Egg Bites Cooked Using Sous Vide

The sous vide machine isn't just for meat—it's great for a variety of ingredients. These sous vide egg bites, inspired by a popular Seattle coffee chain, are a perfect example.

By cooking crispy bacon and a creamy egg mix in precisely controlled water, you get these deliciously light, fluffy, and savory bites. They're fantastic for meal prep as you can make them ahead and freeze them.

When you're rushing out the door, these bites heat up in a minute in the microwave, giving you a quick and easy meal to take on the go.

Guidelines to Craft Exceptional Sous Vide Egg Bites

• Canning jars work excellently for sous vide because they're heat-safe and equipped with lids.
• To keep jars steady in the water, position them in the pot before filling it. If they're unstable, place a heat-safe weight on top for stability.
• Avoid overly tightening the jar lids to prevent breakage during cooking. Instead, use the "two-finger twist tight" method for easy opening with just two fingers.

Let Your Creativity Shine with Egg Bite Mix-Ins!

* There's a variety of ingredients to enhance your egg bites. Experiment with these options separately or mix them up:

• Proteins: Browned sausage, diced ham, cooked pancetta, or crumbled plant-based bacon
• Cheeses: Shredded cheddar, goat cheese, or feta
• Greens: Sautéed spinach, kale, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, or chopped tomatoes
• Aromatics: Caramelized onions, red onion, or diced jalapeños

Ingredients

• 3 slices bacon

• 6 large eggs

• 1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• Chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Steps to Make It

01.  Get your ingredients together and prepare your sous vide machine by filling a big pot with water and setting it to 172°F.

02.  Cook the bacon until it's crispy by baking, frying, or air frying it.

03.  Combine eggs, grated cheese, heavy cream, cream cheese, salt, and pepper in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth.

04.  Use cooking spray to grease six 4-ounce jars or ramekins. Cut the cooked bacon in half and place a half in the bottom of each jar.

05.  Divide the blended egg mixture equally among the jars.

06.  Close the jars with their lids, ensuring they're just twisted tight enough for you to easily untwist them with two fingers. Tightening them more than that might cause the jars to break in the water.

07.  Place the jars in the water bath, making sure they're fully submerged, and cook for 1 hour. Use the tongs to take them out of the water bath.

08.  Run a knife around the edge of the eggs to loosen them from the jars.

09.  Turn the jars upside down onto a plate to release the cooked eggs, and garnish with chopped chives before serving.

How to Store and Freeze

• Let them cool down, then store in an airtight container in the fridge; they'll stay good for about three days. If you want to freeze them, transfer the cooled egg bites into freezer bags. They'll keep well for up to two months. When you're ready to eat, reheat them straight from the freezer in the microwave.

Recipe Variations

* Explore various options for these egg bites! Experiment with these combinations or invent your own:

• Kale and Portabella: Sauté chopped kale and sliced portabella mushrooms in olive oil with salt. After whipping the eggs with heavy cream and cream cheese, distribute the kale and mushrooms evenly between the jars.
• Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper: Use egg whites and mix them with low-fat cream cheese. Spread diced roasted red peppers among the jars and pour the egg white mixture over them.
• Sausage, Spinach, and Cheddar: Combine eggs with heavy cream, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. Brown sausage, then sauté spinach. Divide these ingredients among the jars and pour the egg mixture on top. Feel free to play around and create your own tasty blends!