Eggs are one of the most basic but versatile ingredients to cook with. Whether you boil, poach, bake, steam or fry them, it's definitely a fun way to experiment in the kitchen and test your chef skills ?? For those who are looking to take it to the next level, we've got the perfect thing for you and that's the Korean tornado omelette! As one part of an omurice dish, making the egg portion requires technique and that's where the exciting (and potentially frustrating) challenge lies. So, if you're ready to take on this impressive-looking dish, read ahead to see how you can create it at home ?
Before you begin making the tornado egg, go ahead and whip up the fried rice first so that you’ll be able to drape the omelette immediately onto it. Since the egg pairs well with most flavours, you can basically use any fried rice recipe you like. But if you need some ideas, check out this omurice recipe or this kimchi fried rice recipe ?
P.S. For even more fried rice dishes, we’ve rounded up these recipes from around the world!
What you’ll need:
- 3 eggs
- A pair of chopsticks
- Oil (or butter)
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to make it:
- In a bowl, beat the eggs together. Whisk until smooth, then add a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Pour a small amount of oil into a pan and swirl around until it evenly coats the entire surface. Heat the pan over medium to high heat, making sure that it’s hot and not just warm.
- Pour all the egg mixture into the pan and let it sit for a few seconds until the edges begin to set and the centre starts to bubble.
- Once the mixture has a thin but solid base, pull in the edges of the egg from opposite ends using a pair of chopsticks to the middle of the pan. Make sure to keep your chopsticks apart and not stuck together.
- Turn the chopsticks slowly in a circle while keeping them apart from each other the entire time. Do this until you form a whirl and can loosely move the entire omelette with the chopsticks.
- Before the egg is completely cooked, remove it from the pan so that it has a wet-like texture - the residual heat will continue to cook the egg. Slide it onto the mound of fried rice, season it further to your liking and enjoy while still warm!
For visual guidance, check out this video (from 3:48 to 4:27) to see how it’s done by an actual street vendor in Korea! ?
Tips & tricks:
- Use a smaller nonstick pan so that it'll be easier to swirl the egg mixture. And if you've got one with sloped sides, use that as it helps with the swirling process too!
- Make sure that the oil is really hot so that your whirled egg will keep its shape and can continue to cook when you transfer it over to the fried rice.
- When you drag the chopsticks to the centre of the pan, rotate both the chopsticks and the pan to help the swirling process go much more smoothly. Use one hand to turn the chopsticks and the other for the pan, making sure to rotate them in opposite directions.
With just a little practice and some patience, you’ll be able to whip up this cool looking egg in no time and impress everyone at home ?