Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg​ Recipe

This simple Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg recipe is made with nothing more than fresh large eggs and water. The result is a perfectly cooked breakfast featuring a tender, set white and a rich, creamy yolk. It is perfect for a quick, healthy morning meal and makes an ideal breakfast for one person or the whole family.

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Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg Ingredients

• Large eggs, at room temperature
• Water (enough to cover the eggs by about 1 cm)

How To Make Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg

1. Boil the water: Fill a small saucepan with enough water to cover the eggs by about 1cm. Bring the water up to a boil until large bubbles are breaking on the surface.
2. Add the eggs: Quickly but gently lower the room-temperature eggs into the boiling water using a tablespoon. Switch on your timer and simmer the eggs for exactly 1 minute.
3. Steam the eggs: Remove the pan from the heat and immediately put a lid on it. Set your timer again. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 6 minutes for a liquid yolk and wobbly white, or 7 minutes for a creamy yolk and completely set white.

Recipe Tips

• Use Room Temperature Eggs: It is very important to use eggs that are at room temperature, not cold from the fridge. Cold eggs are much likely to crack when they hit the boiling water.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Use a saucepan that fits the number of eggs you are cooking comfortably. If the eggs are too crowded, they might cook unevenly or crack against each other.
• Set a Timer: Timing is everything with this method. Use a kitchen timer or your phone to track the 1 minute simmer and the 6 or 7 minute standing time exactly.
• Prick the Egg (Optional): If you are worried about cracking, you can prick the round end of the egg with a pin before boiling. This releases air pressure inside the shell.

What To Serve Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg

These soft boiled eggs are a classic breakfast staple. The most traditional way to serve them is in an egg cup with “toast soldiers”—strips of buttered toast for dipping into the runny yolk. You can also serve them alongside avocado toast for a modern twist, or with a side of crispy bacon or sausages. For a simple light lunch, place the peeled soft boiled egg on top of a fresh green salad or a bowl of ramen.

How To Store Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Soft boiled eggs are best eaten fresh while warm. However, if you have leftovers, let them cool completely. Store them in their shells in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Reheat: To reheat, place the eggs in a bowl of warm water (not boiling) for a few minutes to take the chill off before peeling.

Delia Smith Soft Boiled Egg Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 large egg

• Calories: 72 kcal
• Total Fat: 4.8g
• Saturated Fat: 1.6g
• Cholesterol: 186mg
• Sodium: 71mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 0.4g
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 0.2g
• Protein: 6.3g

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why did my egg crack in the water? This usually happens because the egg was too cold when it touched the boiling water. Always take your eggs out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature.
• Do I need to keep the heat on for the 6 or 7 minutes? No. The beauty of this method is that you remove the pan from the heat entirely. The residual heat in the water and steam inside the covered pan cooks the eggs gently to perfection.
• How do I peel a soft boiled egg easily? If you aren’t using an egg cup, tap the shell gently all over to crack it. Peel the egg under cold running water, or submerge it in a bowl of water while peeling. This helps the shell slip off the white.

Try More Recipes:

• Delia Smith Scrambled Eggs​ Recipe
• Delia Smith Poached Eggs Recipe
• Delia Smith Hard Boiled Eggs