Fried eggs – can they really be a showstopper? Surprisingly, yes. Lately, I’ve been sharing quite a few egg recipes, and it seems like no one is tired of them yet. Whether it’s steamed eggs, scrambled eggs, egg rolls, or even stuffed eggs, I thought I had exhausted every possible egg recipe. But lo and behold, when it comes to eggs, there’s always something new to try.
Recently, one of my colleagues—whom I lovingly call the “egg enthusiast”—asked me to make a dish that blew her mind when she tried it at a Yunnan restaurant: cold, marinated fried eggs. She couldn’t get it out of her mind, and I could see why. She loved it so much she wanted to recreate the same taste at home. While it’s tricky to perfectly match restaurant flavors due to a lack of specialty spices at home, I knew I could create a simple yet delicious homemade version that would definitely satisfy her craving.
This cold fried egg dish is unlike any ordinary egg recipe. With its tangy and slightly sweet flavors, it brings a bold tropical flair to the table. The soft, tender fried eggs soak up the rich, soul-satisfying marinade, creating a unique flavor profile that’s incredibly appetizing. 
But a warning: after tasting this dish, you might end up eating way more rice than you planned—this could very well sabotage your spring diet goals. So, fair warning: this sauce is the key, and you’ll want to keep it in your recipe arsenal. It’s versatile enough to be used on various cold dishes, especially in the summer months. Trust me, you’ll want to make it!
Tangy Cold Fried Eggs Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tomato (peeled)
- 1/3 tsp salt
- 500 ml water
- 1 stalk of celery (shredded)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 onion (diced)
- 1 small handful of cilantro (chopped)
- 2 small chili peppers (chopped)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp single mountain dipping sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
Instructions:
1、Prepare the Tomato: Start by peeling the tomato. The easiest way is to make an “X” incision on the top and pour boiling water over it until the skin peels off easily.
2、Blanch the Celery: In a small pot, bring 500ml of water and 1/3 tsp salt to a boil. Add the shredded celery and blanch for a few minutes. Afterward, transfer the celery to a bowl of cold water to cool.
3、Make the Sauce: In a bowl, combine the peeled tomato, minced garlic, diced onion, chopped cilantro, chopped chili peppers, sugar, salt, single mountain dipping sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and lemon juice. Use a mortar and pestle to mash and mix everything together until well combined. If you don’t have a mortar, you can use a garlic press or food processor. You can also add a splash of dark soy sauce for color if desired.
4、Fry the Eggs: Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a small pan and fry the eggs on medium heat until both sides are golden brown and crispy.
5、Assemble the Dish: Once the eggs are fried, cut them into small pieces. Mix the fried eggs with the cooled celery and pour the sauce over it. Stir everything well to combine.
