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Eggs with Tomato on Toast

This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian dish elevates the humble egg on toast into something truly sophisticated yet comforting. By concentrating tinned tomatoes with garlic, oregano, and fresh basil, you create a robust, savoury base that is thickened beautifully with egg whites. It is a vibrant, colourful breakfast or light lunch that makes the most of store-cupboard essentials while delivering a punch of fresh, herbal flavour.

Perfect for a slow weekend brunch or a quick midweek supper, this recipe focuses on texture, pairing crisp toasted country bread with indulgent, velvety egg yolks. The technique of warming the yolks in the residual heat of the pan ensures they remain perfectly runny, creating a natural sauce that soaks into the bread. Serve it immediately with a final crack of black pepper for a simple, nutritious meal.

Continue reading below

Ingredients for Eggs with Tomato on Toast

  • 4 eggs

  • 60ml extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoons thinly sliced garlic

  • Small pinch of minced peperoncini or red pepper flakes

  • 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Sicilian

  • 5 canned tomatoes

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

  • 4 slices country white bread—whatever you have, toasted

Separate the eggs, reserving each yolk in its shell and combining 2 whites in a cup. Refrigerate the remaining 2 whites for another use.

In a cold medium skillet, combine the oil, garlic, peperoncini, and oregano. Turn on the heat and warm over medium-high heat until the garlic begins to fry (without browning) and the mixture becomes fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Raise the heat to high, then use your hands to crush each tomato into the pan, allowing the juice to fall into the skillet. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Fry the tomatoes, continuing to break them up with the fork. Cook until they concentrate and no longer look watery, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the basil.

Lower the heat to medium and stir in the egg whites. Cook until the whites become opaque and firm, thickening the tomato sauce, about 1 minute.

Turn off the heat. Using the back of a spoon, make 4 indentations in the sauce, allowing a few inches around each. Slip an egg yolk into each indentation. Draw the sauce in from the edges of the pan around each of the yolks. Cover the skillet and leave it on the stove, heat off, until the yolks are just warmed through and beginning to set, about 3 minutes for runny yolks.

Gently spoon some sauce and a yolk onto each piece of toast and serve immediately. I find rubbing some olive oil on the spoon helps prevent breaking the yolk.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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