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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Réunion style egg curry with rice

Réunion style egg curry is a dish of hard boiled eggs simmered in a turmeric tomato sauce, served with rice and kidney beans. For 4 people, it takes 40 minutes to make, rated very easy, at a cost of €1.50 per person. The key to success is a thick, well reduced sauce that the slit eggs can really soak up.

Tonight, let's keep it simple and comforting with a Réunion style egg curry, bathed in a turmeric tomato sauce.

Réunion style egg curry with rice
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.50
Calories per person
620 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Fall, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

The turmeric tomato sauce is what makes this egg curry special. It simmers gently with onion, garlic, and fresh ginger until it turns thick and fragrant. The hard boiled eggs, lightly slit open, sit right in that sauce and soak up its warm, mildly spiced flavor without ever turning hot. Plain rice and kidney beans round out the plate in a simple, filling way.

This is the kind of weeknight dinner you make when you want something warm and satisfying without much fuss. Kids tend to love the soft eggs bathed in sauce, along with the rice on the side. Mon Chou built this version with ingredients you can find at any grocery store, a reliable way to try Réunion cooking without any guesswork.

The ingredients

4 people

Dairy

  • Eggs 8

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 2
  • Tomatoes 4
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 15 g
  • Thyme 3 sprigs

Pantry

  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Canned kidney beansoften in the pantry 200 g
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Boil the eggs, plunge them into cold water, then peel them. 10 min

    Plunging an egg into cold water makes it easier to peel without tearing the white.

  2. Cook the sliced onion, garlic, and ginger in the oil with the turmeric. 6 min

    Keep the heat low so the turmeric doesn't turn bitter.

  3. Add the tomatoes and thyme, and let it simmer until the sauce turns thick. 15 min

    Crush the tomatoes as they cook, they naturally turn into a creamy sauce.

  4. Score the hard boiled eggs with the tip of a knife, slide them into the sauce, then let everything simmer gently. 8 min

    Turn them carefully so they get coated with sauce on all sides.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water, warm up the kidney beans, and serve it all together. 11 min

    The egg yolk mixed into the sauce makes a creamy coating for the rice.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick ripe tomatoes, they'll give you a naturally sweeter sauce with less sharpness.
  • Let the sauce reduce properly before adding the eggs, otherwise it stays too thin to coat them well.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the eggs, that's your last chance to adjust the salt or add a touch more turmeric.

The variations

  • Swap the canned kidney beans for cooked red lentils for a different texture.
  • Stir in some fresh minced chili if you like your curry with more heat.
  • For picky kids, serve the rice and beans separately and let everyone spoon their own sauce over their plate.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Réunion style pickled vegetables
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

Egg curry keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. You can freeze the sauce on its own, adding fresh eggs when you reheat it. Warm it gently in a saucepan so the eggs don't turn rubbery.

Questions about this dish

Can I use curry powder instead of turmeric?

Yes, a mild curry powder works well in place of plain turmeric. The flavor will be a bit more layered but still pairs nicely with the eggs and tomato.

How do I keep the hard boiled eggs from getting too firm?

Don't let them simmer in the sauce too long, 8 minutes is plenty. Overcooking makes the egg white rubbery.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the tomato sauce the day before and keep it in the fridge. Just reheat it and slide in the hard boiled eggs right before serving.

Are the kidney beans essential to this recipe?

No, they mainly add heartiness and extra protein. You can swap them for chickpeas or simply leave them out if you prefer.

How long does it take to make a Réunion style egg curry with rice?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a Réunion style egg curry with rice?

About 620 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 a Réunion style egg curry with rice cost?

About €1.50 per serving, or €6.00 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.

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