A Cheap Emergency Meal

Thank goodness for eggs.  Most people who have refrigerators also have a box of eggs in them.  Eggs are cheap, versatile and full of protein.  They’re one of the basics of my life, whether I’m making a dessert, an omelet or a heavy-duty soup that can serve as a main course.

When I’ve assessed the contents of my freezer and can find nothing I want to eat for dinner, I turn to Oniony Egg Soup.  I don’t know where the recipe came from, but I’ve been making it for years. 

It doesn’t require many ingredients:
eggs, an onion, a can of chopped tomatoes, some broth and a few spices.  From start to finish it takes about 30 minutes.  Add a loaf of garlic bread and a tossed salad to the menu and ring the dinner bell! 

Oniony Egg Soup - serves 4 as an appetizer or 2 as a main dish (adapted from “Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen”) 

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth + more if needed
1 15-ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 large eggs
Parmesan cheese (optional) 

Heat the oil in a medium-size pot over medium heat.  Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften.   

Add the broth, tomatoes and their liquid, basil, salt, black pepper and stir.  Bring to a boil and cook, covered, over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.  

Remove the lid and crack the eggs, one at a time, into the boiling soup.  Try not to break the yolks. The eggs should be at least partly submerged.  If the liquid seems sparse, add 1/4 – 1/2 cup more broth.  Bring the liquid back to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, replace the lid and cook for another 5 minutes. 

When serving, gently transfer 1 or 2 eggs into each bowl with a large spoon. Fill the bowls with the tomato/onion broth.  Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese, if using.  

                            For easy recipes, order "Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen!"