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The Good Hearted Woman

Home Cooking & Cozy Living

  • SOURDOUGH RECIPES & RESOURCES

Perfect Soft-Boiled Scotch Eggs (Air Fryer Recipe)

January 6 By Renée Leave a Comment

Scotch Eggs – crisp, savory sausage encasing creamy soft-boiled eggs – are quintessential British pub faire; perfect for brunching, munching, and picnicking. Now you can easily make perfect Scotch Eggs at home in your air fryer! 

Scotch Eggs RecipeThis post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

What is a Scotch Egg?

In its most basic form, a Scotch egg is a soft or hard-boiled egg wrapped in ground sausage, then coated with bread crumbs and baked or deep fried.

Scotch eggs have a long history in London and beyond as a tidy, handheld snack item; perfect for pocketing and picnicking. 

Scotch Eggs Recipe

The origin of Scotch Eggs is as foggy as a cold morning on Loch Ness, but that’s about as close to Scotland as they come. 

While it is generally agreed that Scotch Eggs originated in London, theories – dating back as early as mid-18th century – abound as to the actual genesis of these savory, protein-rich balls-o-breakfast. Claims have been linked to everything from Indian koftas to Scots Guards stationed at London’s Wellington Barracks. One particularly distressing account, from the Culinary Delights of Yorkshire, alleges they are a Yorkshire creation and were originally wrapped in fish paste rather than sausage meat. (Fish paste. That’s a hard No for me.) 

Today in the UK, you can buy Scotch eggs everywhere from pubs to grocery stores to gas stations. In the US, Scotch eggs are known more as a Sunday brunch item and Renaissance faire staple. They can be found on British-style pub menus as well, usually offered with dipping sauces on the side. 

Until recently, for those who eschew deep-frying at home, Scotch eggs have been reserved for once in a blue moon. However, with the dawn of air-frying, making them at home has never been easier. 

How to Boil a Perfect Egg for Scotch Eggs

Personal preference dictates how long to boil your eggs. Mr B and I typically eat Scotch eggs for breakfast (or brunch) with a knife and fork, and prefer our eggs creamy and runny: a 6-minute egg is usually perfect for us. Simply increase your boiling time if you prefer a more solid center. 

How to make a Perfect 6-Minute Egg

  1. Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. (Do not remove your eggs from the refrigerator until your water has boiled.)
  2. Remove eggs from refrigerator and use a slotted spoon to carefully place them into boiling water. Do not crowd eggs in pan.
  3. Reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer for EXACTLY 6 minutes. While eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath for the eggs in a large bowl. 
  4. After 6 minutes, use the slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the boiling water and immediately submerge them in the prepared ice bath for 10 minutes to halt the cooking process. 

Now you’re ready to cover the your eggs with sausage!

How Egg-Boiling Time Affects Scotch Eggs

Results of the eggy centers differ, depending upon how long you boil the eggs. A 6-minute Scotch egg is perfect for eating on a plate with a knife and fork. However, if you plan to pack your Scotch Egg for picnicking and eat it by hand (also perfectly acceptable!) you may want to increase the boiling time to somewhere between seven and nine minutes to avoid unwanted drips. 

Scotch egg - egg time comparison

Wavy Line

The Trickiest Step: How to Successfully Cover a Wobbly Soft-Boiled Egg with Sausage

••• Be sure to watch the demonstration in our Scotch Egg Video (at the bottom of the recipe card) to learn a simple technique for doing this step! ••• 

Covering soft, wobbly boiled eggs with sausage can be challenging, but it’s easier if you know a few simple tricks. 

First, divide the sausage into 6 equal portions, each weighing 2⅓ ounces [66 grams].

I encourage you to use a kitchen scale for this step: the cooking times for this recipe are calculated based on using a specific type and amount of sausage. If you use too much or too little, or use a sausage with a different fat content, your cooking times may be different.

Roll each portion into a ball, and place in refrigerator.

