Ten quick, unique deviled egg recipes for any occasion.

Need a simple yet delicious, eye-catching recipe that makes great use of  your chickens' delicious, nutritious eggs?

1.  Deviled eggs with bacon: a perfect breakfast recipe.

2.  Shrimps and cheese: a starter recipe for a weekend treat.

I've found this recipe goes well when we have friends for a meal, served as a canapé with a glass of cold white wine.

It's quite rich, so leave plenty of time between this and the main meal!

It helps to make this recipe in a food blender so that everything combines well, particularly if you're making a large amount.

I generally use frozen shrimp for ease. If you buy fresh, cook them for three minutes (until they turn pink) either by frying or by cooking in boiling water. 

If boiling, drain and run under cold water immediately. For either method, dry on kitchen paper.  

These amounts are enough for 6 people to have one whole egg each.

You'll need your basic deviled eggs recipe, but use a French (Dijon) mustard, not a hot (English) mustard which will detract from the delicate taste of the shrimps. 

In addition you'll need :

• A small pot of sour cream
• Two medium sized shrimps for each half egg
• 4 oz of finely grated hard cheese (such as English Cheddar)
• Two tablespoons of finely chopped dill
• A couple of pinches of cayenne pepper.

How to make :

• Set one shrimp aside per egg. If not using a blender finely chop the remainder. If using a blender simply add them to the jug.
  

• Hard boil the eggs, peel and spoon out the yolks.

• Add them to the bowl / jug with two tablespoons of sour cream, two teaspoons of mustard, the dill and a pinch of cayenne pepper . 
  

• Spoon the mix back into the egg white and top each one with a shrimp. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and, if you like your eggs warm, put them under the grill for no more than two or three minutes.

• If you don't have dill, either parsley or tarragon work well with this mix.

• This recipe does not keep well. Keep it in the fridge and use on the day you make it.
  

3.  Deviled eggs salad: lovely as a summer evening meal.

This recipe adds salad ingredients in the eggs themselves to provide texture and a hot sauce to give some added interest.

Mix and match ingredients to suit your own family's tastes.

These ingredients are for six people to have two whole eggs each as part of a salad.

Calculate the basic recipe using 12 eggs and use a mild mustard such as Dijon. Either use a basic deviled egg recipe and simply set them on a salad, or alternatively add these ingredients to the yolk mix and blend together:

• About 2 oz (quarter cup; 5 grammes) chopped green (UK spring) onions
• 4 oz (half cup; 110 grammes) chopped red bell pepper
• 4 oz  (half cup) cherry tomatoes
  
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  
• A dash of Tabasco sauce
• A teaspoon of paprika.
  

I've also used sweetcorn in this mix which provides a nice sweetness.  

Combine all the salad ingredients into the yolk mix and spoon back into the egg. Don't try to pipe it - your piping bag will get clogged up.

For an extra-classy look, I use dark coloured leaves as a bed because the whites stand out nicely against them. Dot with cherry tomatoes which add a touch of brilliant colour.

4.  Having a small? Present deviled eggs as a single serving appetizer.

I first saw this done at a celebration buffet my brother threw in a very upmarket hotel in London, England. It always struck me as being a classy and personal way to make a simple dish look amazing. 

Serve your deviled eggs on a porcelain wanton (Chinese soup) spoon.

This isn't so much a different recipe as a different way of serving the dish.

Make the filling as usual, leave simple and sprinkle on some paprika for colour, or add a tiny sprig of parsley.

Any of these recipes would look good in this setting, particularly those which have more colour.

The spoons can be bought relatively inexpensively in your local Chinese supermarket, or alternatively online. 

The only problem here is the egg white against the white spoon can look a little bland. Sit the egg on a small piece of lettuce, or alternatively shop for some more colourful spoons.

Try it - you'll find you have a great talking point at any party!

5.  Deviled eggs with sweet peppers and olive garnish: an ideal buffet recipe.

Again this is a simple topping for the classic recipe. It looks colourful and tastes delicious - the peppers add a bit of sweetness and the olives, a salty tang.

You won't need any salt added to this recipe - the olives provide enough.

You'll need :

• 6 hard boiled eggs
• 2 pimentoes (sweet red peppers)
• 9 pitted (i.e. stones removed) olives - either green or black
  
• 5 tablespoons of mayonnaise or sour cream
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• A few drops of hot pepper sauce (if you like spicy)
  
• A pinch of Cayenne pepper
• Paprika for garnish.

How to make it :

• Hard boil and split the eggs as usual. Remove the yolks and place into a bowl, but keep back a little of the hard yolk from each one. 
  

• Take 6 of the olives, chop finely and add to the bowl.

• Cut some of the peppers into 12 thin strips; put to one side.

• Chop the remaining peppers finely and add to the mix.

• Put one tablespoon of the mayonnaise or sour cream aside for garnish.

