Portuguese Peas with Chouriço & Poached Eggs | Ervilhas com Ovos Escalfados
Ervilhas com Ovos Escalfados is a comforting and flavourful Portuguese dish that brings together simple ingredients in a delicious, rustic way. This hearty meal combines tender green peas and slices of smoky chouriço, all simmered in a savoury tomato-based sauce. The dish is crowned with perfectly poached eggs, whose rich, runny yolks create a luxurious contrast to the vibrant flavours of the peas and chouriço. Traditionally enjoyed as a quick, satisfying meal, Ervilhas com Ovos Escalfados showcases the Portuguese love for fresh, accessible ingredients and the ability to turn them into something truly special. Whether served as a main course or a side dish, it’s a delightful way to experience the soul of Portuguese home cooking.
what makes it a perfect weeknight meal?
Ervilhas com ovos escalfados is the perfect fall weeknight recipe because it’s hearty, comforting, and easy to prepare. As the weather cools down, the combination of tender peas, smoky chouriço, and rich poached eggs simmered in a savoury tomato sauce offers warmth and satisfaction without requiring hours in the kitchen. The dish is not only flavourful but also a one-pan meal, making it convenient for busy weeknights when you want something nourishing and quick.
The key ingredients elevate the simplicity of this dish:
- Peas: Frozen peas add a touch of sweetness and vibrant green color, balancing the richness of the sauce and eggs.
- Chouriço: This traditional Portuguese sausage, seasoned with paprika and garlic, brings a smoky depth and a subtle spice, infusing the dish with bold, rustic flavors.
- Poached Eggs: The poached eggs provide a creamy richness, with the runny yolks blending into the sauce and creating a luxurious texture.
- Tomato-Based Sauce: The sauce ties everything together, with sautéed onions, garlic, bay leaves and tomatoes creating a rich, savoury base that complements the sweetness of the peas and the spice of the chouriço.
Together, these ingredients create a comforting, flavourful meal that’s ideal for a cozy fall evening.
Hope you enjoy it! xo
Portuguese Peas with Chouriço & and Poached Eggs | Ervilhas com Ovos Escalfados
Equipment
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 750 g frozen peas
- 4-8 eggs depending on how many eggs each person wants
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2-4 cloves garlic diced
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 ripe tomatoes diced
- 2 tbsp tomatoe paste
- 200 g chouriço sliced
- 100 g smoked back bacon diced
- 118 ml white wine (1/2 cup)
- 400 ml chicken stock
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sautee the onion for 3-5 minutes. Add in the chouriço and back bacon and sautee for another 5 minutes, until bacon is crispy.
- Add in garlic and bay leaves and sautee until fragrant, around 30sec. Add in white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Add in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and let simmer until the tomato breaks down, 3-5 minutes.
- Add the peas to the skillet, and cover with chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 4minutes.
- Make indentations with a spoon in the skillet and break eggs into the skillet and poach in the sauce for 4min. Serve!