Authentic Huevos Rancheros (Traditional Mexican Breakfast)

Huevos Rancheros are the traditional Mexican breakfast. As with goulash or chili, there are endless variations of this dish. It is said that there are as many as there are households in Mexico! However, the basics they all share involve eggs on a fried tortilla, smothered with salsa. The heat of the salsa is customized by the addition of various chile peppers: jalapeño for just spicy, serrano for hot, habanero for fiery.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow or green), chopped
• 1 tsp cumin seed, whole
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 large can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• Red or green chile powder or chopped chile peppers according to personal taste (jalapeño for just spicy, serrano for hot, habanero for fiery)
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp olive oil
• 8 corn tortillas
• 8 eggs
• 1 cup shredded cheese or chopped cilantro, for garnish

Preparation:

1. To make the Ranchero Sauce, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onion, garlic and all of the peppers over medium-high heat. Add the oregano and cumin and continue to cook for about a minute. Using green chile (either diced or in the form of dried powder) is a typical for the New Mexico variation of this dish.
2. Add the tomatoes, red or green chile powder (if being used) and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium low and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the mixture is reduced to approximately half.
3. While the salsa simmers, prepare the tortillas and eggs. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a small frying pan on medium heat. Fry each tortilla for about 30 seconds on each side, making sure it does not get hard and browned. Drain each tortilla on paper towels.
4. Fry eggs to your liking (sunny side up, over easy or even scrambled). The typical way is sunny side up. Leaving the yokes runny adds flavor to the dish.
5. Place 2 tortillas on a plate. Top each tortilla with an egg, ladle about 1/4 cup of salsa over each egg and, voilà, you are done.
6. Garnish according to your preference: shredded cheese, cilantro, more hot sauce, avocado, cilantro, shredded lettuce, sour cream etc. Another variation is spreading 2 tbsp of warm refried beans over the fried tortilla before topping it with the egg.
7. YIELD: 4 servings