• Add the remaining mayonnaise or sour cream, cayenne pepper, mustard and hot sauce (if you're using it) to the bowl.

• Mix all those ingredients together well, then spoon back into the white.
  

• Cut the remaining 3 olives in half across the middle. 
  

• Put a little mayonnaise or sour cream on top of the mix; then add the halved olive (one half per egg) and two slices of sweet pepper to the top.

• Take the yolk which you put aside earlier and, using a fork, turn it into crumbles.  Sprinkle over the top of the sour cream.

• If you're worried about the topping falling off, use wooden toothpicks through the middle to hold them together - they work very well.

• Now simply present them on a bed of lettuce and enjoy the result!
  

6.  With prawns (shrimps) and olives: great for a summer beach BBQ.

Summer and the beach speak to me of fresh fish. If that speaks to you too, you'll love this simple recipe. 

I've used it for both a beach barbeque and as part of a poolside party - it works well for either.

7.  A healthy lunch recipe that kids love: tuna and chives.

I love this recipe because it's tasty, healthy and low in carbohydrates. Kids love it and, like most deviled egg recipes, it's very quick to make.

Make it with tuna, salmon or crab - it tastes delicious with any of them.

I use quite a lot of garlic (what can I say - I live in Italy!) but you can cut it down or leave it out altogether. 

If you like a salty taste I also sometimes add in capers - one tablespoon is plenty, added in with the mix - or anchovies.

These ingredients are enough to fill 6 eggs (12 halves).

• 6 hard boiled eggs
• 2/3 (two thirds) cup (5 oz, 150 grammes) flaked tuna, fresh or tinned. If tinned, the quantity is drained
• 1/4 (one quarter) cup (2 oz, 50 grammes) butter
  
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic (or to taste).

How to make it :

• Hard boil the eggs.
  
• Cut in half and put to one side.
• Add the garlic to the butter and beat until it's light and fluffy.
• Carefully take the yolks out of the white and add them, together with the tuna and most of the chives.  Mix together well.
  
• Garnish using the remaining chopped chives and a dollop of mayonnaise.

8.  Recipes for that special occasion: deviled eggs with caviar.

This is a striking-looking dish for a buffet or a starter at a special dinner party. 

Using caviar gives a sense of decadence - but it's no longer anything like as expensive as it used to be. Either red or black caviar works in this recipe, adding a striking contrast to the pale eggs.

It also looks even more elegant using tiny quail eggs, if you have the patience!

What you need :

• 6 chicken eggs (or multiply up for a larger amount)
• 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
  
• 3 tablespoons caviar (approximately)
  
• 1/2 (half) teaspoon French (Dijon) mustard
  
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
• Parsley leaves to garnish

How to make it :

• Hard boil, peel and cut the eggs in half lengthways, as usual. Remove the yolks and place in a bowl.

• Add the mayonnaise, mustard and lemon zest and mix together well.

• Spoon the yolk mixture back into the egg white and make the filling as flat as possible.  

• Now add a scant teaspoon of caviar to the top of each. Garnish with a small parsley leaf and arrange together on a platter.

• Don't make this too long before you require it - caviar is best served very fresh.
  

9.  Seasonal variations:  Hallowe'en deviled egg ideas.

There are lots of different variations on deviled egg recipes which you can use for Hallowe'en. 

Another of my favourites is to use black olives to make a spider - use a basic recipe and on top of the yolk mix place half an olive for the body and slices for each leg.

This one, though, is my very favourite: a little devil deviled eggs recipe!

As you can tell, I'm not terribly artistic ...

• Make the basic recipe with a little more mayonnaise than usual so that the 'arms' slide easily into the egg mix.

• Use chopped chives for arms and green and red peppers cut into triangles for the beard and horns respectively.

• Kids don't actually mind that it's not the most inventive design in the world - the excitement of Hallowe'en will take care of that!
  

10. Another Seasonal Twist: Easter deviled egg ideas.

Again, this is not about a separate recipe - any of the recipes on this page, or the simple basic recipe itself, would work with this arrangement.

It makes a lovely centrepiece for an Easter buffet. Keep it simple, keep it fresh and natural.

Deviled eggs can look a little 'washed out', so add some strong colours to the platter and to the table. Here I've used radishes from my veggie plot, with some tulips and my own hens' eggs.

Gather whatever flowers, fruit and veg you have available, use the deviled eggs as a centrepiece and surround with the rest.  

And finally ...

Deviled eggs are one of the most versatile dishes available. The combination of your own fresh eggs and some adventurous, imaginative recipes can stand the test of any type of dinner, buffet or party. 

Don't stick with my recipes - think about what your family loves to eat and ask yourself "would it fit with eggs?"

It's fun to experiment, so even if you're not sure, give it a try!

If you've enjoyed this series of deviled egg recipes, you may also be interested in these pages.