Huevos Pericos – Colombian Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoe and Spring Onion

I will never forget the first time I was asked in a hotel in Colombia what I wanted for breakfast. I replied: “arepas“, a flatbread made from corn, which there are millions of variations of. The person looked at me in disgust, clearly, there were going to be arepas, duh, the question was how I wanted my eggs. Whether I wanted regular scrambled eggs, or scrambled eggs with sausage, or with tomatoes and spring onions, which is the “huevos pericos.” I had never tried this version and therefore asked for “huevos pericos.” Below I introduce you to the recipe and also outline how a typical breakfast in Colombia looks like and what is going to be served.

A typcial Colombian breakfast: arepa con queso with scrambled eggs and freshly pressed juice

Arepas are as in important for breakfast as is bread in Germany

Arepas are a flatbread made from cornflour, water, and salt. They are naturally gluten-free. You will find the basic recipe for arepas on my blog. Just as there are millions of different types of bread in Germany, Colombians offer many different types of arepas: arepa con queso, meaning that they are filled with queese, arepas boyacenses are slightly sweetened and also filled with cheese. Cachapas or arepas de choclo are made with sweet corn, but there are also arepas made with plantains. Arepas may also be filled, I have a arepas with chicken filling on the blog. This just gives you a very small glimpse as to what is out there.

Breakfast is hearty and usually savory

Breakfast is important. Breakfast is going to be celebrated. Usually, it is very hearty and you are going to be served a lot. You may be served “tamales“, this means meat, veggies, and corn mush, which is steamed in banana leaves. Yes, this sounds like a full meal, you definitely are not going to be hungry. We do have something similar here in Germany, “Bauernfrühstück” is fried potatoes with bacon, which is also a very hearty breakfast.

Another typical breakfast: tamales, which means food that is steamed in banana leaves served with hot chocolate

Eggs are a staple, different types of scrambled eggs are often served

Eggs definitely are a staple in Colombia. This is easily seen in the supermarkets. Instead of selling by the dozen, you will get 30 in total. I managed to snap a quick picture of below pickup truck that shows the quantities. Scrambled eggs are most popular, they are called “revueltos.”The one with added sausages (salchichas) is one variety or huevos pericos, which I am introducing below. For huevos pericos tomatoes and onions are fried first before making scrambled eggs.

Eggs are sold in sets of 30, the assumption is that anybody will be able to use them up on time before they go bad

Cheese is a fundametal staple

Colombian cheeses are usually pretty mild, one common cheese is mozzarella. Cheese is essential for breakfast. It may serve as a filling in arepas, but may also be used  to make pan de bonos or pandebonos. Usually a cheese called “queso campesino” is used for these cheese puffs. They are usually served with either a cup of freshly brewed coffee or “chocolate caliente”, hot chocolate. Even for any hot chocolate cheese is important. Instead of filling it with tiny marshmallows, you will see Colombians placing little cubes of cheese inside their chocolate. This is no joke. But if you see a mild cheese similar to whipping cream, it makes a lot more sense again. On the picture below you will also see “changua”, a milk soup containing poached eggs (of course), spring onions, and bread cubes. I have tried it, but don’t like it too much and for that reason haven’t published a recipe yet.

Freshly pressed juices show the fruit variety of Colombia

Another staple for breakfast are the many fruits available in Colombia. Once I was on holiday in Colombia for 3 1/2 weeks and I managed to eat a new fruit every single day. From the ones pictured below I had never seen or eaten the “curuba”, which translates as banana passionfruit. I believe that many fruits are not known anywhere else as they cannot be exported since they go bad too quickly. Fresh fruit are often served for breakfast, but even more common is to make juices out of them. At every corner in Colombia you will see street vendors selling fresh fruit and fresh juices.

On the left you will see on the top pitaya (dragon fruit), curuba (banana passionfruit), ciruela (plums), limón (limes), on the right you see a typical street vendor with fresh fruits and juices

In conclusion a typical Colombian breakfast may contain arepa, scrambled eggs, fresh fruits or freshly pressed juices, and/or coffee or hot chocolate. Usually breakfast is savory, only the fruits and the hot chocolate are sweet. You may get cheese as a filling, as part of a pastry, or inside the chocolate.

Print Recipe

Huevos Pericos (Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoe and Onione) from Colombia

Serves: Recipe per person

Prep Time: 5min – Cooking Time: 10min – Total Time: 15min

Huevos pericos are the Colombian name for scrambled eggs that are prepared with tomatoes and spring onions.

Ingredients

• Per person
• 1 medium-sized tomatoe (about 150 grams)
• 1 small spring onion (alternatively half a small onion)
• 2 large eggs
• Butter or olive oil for frying
• Salt and pepper, cumin to taste

Instructions

1

Cut tomatoe and onion into very small cubes, if using spring onions, reserve the very greenest part to sprinkle the srambled eggs with. Heat oil or butter in a large frying pan and fry onions for about one to two minutes, then add the tomatoe pieces and while stirring occasionally, let fry on medium for about five minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and if desired, cumin. The secret is to dry up the tomatoe enough, otherwise the eggs will be mushy. It may take a bit longer.

2

Meanwhile stir eggs with a pinch of salt. Once the mixture is ready, add eggs and slowly stir until you have scrambled eggs. Sprinkle with reserved greens and serve hot with arepas.