What's the Deal with Quail Eggs?

A reader asked yesterday about quail eggs, often found in Asian markets. She asked, What does one do with that? Can anybody please enlighten?

Sure! We love quail eggs. They're much smaller than chicken eggs - perhaps a quarter of the size. They are usually speckled and spattered in the most charming way imaginable, so this in combination with their dollhouse size makes them almost irresistible. We like to buy a pack to boil and eat with sesame salt.

They taste pretty similar to chicken eggs but they have a higher yolk to white ratio, which is appealing to us yolk-lovers. Check out instructions for boiling them at Epicurious. Marga points out that their small size also makes them a good food for toddlers.

Our next project with quail eggs is pizza: this Quail Egg and Prosciutto Pizza has been on the top of the to-make list. This Smoked Haddock and Quail Egg Pie looks pretty appealing too.

Anyone else on quail eggs?

Comments (3)

while there is a high correlation of reproducibility in quail egg patterns from the same hen, it is far from 100% See the following extensive research.
Quail egg identification in Japanese Quail

Quail eggs are quite mainstream in Venezuela and Colombia, particularly in parties, where they're served hard boiled with a sauce made from mayo, ketchup and a bit of tabasco. I'm allergic to hen eggs so I eat them for breakfast. I like cutting a circle into a slice of white bread, put in on a pan, add two quail eggs and let them fry. Then, I use that fancy toast to make a sandwich with roast beef and gouda. Delicious!
Also, quail eggs have no cholesterol, so eat away!

I am allergic to the protein in the egg whites of chicken eggs. My doctor said I could eat other eggs because the protein is different.