Viral fried egg with feta
The TikTok famous fried egg with feta has gone viral! It has become so popular for good reason! It is a quick and absolutely delicious way to make fried egg. It only requires a few ingredients, is ready in under 10 minutes, and needs almost no cooking skill. The best part is how the feta melts but also gets super crispy in areas.
I have always cooked my fried eggs in olive oil and I was raised on a variety of egg dishes that included feta, like Greek-style hard boiled eggs, or this amazing omelette with feta and sun-dried tomatoes. My dad always says, if you have eggs in the house, you have a meal. That is why I was sure that I was going to love this fried egg with feta that seems to have taken over TikTok.
Why this recipe works
It easy to imagine why this fried egg with feta recipe has become such a trend. I love meals that take almost no effort to put together. I also appreciate that this can be served as breakfast, lunch, a snack, or even a light dinner. Eggs are a great meal any time of day.
This is also a pretty economical recipe. Not sure about where you live, but where I am the grocery prices have sky-rocketed! Eggs remain a pretty affordable source of protein, and that is a good thing! This recipe is adaptable in that you can cook your egg for as long as you like, and you can cover it too so that the yolk cooks through quickly, without burning the cheese.
Feta cheese gets nice and soft when heated, but does not become a gooey mess. It also keeps its great flavour. The olive oil helps parts of the feta become crispy, and that crunch is fantastic! The trick is to add the feta to the pan when the oil is already hot.
Key ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe.
Eggs – Usually I serve one egg per person, although you can definitely add a second egg if you want to. As with almost every recipe, I use large eggs and try to buy eggs from free-range chickens whenever I can.
Feta – I only ever buy Greek feta which is made from sheep’s milk, or a combination of sheep and goat milk. Be careful not to buy Greek-style feta – this is not the same thing and usually incorporates cow milk. Real Greek feta tends to be pricier, but it is definitely worth the extra money.
Olive oil – I know that many people object to frying with olive oil because it has a low smoke point, but honestly, I do it all the time and so does the rest of my family.
Chili flakes – I like the bit of heat which is added by the chili flakes. Did you know that chili flakes are made of dried and crushed chili peppers?
Toast – To make the fried egg with feta more substantial and filling I like to serve it with a piece or two of toast.
Substitutions
Swap out the olive oil. If you are hesitant about frying in olive oil then use an equal amount of canola, avocado or sunflower oil. Any oil will work fine actually so use what you have.
Omit the heat. If you would rather not have the heat that comes form the chili flakes, no problem. Simply omit them from the recipe and season with salt and black pepper.
How to make
This is a really easy recipe to make and it takes under 10 minutes. Toast your bread while your egg is cooking and everything will be ready at the same time.
Preparation
- Crumble your feta. I find that it is easiest to do this with your hands, but you can also use a fork.
- Crack your egg into a bowl. I try to avoid cracking eggs directly into the pan in case there is a bit of shell that I need to remove.
Directions
Step 1
Heat your olive oil over medium heat in a small frying pan.
Step 2
Scatter the crumbled feta in a circle around the edge of the pan, leaving the center empty (large enough to fit the yolk of the egg).
Step 3
Sprinkle the red pepper flakes over the feta.
Step 4
Cook until you see and hear the feta sizzling, and starting to melt. This will take a couple of minutes.
Step 5
Place the egg over the feta, being careful to place the yolk in the centre of the pan. You can check out this action here.
Step 6
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 7
Cook until the egg is to your liking. After a minute or two you can add a lid to the frying pan to more easily cook the yolk. You can also flip the egg and feta, but this can get a little messy.
Step 8
Place over toast or enjoy as is!
Cooking tips
Do not buy pre-crumbled feta. You can often find pre-crumbled feta. Even if this seems like a time-saver, don’t do it. It tends to be more expensive than a regular block of feta and honestly, crumbling your own feta is not hard!
Add your feta to a heated pan. This will get your feta softened quickly and will help get you those crispy edges.
Don’t wait too long to add your egg. You feta will continue to cook up after you add your egg. Waiting until your feta has already browned may cause the edges to burn while your eggs cook.
If you do decide to cover your pan, be sure to lift the lid away from you as you want to avoid any oil splattering landing on you.
This recipe is best served as soon as it is made.
Frequently asked questions
Are sunny side up eggs and fried eggs the same thing?
They are both fried eggs, but the sunny side up egg was never flipped over. This usually leads to a runnier yolk. If you want to cook your yolk a little more than a typical sunny side up egg without flipping it over, you can cover your pan with a lid for a moment or two. When you do flip your egg it is called over easy!
How can I get the crispy edges on my feta and egg whites?
Frying in enough olive oil will certainly help with this. Also be sure to add the feta and then the egg to an already hot pan. Be sure to crumble your own feta as well, since pre-crumbled feta may not cook up the same way.
Can I use a different cheese instead of feta?
Yes, you can use another type of soft and crumbly cheese instead of the feta. Other cheeses which would work well include parmesan, cheddar or mozzarella.
Recipe variations
Instead of serving your fried egg with feta over toast, you can serve it on a hash brown, a tortilla or pita bread. You can use my pita bread recipe to make your own at home – it is super easy. For a heartier meal, you can even serve your egg over some homemade french fries.
You can enhance this recipe by using a few add-ons. Try spreading some mashed avocado on the toast before you top it with your egg. Alternatively, serve your fried egg with feta with some finely diced tomato on top, a squeeze of lemon or a generous sprinkle of Greek oregano.
You can swap out the feta for another type of cheese, like parmesan, cheddar or even mozzarella. A great Greek cheese like kefalotyri or graviera would also work amazing! Keep the recipe dairy free by using a vegan cheese.
What to serve with
For the perfect breakfast I like to serve this with a bowl of fresh fruit. I make a really beautiful fruit salad and you can check out the recipe for my pretty in red fruit salad here.
When I make this recipe for lunch or dinner then I usually want something a little heartier. A side of roasted lemon potatoes is actually a great accompaniment, as is an Greek potato salad with herbs.
Related recipes
Eggs are an amazing staple to have on hand because they are so versatile. Check out these amazing egg dishes that can easily be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a delicious snack!
Greek salad egg scramble (Horiatiki strapatsada) Don’t ever let any leftover Greek salad go to waste! Make this amazing recipe instead.
Easy sheet pan eggs and breakfast sandwich Meal prep with ease! Your mornings will be a breeze with a tray of these eggs made.
Egg salad with feta and dill A Greek flavoured egg salad filling, perfect in sandwiches, salad and scooped up with crackers.
Serving size
This recipe serves one person. It can easily be doubled, but I would advise cooking no more than two eggs at a time, but this really depends on the size of your pan. If you have a flat top skillet (you know, the kind you plug in), you can make even more at one time.
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Viral fried egg with feta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 large egg
- salt and pepper
- 1 piece of toast, your choice
Instructions
- Heat your olive oil over medium heat in a small frying pan.1 tbsp olive oil
- Scatter the crumbled feta in a circle around the edge of the pan, leaving the center empty (large enough to fit the yolk of the egg).1/3 cup crumbled feta
- Sprinkle the red pepper flakes over the feta.1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- Cook until you see and hear the feta sizzling, and starting to melt. This will take a couple of minutes
- Place the egg over the feta, being careful to place the yolk in the centre of the pan.1 large egg
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.salt and pepper
- Cook until the egg is to your liking. After a minute or two you can add a lid to the frying pan to more easily cook the yolk. You can also flip the egg and feta, but this can get a little messy.
- Place over toast or enjoy as is!1 piece of toast, your choice