Images and recipes from Neil Perry’s Good Cooking by Neil Perry (Murdoch Books) $49.99

Huevos rancheros

Serves 4

“I’m going to put it out there: this may not be the healthiest breakfast  or brunch dish you’ve ever had, but it might well be the tastiest.  Beans, tortillas and eggs are amazing together and I especially like  them with lots of fresh coriander (cilantro) and hot sauce. You’ll find  most of the ingredients you need in a South American food store.  Dry ricotta or another firm fresh cheese can be used as  a substitute for the queso fresco.” (p. 14)

 

 

Ingredients

vegetable oil, for frying

8 small corn tortillas

430 g (151/4 oz) tinned refried beans (optional)

8 free-range eggs

120 g (41/4 oz/1 cup) grated queso fresco

your choice of extra accompaniments, such as avocado, sour cream, coriander (cilantro) leaves, hot sauce  or salsa verde

 

Tomato sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large brown onion, cut into 1.5 cm (5/8 inch) squares

1 red capsicum (pepper), cut into 1.5 cm (5/8 inch) squares

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 x 400 g (14 oz) tin diced tomatoes

1 x 400 g (14 oz) tin red enchilada sauce

400 ml (14 fl oz) Fresh chicken stock  (page 56)

 

Fresh tomato salsa

2 large tomatoes, finely diced

1/2 fresh jalapeño chilli, finely chopped,  or to taste

1/2 small white onion, finely diced

1 large handful coriander (cilantro) leaves, finely chopped

lime juice, to taste

sea salt

 

Method

To make the tomato sauce, heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium–high heat. Sauté the onion and capsicum until soft and lightly browned. Add the oregano and cumin and cook for about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, enchilada sauce and stock, then increase the heat to high. Bring to the boil, stirring frequently, then reduce the heat to medium–low. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and thickened.

To make the tomato salsa, combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Adjust the chilli, lime and salt to taste, then set aside.

 

Heat about 60 ml (2 fl oz/1/4 cup) vegetable oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Test the oil with a small piece of tortilla to make sure it’s ready – it should start to bubble immediately, but if it browns right away, it’s too hot. Place a corn tortilla in the oil and cook for about 30 seconds, then flip over and cook for another 30 seconds. (You want the tortilla to be golden but not hard.) Drain on a plate lined with paper towel and keep warm while you cook the remaining tortillas.

 

Wipe out the small frying pan and heat the refried beans, if using.

Meanwhile, fry the eggs in batches in a large frying pan (I like to leave the yolks runny).

 

Put two corn tortillas on each serving plate and top with the refried beans and fried eggs. Spoon the tomato sauce over the top, sprinkle with the cheese and finish with the fresh salsa. Serve immediately with your choice of extra accompaniments.