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A hearty Mexican breakfast‑lunch dish featuring scrambled eggs cooked with crispy bacon, a smoky tomato‑chili sauce, and fresh verdolagas (purslane). The recipe is simple, flavorful, and perfect for feeding the whole family.
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Everything you need to know about this recipe
Huevitos con tocino y verdolagas is a rustic home‑cooked dish from central Mexico, where purslane (verdolaga) is a seasonal wild green traditionally harvested after rains. Combining eggs, bacon, and a smoky tomato‑chili sauce reflects the Mexican love for hearty, protein‑rich meals that can be prepared quickly for family gatherings.
In the states of Puebla and Veracruz, cooks often add crumbled queso fresco or a splash of crema to the dish. In northern Mexico, the bacon may be replaced with chorizo, and the sauce may include roasted tomatillos for a tangier flavor.
The dish is typically served hot on a large plate, accompanied by warm corn tortillas, refried beans, and a side of fresh salsa. It is common to garnish with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime, making it a complete breakfast or lunch for the whole family.
This comforting egg dish is popular for weekend family brunches, after‑work meals, and during the rainy season when verdolagas are abundant. It is also served at informal gatherings such as birthday picnics or community potlucks in rural Mexican towns.
Key ingredients are fresh verdolagas, ripe tomatoes, serrano and jalapeño chilies, and pork bacon. Substitutes include spinach for verdolagas, canned diced tomatoes for fresh, and pancetta or smoked ham for bacon, though the flavor profile will shift slightly.
Pairs beautifully with homemade corn tortillas, refried black beans, Mexican rice, or a simple avocado salad. A glass of fresh horchata or agua fresca balances the richness of the eggs and bacon.
The dish showcases the seasonal wild green verdolaga, which adds a slightly tangy, succulent texture that is rare in everyday Mexican cooking. Combined with the smoky salsa and crispy bacon, it creates a balance of flavors rarely found together in a single skillet.
Common errors include over‑cooking the verdolagas, which makes them mushy; burning the dried chilies, which adds bitterness; and cooking the eggs on too high heat, resulting in rubbery texture. Follow the timing cues and keep the heat medium.
Roasting caramelizes the natural sugars in tomatoes, onion, and chilies, creating a deeper, smoky flavor that defines the dish. Raw blending would yield a brighter but less complex sauce, which is not traditional for this home‑style recipe.
Yes, you can prepare the roasted salsa a day ahead and keep it refrigerated. The cooked beans and blanched verdolagas also store well. Reheat the salsa, combine with freshly scrambled eggs and bacon right before serving for best texture.
The YouTube channel De mi Rancho a Tu Cocina specializes in traditional Mexican home cooking, focusing on rustic, farm‑to‑table recipes that celebrate regional ingredients like corn, beans, and wild greens such as verdolaga.
De mi Rancho a Tu Cocina emphasizes cooking with ingredients sourced directly from the host’s own garden or local markets, often demonstrating techniques passed down through generations. The channel favors simple, one‑pan meals and shares personal stories about rural Mexican life, setting it apart from more polished, restaurant‑style channels.
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