I can't resist quail eggs. In truth, they taste like regular chicken eggs, but there's a special charm to them. Maybe I never escaped the influence of the best gift I ever received as a child, a Deluxe Easy Bake Oven. I still fondly remember the tiny layer cakes and cookies that I baked. So, my attraction to miniature foods makes my heart melt when I see an iitty bitty carton of quail eggs. Just think of the elfish possibilities: Fried or poached eggs and toad's in the hole no bigger than a quarter. Or just boil them and hold your own Cool Hand Luke style egg-eating contest. I boiled the quail eggs you see in the picture, but decided to make deviled eggs with them. Perfect for a party, or able to tempt the most food aversive child, perhaps?
I didn't have any formal recipe for this. A teaspoon of finely chopped onion, some sweet relish, fresh chopped dill, and mayo mixed with the cooked yolks did the trick for me. Use any flavoring you wish, then sit back, eat your eggs and think of different ways to prepare them.
Pickled baby beets and quail eggs. I'm smitten with the idea.
Boiled Quail Eggs
(About 10 calories per egg!)
quail eggs
a sauce pan of water
Add the eggs to the water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let them sit in the hot water for 4-7 minutes. Plunge eggs into cold water, and peel them while they are still warm.
I love these little guys, too. I have a little tiny frying pan that is just perfect for 2, sunny-side up!
Posted by: katie | March 03, 2008 at 01:29 AM
They are just cuter than chicken eggs. I love them too.
Posted by: peabody | March 03, 2008 at 02:05 AM
Given how small and cute these are, they make much more sense to offer as appetizers.
Posted by: Peter | March 03, 2008 at 02:14 AM
oh how adorable! They look like precious marble! This creation you made is too pretty to eat them... errr no, let me chomp them all down! Sher, know that your knees hurt, hope you have a speedy recovery.
Posted by: gattina | March 03, 2008 at 03:29 AM
I think that from childhood we all have an attraction to things that are small in scale. Where I live, though, quail eggs are much more expensive than the farm eggs I can buy from a neighbor.
Posted by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) | March 03, 2008 at 04:32 AM
oh no you didn't just devil quail eggs. how clever and CUTE! i love them too, this looks so good, i need to get some now
Posted by: aria | March 03, 2008 at 04:44 AM
My husband raises quail and enjoys these yummy little treats. How do you get the eggs to peel so easy? I love your blog, Upsie is the greatest.
Posted by: Anne | March 03, 2008 at 06:17 AM
Heavenly! Where on earth did you get them?
I'm so happy that you've gotten some relief from your pain. I'm betting the chocolate made a big difference. ;)
Posted by: Christine | March 03, 2008 at 08:01 AM
The only quail eggs I've found were when we sailed from the Cannary Islands and that's just what I did with them.
Posted by: MyKitchenInHalfCups | March 03, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Quail eggs are so cute!
Posted by: Mer | March 03, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Easy bake oven!? You and I must be from the same time warp (we won't say when that was : ). Quail (and thus, quail eggs) are indigenous to Virgina; I found many of them in the fields as a kid. : )
Posted by: John | March 03, 2008 at 05:59 PM
They sell quail eggs at my farmers' market, and I've never thought to actually buy any. Maybe I'll give them a try!
Posted by: Teresa | March 03, 2008 at 07:16 PM
I have never had quail eggs before. They look good.
Posted by: Kevin | March 03, 2008 at 07:23 PM
I've never tried quail eggs before........guess I need to try! Cheers.
Posted by: The Culinary Chase | March 04, 2008 at 02:19 AM
So cute! (and patience to fill such tiny ones)
Posted by: baking soda | March 04, 2008 at 02:52 AM
Cute! Your pictures remind me so much of Easter.
Posted by: kristi | March 04, 2008 at 03:50 AM
These are just too cute! Perfect presentation! Would be great for the table on Easter Sunday!
Posted by: Deb | March 04, 2008 at 06:35 AM
I don't know that I'd have the patience to carefully fill each and every one... but I'd be more than happy to help you eat them!
Sooo cute!
Posted by: shelley | March 04, 2008 at 09:41 AM
My husband always orders, I think it's called, topiko with quail egg at Japanese restaurants. I think I'd rather have them deviled like this. So cute!
Posted by: Mrs. L | March 04, 2008 at 10:22 PM
no way, these are so cute! I love tiny little cute food like these.
Posted by: Lannae | March 05, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Wow, you win. I was so thrilled with my first turquoise eggs (our chickens just started laying), but your quail eggs look amazing. I have to finish this comment before the man comes in ans sees a photo of your itty biity deviled quail eggs or I'll be making deviled eggs for lunch ;-)
Posted by: Claudia Dunitz | March 06, 2008 at 06:19 AM
Oooohhh, they're sooooo cute! I just love them. Where did you find them to buy?
Posted by: Glenna | March 06, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Hi Sher - Those look really cute; anddelicious!
Posted by: Kirk | March 07, 2008 at 10:14 AM
it taste much nicer than the normal egg
Posted by: olivia | April 11, 2008 at 05:34 AM
it taste much nicer than the normal egg
Posted by: olivia | April 11, 2008 at 05:36 AM
I love quail eggs. They are a touch expensive here but so much fun to use.I like the idea of having them devilled as a snack- I might do that next time I buy some. Goon has a real knack for peeling them quickly, so that makes the job a lot easier!
I recently made (and blogged) a tuna nicoise with quail eggs. They looked really dainty in the salad and the rest I put in an Indonesian style curry.
Posted by: ros | April 11, 2008 at 11:01 AM