TIP: Slightly wetting your hands before forming the balls will keep the sausage from sticking as much. You want damp hands, but not so wet that they are dripping. 

GENTLY peel the prepared soft-boiled eggs. Six-minute eggs require a delicate hand; unlike hard-boiled eggs, the yolk inside is too soft to offer any resistance against the white while being peeled, so they will break if you are too rough taking off the shell. 

Once the eggs are peeled, rinse each one and use a paper towel to carefully pat it dry. (Sausage sticks much more easily to a dry egg than it does a slippery, wet one.) When eggs are dried, set aside. 

The eggs I used here were fresher than I had hoped: older eggs are easier to peel. When I make deviled eggs, gnarly eggs are a real concern; however, I don’t really worry about how the eggs look when making Scotch Eggs, because any rough spots will be covered up with sausage. 

eggs and sausage prepped for Scotch Eggs

To cover an egg with sausage, start with one prepared egg and one cold sausage ball. 

  1. Place meatball in the center of a parchment square. Gently pat the meatball down until you have an oval that is about a 1/4-inch thick, and roughly 3 eggs long and 2 eggs wide. 
  2. Place the parchment square in your palm. Gently lay a cold, dry, soft-boiled egg on top of the sausage oval, with the ends of the egg perpendicular to the long sides of the oval.
  3. Carefully  pull the sausage away from the parchment as you wrap it around the egg. Continue until the sausage has completely released from the parchment and the egg is covered with sausage. I do this by folding the two sides into the middle, and them pressing the meat out to the sides. Don’t be too concerned about the oval being perfect; it’s just a starting point.
  4. Pinch off the thick sausage points that will form at each end as the oval is sealed. Check the egg carefully for areas where the sausage may be too thin or too thick. Even them out using the sausage you pinched from the ends.
  5. When the sausage appears to be distributed uniformly around the egg, gently pass the egg carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, allowing the warmth of your palms to smooth the outside surface a bit and the gentle pressure to even out any bumps or rough spots on the surface. 

breading station for Scotch Eggs

Scotch Eggs Recipe

Perfect Soft-Boiled Scotch Eggs (Air Fryer Recipe)

Scotch Eggs - crisp, savory sausage encasing creamy soft-boiled eggs - are quintessential British pub faire; perfect for brunching, munching, and picnicking. Now you can easily make perfect Scotch Eggs at home in your air fryer! 
Prep Time28 mins
Cook Time12 mins
Total Time40 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Breakfast or Brunch, Party Food
Cuisine: British
Keyword: air fryer, eggs
Servings: 6
Calories: 342kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • 3 Small Bowls
  • Parchment Paper
  • Kitchen Scale

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 pound Jimmy Dean Regular Pork Sausage or your favorite ground breakfast sausage; SEE INGREDIENT NOTES

Seasoned Flour [Bowl 1]

  • ¼ cup Wondra
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Beaten Egg [Bowl 2]

  • 1 large egg beaten

Breading Mix [Bowl 3]

  • 1 cup Panko crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

How to Make 6-Minute Soft-Boiled Eggs

  • Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
    Remove cold eggs from refrigerator and use a slotted spoon to carefully place them into boiling water. Do not crowd eggs in pan.
    Reduce heat and cover pan.
    Simmer for EXACTLY 6 minutes.
    six brown eggs in saucepan.
  • While eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath for the eggs in a large bowl.
    After 6 minutes, use the slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the boiling water.
    Immediately submerge cooked eggs in the prepared ice bath for 10 minutes.
    The purpose of this step is to halt the cooking process; vital to achieving creamy, runny Scotch Egg centers.
    Boiled eggs in ice water bath

