Baked Eggs Florentine ~ a simple but delicious dish of baked eggs with spinach. This satisfying low carb recipe makes an elegant breakfast, brunch, or cozy dinner.
Can I just say I love this recipe? And it’s so EASY ~ I saute some aromatics (garlic and shallot,) throw in the spinach just long enough for it to wilt, and pile it all into a gratin dish. I nestle in the eggs, drizzle them with cream, top with a shower of chopped tarragon, and slide it into the oven. When they come out I hit them with a handful of rustic toasted bread crumbs and more fresh herbs. Lots of fresh cracked pepper, too.
I love anything cooked “a la Florentine” ~ it just means in the style of Florence (Italy), and it involves sauteed spinach and some type of creamy sauce. In the US, you’ll often see eggs Florentine as a variation of Eggs Benedict, on a spinach topped English muffin drenched in HOLLANDAISE SAUCE.
In this case the ‘sauce’ is simply a little bit of cream. The idea of baking eggs in a little cream with herbs is very European, and I think it’s the height of effortless elegance.
It only takes about 15 minutes in the oven ~ the whites will set and the yolks will still be perfectly runny.
If you love baked eggs, try my RED PEPPER BAKED EGG GALETTES ~ they’re individual eggs baked in puff pastry ~ they make a fabulous presentation, but are super easy. I do a version with MUSHROOMS, too.
Reader Rave ~
“Oh my, this was just so, so, so delicious! It is dishes like this that assure I’ll never make the leap from vegetarian to vegan: eggs and cream are just too luscious, especially atop my favorite food with herbs from my garden. Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Sue!.” ~ Rusty
*This recipe comes from Williams Sonoma Taste
Baked Eggs Florentine
Ingredients
- 1 slice bread, torn into rough crumbs
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 large shallot
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 Tbsp fresh chopped tarragon
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Set oven to 375 degrees F.
- Add a tablespoon of oil to a skillet and stir fry the bread crumbs for about 10 minutes until they are browned and crispy. Hit them with a little salt and pepper, and add the thyme. Set aside.
- Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and saute the garlic and shallot for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly. Add the spinach and stir until it wilts. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Put the spinach in the bottom of a gratin dish. Make four little indents for the eggs, and space them evenly around the dish.
- Crack an egg into each indent. Pour the cream around the eggs, and top with the tarragon. Sprinkle with salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Finish with a dusting of fresh nutmeg.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until the whites are just set but the yolks are runny. Top with the breadcrumbs and more fresh herbs, if you like. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
- Ovens are notorious for cooking unevenly, so if yours has a hot spot, rotate your dish once during cooking.
- It’s best to stick to gratin style baking dishes for this recipe, if you want to cook for more, do it in multiple dishes. If you try to bake too many eggs in one large casserole, the ones in the center won’t get done.
- I use my classic oval gratin dish for so many things, it’s the perfect size for this egg dish. Many of the best brands are, not surprisingly, French. They come in all colors and sizes, but this 24 ounce capacity is pretty standard. Click on the image for more info.
Thanks for pinning!
I like eggs well-done. Could I make this by cooking longer?
Yes, you can bake it to your particular liking. Just keep a close eye because eggs cook relatively quickly and they are often more cooked than they appear.
Recipe says 4 servings, 4 eggs in dish. Nutritional information says 1 serving -2 eggs. So, is this 2 servings or should there actually be 8 eggs in the dish?
This was a delicious breakfast dish and remarkably easy. I added some leftover sautéed shitake and oyster mushrooms to the spinach which were a very nice addition if you happen to have some some available. My husband loved the dish and said it was a “keeper.”
Oh my, this was just so, so, so delicious! It is dishes like this that assure I’ll never make the leap from vegetarian to vegan: eggs and cream are just too luscious, especially atop my favorite food with herbs from my garden. Thankyouthankyouthankyou, Sue!
I agree with you Rusty, eggs are so good, I could never give them up!
Baked eggs are delicious
What a gorgeous dish!
Wow this dish is looking yummy and delicious with so many eggs green spinach. It seems to be healthy dish and will make it for my husband who love’s healthy dishes.
I think the health news on eggs is pretty good lately, and so I indulge often 🙂
Oh wow it’s so beautiful!! Trying this soon. I never ever tire of eggs- good thing there are endless ways to make them! I suspect I won’t be able to help but throw some mushrooms in there as well 😉
Mmmmmmmm mushrooms!
I’m with you — I’m a sucker for anything a la Florentine! I’ve made this recipe before, although it’s been ages. Like 25 years! Time again, don’t you think? 🙂
What a delicious dish! I am so much into spinach at the moment, actually we will have spinach pasta today, and this looks amazing!