Skip to content

Meat, European

Huevos rotos with serrano ham

Huevos rotos with serrano ham is a Spanish dish of fried potatoes topped with fried eggs and cured ham, serving 4 in 35 minutes. It's an easy recipe at €2.80 per serving that works every time if the fries are dried well before frying and the yolks broken at the table. The trick lies in frying the potatoes twice, low then high heat, for a soft inside and a crisp outside.

Tonight calls for a celebration, huevos rotos, a bed of homemade fries topped with fried eggs you crack open right at the table, finished with serrano ham.

Huevos rotos with serrano ham
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.80
Calories per person
650 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Under the fried eggs, homemade fries soak up the runny yolk and turn tender in a way mashed potatoes never do. The serrano ham, laid on at the very last second, stays soft and salty without ever cooking, playing against the crispy edges of egg whites fried in olive oil. It's a generous dish with simple ingredients, built entirely on texture and the moment you break the yolk.

This is the perfect weeknight dinner when you want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen, or a relaxed Sunday meal with the family. Kids love poking the egg and watching the yolk spill over the fries, it turns dinner into a little game. It also works well for easygoing guests, served piping hot straight from the pan.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 1.2 kg
  • Parsley 1 bunch

Dairy

  • Eggs 8

Butcher

  • Serrano ham 8 slices

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 20 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into fairly thin fries, then dry them well with a kitchen towel.

    Dry them thoroughly, moisture makes the oil spatter and softens the fries.

  2. Fry the potatoes in olive oil that isn't too hot until tender, then raise the heat to brown them. 20 min

    The two temperatures give you fries that are soft inside and crispy outside.

  3. Drain the fries on paper towels and salt them right away, then keep them warm in the oven.

    Salt them immediately, the salt sticks better while they're still piping hot.

  4. Fry the eggs in a pan with a little olive oil. 5 min

    Baste the whites with hot oil to get crispy, lacy edges.

  5. Divide the fries among the plates, place the eggs on top, cover with serrano ham and parsley, and break the yolks at the table.

    Add the ham at the very last moment, the heat perfumes it without cooking it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut all the fries to the same thickness so they cook evenly, otherwise some stay soft while others burn.
  • Use a wide pan for the eggs so the whites don't overlap and keep their crispy edges.
  • Have the chopped parsley and ham ready before cooking the eggs, this dish needs to be served within seconds of the yolks being done.

The variations

  • Swap the serrano ham for Italian prosciutto or grilled bacon if you can't find it.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the ham and add sauteed mushrooms or grilled peppers on top of the fries.
  • For a quicker version for kids, bake the fries in the oven with a little olive oil while you fry the eggs, it's faster and just as good.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with lemon dressing
  • A glass of fresh tomato juice
  • Bread to mop up the yolk

Storage

The fries and eggs are best eaten right away, since a runny yolk doesn't keep. If you have leftover fries on their own, store them in a sealed container in the fridge for 2 days and reheat them in a pan to bring back the crunch.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the fries ahead of time?

Yes, you can fry them an hour ahead and keep them warm in a low oven. Just crank up the heat for a few minutes before serving to bring back the crunch.

What kind of potatoes work best?

Choose firm, waxy potatoes that hold together well when fried. Avoid starchy varieties, they tend to make soggy fries.

Can you use a poached egg instead of a fried egg?

Yes, that works and the flavor stays close to the original. A fried egg, though, gives you crispy edges a poached egg won't have.

Does this dish freeze well?

No, neither fresh fries nor eggs hold up well to freezing, the textures suffer too much. It's best made fresh right before serving.

How long does it take to make huevos rotos with serrano ham?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in huevos rotos with serrano ham?

About 650 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does huevos rotos with serrano ham cost?

About €2.80 per serving, or €11.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

European Cuisines

See all

Recipes with ham

See all