How to Successfully Apply the Sausage Cover

  • Divide the sausage into 6 equal portions, each weighing 2⅓ ounces [66 grams].
    I strongly suggest using a kitchen scale for this step: the cooking times are based on using a specific type and amount of sausage. If you use too much or too little, or use a sausage with a different fat content, your cooking times may be different.
    Roll each portion into a ball and place in refrigerator.
    Six sausage balls
  • GENTLY peel the prepared soft-boiled eggs.
    Patience is rewarded in the recipe. Six-minute eggs require a delicate hand; unlike hard-boiled eggs, the yolk inside is too soft to offer any resistance against the white while being peeled, so they will break if you are too rough taking off the shell.
    Rinse each egg, and then use a paper towel to carefully pat it dry. Set aside.
    six peeled eggs in glass bowl
  • Start with a COLD sausage ball, straight from the fridge.
    Place meatball in the center of an 8x8 parchment square.
    Gently pat the meatball down until you have an oval that is about a 1/4-inch thick, and roughly 3 eggs long and 2 eggs wide.
    eggs and sausage prepped for Scotch Eggs
  • Place the parchment square in your palm.
    Gently lay a cold, dry, soft-boiled egg on top of the sausage oval, with the ends of the egg perpendicular to the long sides of the oval.
    Gently pull the sausage away from the parchment as you wrap it around the egg.
    Continue until the sausage has completely released from the parchment and the egg is covered with sausage.
    Removed the thick sausage points at each end.
    Check the egg carefully for areas that might be too thin or too thick, and use the excess removed from the points to seal the edges and even out any thin spots.
  • When the sausage appears to be distributed uniformly around the egg, gently pass the egg carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, allowing the warmth of your palms to smooth the outside surface a bit and the gentle pressure to even out any bumps or rough spots on the surface.
    If the sausage is too sticky, wet your hands with cold water and then gently dry them. You don't want to use "wet" hands, but slightly damp hands will discourage the sausage from sticking to them.

Scotch Egg Breading

  • You will need three small bowls.
    Bowl 1: Wondra & garlic powder. (Stir to combine.)
    Bowl 2: Beaten egg.
    Bowl 3: Panko crumbs, brown sugar, and chili powder.
    Three bowls for breading scotch eggs
  • Roll each sausage-covered egg in flour mixture [Bowl 1] and shake off excess, then dip in the beaten egg [Bowl 2], and finally roll in the Panko crumbs [Bowl 3].
    When I finish rolling the eggs in the last bowl, I like to pass it carefully from one hand to the other a couple of times, to help form and structure the outside crust a bit; much like you would form a meatball, but exerting far less external pressure.
    Place breaded eggs on a plate until you have enough done for one batch. (2-6 depending on the size of your air-fryer.).
    breading station for Scotch Eggs

Air Frying

  • Preheat air fryer at 380° for 10 minutes.
    Set the scotch eggs on the bottom of your air fryer basket. Be sure to leave generous space around each one for air to circulate.
    Three Scotch Eggs in air fryer
  • Air-fry eggs for 12 minutes, turning halfway through for more even browning.
    See NOTES for alternate cooking times.
    Three Scotch Eggs in air fryer - cooked
  • Serve alone, or with your favorite dipping sauce (i.e., Whole Grain Mustard, Sriracha-Mayo, or Honey-Mustard Sauce, etc.).
    Scotch Eggs Recipe

Video

Notes

Scotch Egg Cooking Times (Soft-cooked Center):

In all cases, follow instructions for 6-minute soft-boiled eggs, as shown above.
The cooking times listed here are based on using a specific size egg, and type and amount of pork sausage. If you change any of these factors, you may need to adjust your cooking times.
Once eggs are boiled and have had their 10-minute ice bath, you may [A] wrap and bread the scotch eggs immediately, [B] prepare them to be cooked up to 24 hours later, or [C] refrigerate the prepared eggs and wrap, bread, and fry them up to three days later. 
A. For Eggs completely prepped right before Air-Frying  [No Refrigeration], cook 12 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking. 
B. For Eggs completely prepped and then refrigerated up to 24 hours before Air-Frying , cook 13 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking. 
Note that prepping ahead of time will result in a slight change in the egg white's color (it will turn a bit gray), but has no affect on flavor or texture. 
C. For Eggs boiled and refrigerated in shell, then wrapped and breaded right before air-frying] , cook 13 minutes in a preheated air-fryer, turning once halfway through cooking. 
Always allow Scotch Eggs to stand for 3-5 minutes before serving. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1egg | Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 271mg | Sodium: 591mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 421IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Do you love your air fryer? Me too!! Have you tried our Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters? They’re amazing! 

