Ingredients
- Eggs: The main ingredient, eggs, provide a rich source of protein, vitamins, and healthy fats, helping keep you full for longer.
- Fresh Spinach: Adding fresh spinach introduces vitamins A, C, and K along with a vibrant green color.
- Roasted Red Bell Peppers: Roasting red peppers enhances their natural sweetness, adding both a hint of flavor and beautiful color.
- Cottage Cheese: Whole milk cottage cheese contributes creaminess and helps create a fluffy, light texture in the egg mixture.
- Green Onions: The mild bite from green onions cuts through the richness of the eggs and cheese, providing a balanced flavor.
- Sea Salt and Pepper: Seasoning is essential in bringing out the flavors of all other ingredients.
Instructions
1. Ingredient Preparation
To start, you’ll need to prepare your vegetables, which involves wilting the spinach and chopping the bell peppers and green onions.
- Spinach: Steaming is a quick and easy method to wilt spinach while preserving its color and nutrients. Simply place the spinach in a steamer over simmering water for about a minute, just until wilted. Once done, make sure to squeeze out any excess water, as moisture can prevent your egg bites from setting properly.
- Roasted Red Bell Peppers: If you’re roasting your bell pepper at home, do so over a gas flame or in the oven until charred. Once cooled, peel off the skin and dice the pepper.
- Green Onions: Chop these finely to allow their flavor to disperse evenly throughout each bite.
2. Blending the Egg Mixture
For smooth, creamy egg bites, a blender is a great tool. Blending thoroughly ensures the cottage cheese fully integrates, giving the egg mixture a silky texture.
- Combine: Place the eggs, cottage cheese, salt, and pepper in the blender.
- Blend: Blend on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
Tip: If you don’t have a blender, a food processor or a whisk will work. Aim for a uniform texture, as this will lead to even baking.
3. Assembling the Egg Bites in the Muffin Tin
Layering ingredients in the muffin tin creates an even distribution of flavors and textures in each bite.
- Divide Vegetables: Evenly distribute the prepared spinach, bell peppers, and green onions into each muffin cup.
- Pour Egg Mixture: Carefully pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, filling each cup nearly to the top. Sprinkle any leftover vegetables on top for added color.
4. Baking the Egg Bites
The baking process is straightforward but requires attention for the best results.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F to ensure even baking.
- Bake Time: Bake for 18 to 22 minutes. Keep an eye on them toward the end of baking; they should be firm to the touch, with no jiggle in the center.
- Cooling: Allow the egg bites to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing. Cooling slightly helps them firm up, making removal easier.