Recipe of the day: Spaghetti with fried eggs and crispy breadcrumbs
A quick meal for a lazy day.
Today's recipe introduces a twist on a classic meal: spaghetti paired with perfectly fried eggs and crispy breadcrumbs. The dish creates a creamy sauce as the yolks break over the al dente pasta. Generous spoonfuls of golden, garlicky breadcrumbs add a satisfying crunch, making each mouthful irresistible. This quick and satisfying meal is ideal for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend dinner.
Serves 4, and takes approximately 20 minutes to prepare and cook. The recipe costs under R40 per serving. The required ingredients include olive oil for frying, 250ml of course fresh breadcrumbs, 2 thyme sprigs (leaves stripped), zest and juice of 1 lemon, salt, and pepper. Additionally, you'll need 300g of spaghetti, 4 eggs, and 30ml of chicken or vegetable stock powder.
To prepare, start by heating a splash of oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Fry the breadcrumbs for about 5 minutes or until they become crisp and golden. Once done, remove from heat and stir in the thyme leaves and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper, then let it cool. While cooking, prepare the spaghetti in salted boiling water for around 8 minutes, until it reaches the desired al dente texture. Drain the pasta, reserving 250ml (1 cup) of the pasta water.
Next, heat another splash of oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Fry the eggs for 3-5 minutes, until the yolks reach your preferred level of doneness. Season with salt and pepper. To create the sauce, combine the stock powder with the reserved hot pasta water and lemon juice, adjusting the taste to your liking. Toss the cooked spaghetti through this mixture.
Divide the pasta among four serving bowls, and top each serving with a fried egg. Finally, serve the spaghetti with the crispy, golden breadcrumbs on top.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