Wavy Line

Ingredient Notes 

Eggs

This recipe is based on using USDA large eggs [EU size M]. If you use different size eggs, the boiling and cooking times may need to be adjusted. 

Jimmy Dean Sausage

The cooking times are based on using one pound of Jimmy Dean regular pork sausage. If you use more or less, or use a sausage with a different fat content, cooking times and/or temperatures may vary. 

Scotch Eggs Ingredients

Wondra

Wondra is finely ground flour that has been pre-cooked and dried. Ultra-light, Wondra is lower in protein and gluten than all-purpose flour, which all translates into a light and crispy crust for fried foods. 

You can use all-purpose flour in place of the Wondra in this recipe, but your results may not be as crispy. 

Panko Breadcrumbs

The texture of panko makes it especially suited for fried food because it absorbs less oil than regular breadcrumbs, keeping food more crisp and crunchy. Panko crumbs brown up evenly and consistently, even in an air-fryer! 

Wavy Line

More Good Egg Recipes to Start Your Day!

  • Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict: Elegantly Easy
  • Eggs Provençal (La Provence Copycat Recipe)
  • Cornbread Breakfast Casserole (Leftover Makeover)
  • Frittata Master Recipe (Plus 60+ Amazing Frittata Recipes)

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of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

Perfect Soft-Boiled Scotch Eggs (Air Fryer Recipe)  Perfect Soft-Boiled Scotch Eggs (Air Fryer Recipe)
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Main Dishes, Munchies, Recipes, Side Dishes Tagged With: Air Fryer, brunch, eggs, picnic

Em’s Sweet & Spicy Black Beans with Bacon

July 8 By Renée 5 Comments

Slightly sweet and adaptably spicy, these Black Beans with Bacon are savory perfection! The recipe is downright bulletproof, too: fast, flexible, and so easy to make! 

black bean recipe with bacon with cotija

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Our daughter Em makes the best black beans ever! She’s been making them about once a week for the past few months, and we have been devouring them – for breakfast, lunch and dinner! 

When I asked Em if she’d mind sharing her recipe, she carefully walked me through her process, meticulously noting the ingredient amounts as we went along. She did such a great job, that, when I made two subsequent test batches, I was easily able to replicate her flavors perfectly! (Which means you can too!)

bite of black beans with bacon

Make this Black Beans Recipe Your Own!

One of the many things you will love about Em’s black beans recipe is its flexible ingredient list. You can use your favorite peppers, onions, and chili powder to make it your own! 

Like your beans on the mild side? No problem! Follow the recipe as is. Like your black beans hot and spicy? You can do that – just throw in a hotter pepper or a little more of your favorite chili powder.

black bean recipe with bacon in two bowls

Flexible and Fast!

You will be surprised at how fast and easy Em’s black beans recipe comes together. Start to finish, they take just 30 minutes to make, but the flavors blend so well that they taste like they’ve been simmering all day!

