Baked Eggs

SERVES 2

Wonderfully adaptable, baked eggs (sometimes called shirred eggs) are made by baking or broiling eggs with various ingredients. This recipe produces firm whites and velvety yolks.

1 tbsp. unsalted butter
4 tbsp. cooked chopped spinach
that's been squeezed to extract excess liquid
4 eggs into each dish
1⁄2 tomato
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1 slice bacon, cooked and chopped
2 tbsp. grated parmesan
1⁄2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1⁄4 tsp. grated nutmeg
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to broil and place a rack 10" from the heating element. Grease two 8-oz. gratin dishes with butter. To each dish, add 2 tbsp. spinach. Using your fingers, make 2 wells in each pile of spinach and crack 2 eggs into each dish.

2. Cut tomato into 4 wedges and nestle 2 wedges on opposite sides of each dish. Pour 1 tbsp. heavy cream into each dish. Add half of the bacon to each dish.

3. Sprinkle each dish with 1 tbsp. parmesan, 1⁄4 tsp. thyme, 1⁄8 tsp. nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to oven rack and broil until the cheese is golden brown, the whites of the eggs are set, and the yolks are still slightly soft, about 5 minutes.

4. Use tongs and a kitchen towel to transfer dishes to 2 serving plates lined with paper napkins to prevent the dishes from slipping.