Ingredients
- 4 eggs, hard boiled
- 2 tablespoons oil (or butter)
- 2 medium onions, boiled and ground to a paste
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 2 medium tomatoes, pureed
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
Whole spice tempering
- 1 black cardamom
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 3–4 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
To finish
- ½ teaspoon kasoori methi
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
Prep
- Score or halve the hard boiled eggs. Pan-fry in a little oil with a pinch of turmeric until light golden spots appear; set aside.
- If adding potatoes: par-boil until just tender, then pan-fry in a little oil until golden on the outside. Set aside with the eggs.
Cook
- Heat oil in a pan. Add the whole spices and let them crackle, about 30 seconds.
- Add the onion paste and salt; cook on medium heat, stirring often, until golden — 8–10 minutes.
- Add ginger garlic paste; sauté until the raw smell is gone and the paste turns golden brown, 2–3 minutes.
- Add tomato puree; cook until the oil separates from the masala, 5–6 minutes.
- Add turmeric, red chilli powder, and garam masala; stir and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Add water to reach desired consistency; simmer 5 minutes.
Finish
- Crush kasoori methi between your palms and stir in.
- Add the pan-fried eggs; simmer 2–3 minutes so they absorb the gravy.
- Stir in butter off the heat.
Variations
- Richer, creamier gravy (restaurant-style): Deep-fry the onions instead of boiling them — the paste becomes more intense and caramelised. After the tomatoes, stir in 2 tablespoons cashew paste and ¼ cup cream. The gravy thickens considerably and coats the eggs heavily. Use ghee instead of oil throughout.
- With potatoes: Par-boil and pan-fry 1–2 potatoes (see Prep step 2), then add alongside the eggs in the Finish step. They absorb the gravy and make the dish more substantial.
- Lighter: Skip the butter finish and use oil throughout; omit cashew paste and cream.
Notes
- Neelam's version on YouTube covers a similar technique and is worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9QnyEN2Zks&index=12&list=PLcFbkjQAe9klfjOrMVIqcUc51KoChEZC4
Added Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Aug 27, 2026