Breakfast and Brunch
Cheesy Mashed White Beans With Kale, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg

A hearty breakfast of cheesy white beans served with sautéed kale and a runny fried egg. [Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats where he likes to explore the science of home cooking in his weekly column The Food Lab. You can follow him at @thefoodlab on Twitter, or at The Food Lab on Facebook.

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About This Recipe

Yield: Serves 4
Active time: 30 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Special equipment: Potato masher or food processor

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, finely minced (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 ounces grated sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 2 ounces grated Parmesan (plus more for serving)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups finely shredded kale
  • 2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup finely sliced scallion whites and light greens

Procedures

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add beans, cream, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer, then mash beans lightly with a potato masher. Add water until a loose, porridge-like consistency is reached. Stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add kale, season with salt and pepper, and cook, tossing and stirring frequently, until wilted and starting to crisp, about 4 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and transfer to a bowl.

  3. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add eggs, season with salt and pepper, and cook until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.

  4. To serve, stir half of scallions in white beans and adjust consistency with water as necessary. Transfer to warm bowls, top with sautéed kale then with a fried eggs. Sprinkle with remaining scallions and grate some Parmesan over the top. Serve immediately.