add the tomatoes, cumin and a pinch of the salt. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until most of the juice has evaporated and the tomatoes are soft.
- Beat the eggs with the remaining salt until just mixed. Pour them over the tomatoes and lower the heat.
- Stir gently with a spatula, pulling the eggs from the edges toward the center, for 2 to 3 minutes, until set but still soft and moist, with no visible liquid egg.
- Serve immediately with warm arepas.
Tips
- Seed the tomatoes first so the eggs do not turn watery. Take the pan off the heat just before the eggs look done, because they keep cooking in the hot pan.
- Many cooks use butter instead of oil for a richer flavor, and a handful of grated fresh cheese stirred in at the end is a common addition.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between huevos pericos and plain scrambled eggs?
Pericos are scrambled with tomato and scallion that are cooked first. This adds flavor and moisture and gives a looser, juicier texture than plain scrambled eggs.
What do you serve with huevos pericos?
Colombians serve them with arepa, hot chocolate or coffee, and sometimes with fried plantain or a slice of fresh cheese.
Can I make huevos pericos ahead of time?
Make the tomato and scallion base up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it. Reheat it and add beaten eggs fresh, because scrambled eggs turn dry when reheated.
How long does it take to make Huevos Pericos (Colombian Scrambled Eggs with Tomato and Scallion)?
About 15 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Huevos Pericos (Colombian Scrambled Eggs with Tomato and Scallion)?
About 380 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 36 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
