It’s almost time for Halloween, which means it’s time for creepy food and spooky treats! Here’s my spooky Halloween version of a classic party-favourite: the deviled egg (with a name like that, they already perfectly fit the occasion). Sure, deviled eggs might be thought of as a bit old-fashioned, but who doesn’t love a good ol’ boiled egg? Made to look like a platter of haunting bright-yellow cat eyes, these eggs will surely thrill the guests at your next Halloween party!
Basic recipes for deviled eggs generally involve some mixture of mustard, powdered paprika and something creamy such as mayonnaise, softened butter, or sour cream. While I believe the combination of eggs and butter is golden, I am sticking to some good old mayonnaise for my recipe. As for the ‘deviled’ part, there are many ways to go about it.
I suppose foods described as ‘deviled’ should be spicy in some way. Boiled eggs basically go with any flavor, so, for the ‘spice’ element I sometimes go for a mixture of curry powder, ground cumin, cayenne powder, and some turmeric powder, the latter of which is mostly for color. However, this time I decided to stick to a more traditional, simple recipe. Commonly, English-, or Dijon mustard is a favorite seasoning to add to deviled eggs in order to give them a sufficient punch. I use some hot English mustard in my recipe as well, but because I like my deviled eggs to be a bit more ‘devilish’, I also added a bit of cayenne powder and a dash of Tabasco for a bit of extra heat.
Now, about the boiled eggs: of course, most people know how to make a hard-boiled egg, but there are still some minor tips to follow just in case.
First of all, yes, the eggs should be hard boiled, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be overcooked! Make sure you do not boil the eggs too long, or on too high heat. Ever seen yolks turn that horrible gray color? While still edible, this discoloration of the yolk – caused by a chemical reaction when the egg is overcooked – usually means the yolk is very dry and chalky… it also just makes any hard-boiled egg dish look less appetizing. For this recipe the color of the yolks is especially important: a good cat eye should be as yellow as can be… with only a little help of some turmeric powder to help achieve some extra brightness, of course.
So how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg for this dish? Cover your eggs with cold water and bring to a boil. As the water starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat and leave the eggs in the hot water for 10 minutes. Then, quickly place them under some cold running water to stop the cooking process and get the shell to release easier and they are ready to go! Super easy.
Another tip I’ve learned is that while you are likely to run to the store to get a super fresh box of eggs to make your snack, you are better off buying them a few days in advance. Very fresh eggs are usually more difficult to peel than some that are a bit older. Peeling the eggs under a cold running tap sometimes helps to release the peel somewhat, but eggs that are a couple of days old really might save you from ending up with a plate full of broken and clumsily peeled eggs.
These eggs are delicious at any party, really. Not making them for Halloween? Simply chop up the olives to sprinkle on top of the eggs. Or make them according to the recipe… it’s okay to freak out your friends on any other day as well, right?
Cat Eye Deviled Eggs (Halloween)
- V
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon English mustard
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder, or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 – 3 pitted black olives, cut into pointed wedges
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco (optional)
- Celery leaves, or parsley for decoration (optional)
Method
- Cover eggs with cold water and bring water to a boil. When the water starts to boil, remove the eggs from the heat and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 minutes to create the perfect hard-boiled eggs that are not overcooked, dry and rubbery.
- When the eggs are done, drain the water and place them under cold running water until they have completely cooled down. When the eggs are completely cool to the touch, peel them.
- Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and gently remove the cooked yolks without damaging the egg-whites.
- In a bowl, mash the yolks with a fork. Add all other ingredients listed except for the olives. Mix all the ingredients together until you end up with a smooth consistency.
- With a piping bag, or spoon evenly refill the egg whites with the yolk mixture.
- To make the eggs look like cat eyes, cut black olives lengthwise into pointed wedges. Place one olive wedge on top of each ‘yolk’.
- To serve: place the eyeballs on top of a bed of celery leaves, or parsley to avoid the eggs from moving and sliding off the plate. The leaves may of course be eaten together with the eggs (optional).
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