Eggs en Cocotte

This is a quick and easy breakfast that feels a little fancier than just mixing stuff together in a frying pan. It's very easily adapted to whatever you have on hand. Today I made it with bacon, collard greens, onion, and sweet potato - but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. I love it with kale! I think the sweet potato would go nicely with prosciutto. Fresh herbs are always a bonus, and varying types of cheeses, as well.

Eggs en Cocotte
primal / paleo option / grain-free / gluten-free

Yield: 2 servings

3 slices bacon

1/2-3/4c sweet potato, 1/4in dice

1/4 onion, 1/2in dice

1c greens, chopped

1T butter, softened

2T cheese, grated*

4 eggs

2T cream**

S+P

Herbs

*Omit for paleo
**Coconut cream/milk for paleo

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and butter up your ramekins or mini cocottes.

Begin by cooking the bacon in a 12 inch skilled over medium-low to medium heat until it reaches desired doneness. Meanwhile, add the sweet potatoes to a small skilled with 1T water; season with salt and pepper then cover and cook on low. Drain the bacon on paper and set aside. Drain bacon drippings from the pan except 2-3T. 

When the sweet potato is nearly done, transfer it to the large skillet. Add the onion. Saute over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until the onion is softened, and the sweet potato browns a bit. Season with desired herbs (I used thyme and also added cumin) and add the greens. Saute for 1 minute, until the greens soften a bit and turn bright green, then kill the heat. 

Chop the bacon and add it back to the pan. Mix everything together. Divide the hash evenly amongst the ramekins/cocottes. Top each with a tablespoon each of milk and cheese. Crack two eggs over the top, being careful not to break the yolk, and set the cocottes on a rimmed baking dish. 

Bake for 12-17 minutes depending on how you like your eggs and how deep your dishes are. Mine are the Le Creuset Mini Cocottes and it took 17 minutes to get the whites completely cooked.

Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper; serve and enjoy.

What's your favorite thing to eat with eggs? Bacon? Hehe.