Post Updated July 7, 2020 (Originally published May 18, 2016) 
black bean recipe with bacon with cotija
5 from 5 votes

Em’s Sweet & Spicy Black Beans with Bacon

Slightly sweet and adaptably spicy, these Black Beans with Bacon are savory perfection! The recipe is downright bulletproof, too: fast, flexible, and so easy to make! 
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Side Dish
Keyword: black beans, spicy
Servings: 6
Calories: 178kcal
Author: Em @ The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked black beans 2 cans, drained & rinsed
  • 1 large chopped sweet pepper yellow, orange, red, green (pick your favorite)
  • ½ large chopped onions red, yellow, sweet (pick your favorite)
  • 2 strips thick cut bacon cut into ¼ batons
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder use your favorite
  • ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ⅔ cup chicken stock
  • ⅔ cup water
  • ¼ cup grated cotija or more
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Gather and prep ingredients.
    Black Bean recipe ingredients
  • In a small bowl, combine cumin, oregano, chili powder, chili flakes (optional), brown sugar, and salt. Set aside.
    spices in bowl
  • Put bacon batons into cold skillet and turn heat on to medium.
    bacon batons in skillet
  • Bring up to heat and cook bacon until crispy.
    cooked bacon in skillet
  • Remove bacon from pan and set aside.
    cooked bacon in bowl
  • Put chopped onion into hot pan. Cook onion in bacon grease until translucent.
    onions cooking in skillet
  • Add peppers and cook 5 additional minutes.
    peppers in skillet
  • Add garlic and spices. Cook another minute.
    garlic and spices in skillet
  • Add drained and rinsed beans to mixture.
    add beans to skillet
  • Add chicken stock and water. Liquid should just cover beans.
    Use a wooden spatula or spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pan.
    add broth to beans
  • Smash beans with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon.
    mash beans with potato masher
  • Reduce bring beans to a simmer, and reduce heat.
    Cook an additional 5-10 minutes, until spoon leaves a space when dragged through the beans.
    reduce liquid
  • Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and reserve bacon.
    add cilantro
  • Season to taste.
    black beans in skillet
  • Serve topped with grated cotija and additional chopped cilantro.
    black bean recipe with bacon with cotija

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1186IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Sweet & Spicy Black Beans go especially well with our Caribbean Chicken Stew!

black beans recipe with bacon

Just a few different ways to enjoy Sweet & Spicy Black Beans: 

  • Breakfast: We like to heat leftover beans and serve spread on a tortilla, topped a little fresh tomato and fried egg. 
  • Soup: These beans make a surprisingly good black bean soup. Just thin leftovers down with a little stock or water, heat them up and top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro. 
  • Dip: These beans thicken up very nicely, and can easily be served with chips or crudité. Makes a great, protein-rich afternoon snack! 
  • Potlucks: Someday, when Potlucks are a thing again, this will be a favorite takealong: these beans travel well, have a long “open-air” life, and taste great hot or cool.

black bean recipe in small bowl with chips on sideDo you use a kitchen scale?

I never in a million years thought I would ever use a kitchen scale for anything beyond measuring the flour and water to feed my sourdough starter. By nature, I cook by feel, and even take some pride in being able to throw a bunch of random things in a pot, stir it, and create something wonderful that makes people happy. 

However, my “measuring is mostly for bakers” attitude started to change when I began developing and testing recipes. In order for you to be able to replicate one of my recipes, you first need to know exactly what goes in it (and when, and how); and your pinches and handfuls are almost certainly different than mine. So I gave in and started using a kitchen scale. At first, I was just doing it when I was working up something new; but now I use my scale all the time. 

Things I love about using a kitchen scale instead of measuring cups:

  • Accuracy 
  • Consistency 
  • Improved workflow
  • Fewer dishes!!!!!

Do I still throw things in a pot and wave my magic spoon over it? Well, of course I do! But when I’m trying to replicate a new-to-me recipe, or developing something for you here in GHW, my kitchen scale is a necessary tool; and one I highly recommend for any kitchen.

NOTE: We are in the process of adding metric and/or weight measurements to all recipes on this website to make them accessible to all. July 2020

black bean recipe with bacon in hand-thrown ceramic bowl

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. 🌻 Be sure to PIN this post!

black beans recipe pin  black beans recipe pin

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Gluten-free, Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: Beans, black beans, easy meals, picnic, potluck

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