So, how do you like your eggs?
Eggs are one of my favourite foods to cook when travelling because they are affordable, filling and incredibly versatile. You can cook them just about anywhere, and they don’t require loads of equipment or added ingredients. They are also one of the easiest ways to keep food costs down without feeling like you’re living on instant noodles.
Yes, there are many reasons to enjoy egg dishes while you travel.
What I love about eggs is how many different meals you can make from them. Some days, I just want fried eggs on toast with cracked pepper. Other times, I’ll throw together loaded scrambled eggs with mushrooms, spinach, tomato and cheese because it feels a bit more filling without taking much extra effort. Eggs are also great in fried rice, wraps, burgers, salads and sandwiches, especially when you want to use up leftovers before moving on to the next destination.
So, how do you like your eggs?
Types of Eggs for Cooking
Chicken eggs are the ones most of us cook with because they are easy to find, affordable and work in just about everything. Fry them, boil them, scramble them, poach them or bake with them. They’re probably one of the most versatile foods you can keep in your fridge or camp cooler.
But there are other types of eggs worth trying too, especially when travelling.
Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs and have a much richer flavour. The yolks are creamier and a bit more indulgent, which makes them great for omelettes, fried eggs or baking. Some people swear duck eggs make the fluffiest scrambled eggs. Have you ever tried duck eggs? If not, they are worth giving a go if you spot them at a local market.
Quail eggs are tiny little eggs you’ll often see in salads, ramen bowls or street food dishes in parts of Asia. They cook really quickly and are good if you want something a bit different.
Goose eggs are much bigger again and can easily feed more than one person. They are not as common. If you come across them at a local market they are worth trying at least once.
One thing I’ve noticed while travelling is how many different coloured eggs you come across. White eggs being the most common, brown eggs, blue eggs and even green eggs all show up in different countries and markets. Most taste pretty similar, though the shell colour usually comes down to the breed of chicken rather than flavour.
If you can, buy fresh eggs from local markets or free-range farms. Fresh eggs just taste better, especially in simple meals where the egg is the star of the dish. If you can’t the local supermarket should have a stock of eggs.
Best Time to Eat Eggs
Most people think of eggs as a breakfast food, probably because they are quick to cook and keep you feeling full for longer. Great for travel as you sustain yourself for most of the morning or day! You can keep breakfast really simple with boiled eggs and toast or make something more substantial like scrambled eggs, omelettes or a full cooked breakfast if you have the time.
But eggs aren’t just for breakfast. I enjoy egg dishes at lunch time and dinner time. And sometimes after a big night out!
When travelling, eggs are often my go-to meal at any time of day because they are affordable and easy to cook with limited kitchen gear. After a long day out, scrambled eggs with veggies can be on the table in under 15 minutes and barely make a mess.
Eggs are also great for camping meals. They cook quickly over a camp stove or fire and don’t need complicated preparation. A couple of eggs and some bread can easily turn into a decent meal when you don’t feel like cooking anything elaborate.
Ways to Cook Eggs
One of the reasons eggs are so popular is because there are endless ways to cook them.
Boiled Eggs
If I’m staying somewhere with a shared kitchen, boiled eggs are often my go-to because they require almost no effort. All you need is a saucepan, water and heat.
Soft boiled eggs have a runny yolk and are great with toast soldiers, while hard boiled eggs are perfect for snacks, salads like my easy egg salad or sandwiches. I particularly like curried egg in a sandwich. Hard boiled eggs are also handy for road trips or picnics because they travel well. And you can just eat a hard boiled egg while driving (yeah, who doesn’t have a snack in one hand and the steering wheel in the other!) or sitting at a rest stop.
Fried Eggs
Cook them sunny side up, over easy or crispy around the edges. There really isn’t a wrong way to eat a fried egg.
A fried egg on toast is simple but delicious, especially with cracked pepper, avocado or bacon. Fried eggs also work brilliantly as a filling on homemade burgers, in fried rice or atop noodles. Having lived in England on a UK working holiday visa I often enjoyed a full English Breakfast which is a fry-up of eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomato, baked beans and toast.
Poached Eggs
Poached eggs feel a little fancier but are surprisingly simple once you get the hang of them. Poached eggs are commonly served on toast, English muffins or with smashed avocado. And some Hollandaise Sauce also adds to the taste. The runny yolk creates a rich sauce that makes breakfast feel extra special.
Scrambled Eggs
One of my favourites – it’s easy to scramble some eggs and serve on toast
Scrambled eggs were one of the first things I learnt to cook because they are easy, fast and almost impossible to mess up. You can keep scrambled eggs plain and creamy or turn them into something more filling by adding vegetables, cheese or bacon.
One of my favourite ways to eat eggs is in my Loaded Scrambled Eggs recipe packed with spinach, mushrooms, tomato and cheese. It is quick, hearty and perfect for travellers who want a nutritious meal without spending ages cooking.
You can also add ingredients like onion, kale, capsicum, feta or leftover cooked meats to create your own version.
Loaded scrambled eggs are a great way to utilise any leftovers you may have and want to get rid of before you travel.
Omelettes
Omelettes are another easy meal when travelling because you can throw almost anything inside them. Cheese, mushrooms, spinach, tomato, ham and herbs all work well. Omelettes are fantastic for using up leftover ingredients before moving onto your next destination.
Eggs in Fried Rice
Egg fried rice is one of the best budget-friendly travel meals. It uses simple ingredients, cooks quickly and helps reduce food waste. You can toss eggs into rice with vegetables, soy sauce and leftover meat for a filling one-pan meal. It’s perfect for hostel cooking because you only need basic kitchen equipment.
Baked Eggs in Flans and Quiches
A simple flan or frittata served with salad is great for lunch (or dinner)
Baked eggs are cooked in the oven with ingredients like tomato sauce, spinach, herbs or cheese. They are comforting meals that work well for brunch or dinner. If you are camping with access to a camp oven or caravan oven, baked eggs are definitely worth trying.
I like to whisk my eggs, add ingredients to them in a pastry dish and turn them into egg dishes like my feta and spinach frittata, quiche or flan!
Cooking Eggs While Travelling or Camping
Eggs are one of the easiest foods to cook while travelling because they do not require fancy kitchen equipment. So how do you cook eggs while travelling or camping?
You can cook eggs using:
● A kitchen cooktop
● A camp stove
● A portable gas burner
● A barbecue hotplate
● A campfire with hot coals
All you really need is a frypan or saucepan and a little water, butter or oil.
And if you are wondering how to carry eggs while you travel, well, there are some cool plastic egg carriers you can use.
What to Serve with Eggs
Eggs are easy to pair with simple pantry ingredients like bread, rice, cheese and vegetables. That makes them perfect for budget travel cooking and I might add, healthy. What I serve with eggs usually depends on what I have available, but these are some of my favourite combinations.
● Toast or crusty bread
● Avocado
● Mushrooms
● Grilled tomato
● Bacon
● Sausages
● Fried rice
● Salad
● Fresh herbs
● Hash browns
And of course, coffee, tea or juice complete the meal perfectly.
So How Will You Enjoy Your Eggs?
