The recent feta craze took off in 2021 with the rise of the famous baked feta pasta. The dish is still one of our most popular recipes to this day. Since then, feta has made its way into countless recipes: mixed into meatballs, whipped into creamy dips, and even transformed into dessert.
But the newest viral feta recipe takes it to the next level by incorporating this trendy cheese into the most important meal of the day: breakfast. Recipe developer Grace Elkus shared a video of her making a fried egg that gets a crispy and luxurious upgrade with crumbled feta right alongside the egg.
The inspiration for this recipe came from the crispy potato, egg, and cheese tacos from Ali Slagle’s I Dream of Dinner. The combination of melty fried cheddar and eggs got Elkus thinking about what other cheeses could work in this application, and feta was the obvious choice. “I always have it on hand, it’s packed with salty, tangy flavor, and you don’t have to break out the cheese grater,” Elkus says. “Just crumble it directly into the pan!”
Since posting the video on TikTok and Instagram, the recipe has garnered nearly 25 million views. Elkus has demonstrated the versatility of the feta fried egg by incorporating different seasonings and condiments. In one version, she added chili crisp. Another video featured a mashup with the popular pesto egg trend.
“My friends used zhoug sauce instead of pesto and loved it,” Elkus says. “I’m also curious to see if you could crisp up some kale in the skillet at the same time.”
The original video shows the egg served on a warm tortilla, but the serving options for this recipe are endless. Users have been sharing their ideas in the comments: on a pita with hummus, on top of a bowl of pasta, or even as the star of a grain bowl.
I asked Elkus for some tips on making feta fried eggs so I could try them myself. The key? A nonstick skillet. While you can use a well-seasoned cast iron or stainless steel pan with a drizzle of oil, a nonstick surface ensures that all the crispy cheese easily releases from the pan. Elkus recommends using a nonstick skillet from Zwilling, but any brand will work.
There are many different kinds of feta available, but the best option for this recipe is the feta packed in brine. “It melts better and more evenly, has a sharper flavor, and lasts longer too,” she says. And here’s a pro tip: Elkus suggests using the brine liquid to brine vegetables and meat for your next grilling project.
Armed with these tips, I tried the original version of the feta fried egg on a tortilla and followed Elkus’s recipe to the letter. And just as advertised, it came together in five minutes and developed a golden brown, cheesy exterior. The runny yolk added an extra layer of richness. It’s everything I want in a breakfast and more.
If you have any doubts about viral recipes, feta fried eggs will definitely change your mind.
(By Gabby Romero, Delish’s editorial assistant)
