Pesto Egg Toast Delight (Print Version)

Jammy eggs atop crispy toast spread with fresh basil pesto and a drizzle of olive oil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Eggs

01 - 2 large eggs

→ Bread

02 - 2 slices sourdough or country bread

→ Pesto

03 - 2 tablespoons basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)

→ Toppings

04 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
05 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
06 - 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
07 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (optional)
08 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Carefully lower in the eggs and simmer for 7 minutes to achieve jammy yolks. Transfer eggs immediately to an ice bath or run under cold water to halt cooking, then peel and set aside.
02 - Meanwhile, toast the bread slices until golden brown and crisp.
03 - Spread 1 tablespoon of basil pesto evenly over each slice of toasted bread.
04 - Slice each egg in half and place the halves on top of the pesto-coated toast slices.
05 - Drizzle olive oil over the eggs, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then optionally sprinkle with grated Parmesan, chopped fresh basil, and red pepper flakes.
06 - Serve while warm to enjoy optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes, which makes it perfect for when you want something more interesting than cereal but don't have all morning.
  • The combination of creamy yolk, crispy toast, and aromatic pesto hits every texture and flavor note at once.
  • You can customize it endlessly with different pestos or toppings depending on what you have on hand.
02 -
  • The ice bath is non-negotiable—skip it and you'll end up with a gray ring around the yolk and no jammy center, which defeats the whole purpose.
  • Toast the bread right before assembling or it'll go stale and soggy within minutes, so timing matters more than you'd think.
03 -
  • Bring your eggs to room temperature before boiling them and they'll cook more evenly and peel more cleanly.
  • If you're nervous about soft-boiling, do a test run once and set a phone timer—7 minutes becomes muscle memory quickly and then you'll nail it every time.
Go Back