Barbecue Deviled Eggs
Pat: When we were growing up, deviled eggs were a staple at any celebration, like a Fourth of July picnic or Easter Sunday brunch, and at family feasts at Momma’s, alongside fried chicken, pork roast, green beans, and creamed corn. In my mind, deviled eggs are an appetizer or a snack, something you grab when you’re passing through the kitchen or hanging out by the picnic table. But every once in a while, Momma served deviled eggs with tuna fish and crackers for a light Sunday dinner, proving that they can work as a meal just fine. This is our spin on a great Southern tradition (one of the many joys of cooking is infusing a recipe with your own personality). The sweet, tangy flavor of barbecue sauce blends surprisingly well with rich, creamy egg yolks. Topped with thinly sliced scallions, these eggs are perfect for a picnic, a backyard party, a down-home brunch buffet, or a light Sunday dinner (thanks, Momma). Gina: I wonder what the grandmothers would say about our adding barbecue sauce?
Deviled eggs are one exception to the “fresh is best” rule. When you boil fresh eggs, the whites have a tendency to cling to the shell. This complicates a simple task, but there’s an easy way around it: let your eggs sit in the fridge for a week before you put them in the pot to boil. This will make peeling a snap.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 24 irresistable eggs, serving 6 to 8
Ingredients
Preparation
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a lively simmer. Using a slotted spoon, gently lower the eggs into the water and simmer for 9 minutes. Reduce the heat if the simmer becomes too lively (so the eggs don’t crack). Drain the water from the saucepan, and run cold water over the eggs until they are cool enough to handle. Peel the eggs, and cut them in half. Carefully remove the yolks (they should be slightly creamy) and place them in a small bowl. Add the mayonnaise, Neely’s Barbecue Sauce, mustard, salt, pepper, and hot sauce, and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Use a small spoon to scoop the yolk mixture back into the whites (if you want to get fancy, you can use a pastry bag to pipe the yolks back into their whites). Garnish the tops with thinly sliced scallions and a dash of paprika.
