We are lucky enough to live in a world with both bright Spring asparagus and perfect eggs. I approach both with extreme reverence… and then I smash them together on a plate and call it lunch. Praise the Lord.
It’s time for another Simple Lunch! I’m usually smashing lunch together on a baguette, as evidenced by this avocado, and these edamames.
This Simple Lunch is slightly more refined.
It was inspired by, and consumed while reading Very Fond of Food. This book is tender and earnest in equal measure and I love it, I love it, I love it!
It feels like this Spring is full of new air, big love, bright green vegetables… and this orange monster (always…).
Let’s keep the recipe for this Simple Lunch as easy as possible.
– Make a hard boiled egg. I lower an egg into a pot of room temperature water. Water covers the egg. Over medium heat, bring the water to a low boil. Cover. Remove from heat. Wait 12 minutes. Remove egg. Rinse in cold water and peel.
– Bring a medium saute pan of water to a low boil. Salt water. Add asparagus and allow to boil for about 3 minutes. Use tongs to remove the vegetable. Arrange on a plate. Top with sliced egg. Sprinkle with extras.
– I love extras! This dish is graced with grey sea salt, coarse black pepper, blood orange olive oil, and… a cute napkin. It is everything ever.
The Simple Lunch. Inspired.
Ann P.
This looks amazing for spring! What a perfect meal to get me in the mood for warmer weather :)
Amielle
There’s almost nothing better than a simple lunch. This looks so delicious and I’m glad you shared. :)
Abbey @ Design Scouting
btw, I made these eggs last week and was shocked at how amazing they taste with this method! I’d always just boiled the hell out hard boiled eggs — embarrassing! Glad to know this other way.
Clara
Mmmm perfection, sheer perfection! I love your simple lunches Joy, they’re so inspiring.
Nietylkopasta
Great idea, but I prefer also some kind of sauce together with.
katy
Thought I’d let you know that you’re featured on Serious Eats: Sweets today!! http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2012/04/bake-the-book-joy-the-baker-cookbook.html
P.S… I like asparagus, and hard boiled eggs are yummy… but what I really love is your kitten. I need one like him. Desperately.
Kim @ Bluebirds and Butterflies
Hi Joy,
I love asparagus and also hard boiled eggs! I am enjoying some snow pea pods and hummus as I read your blog posting today. After enjoying some of your vanilla bean white cupcakes with the chocolate ovaltine icing that I made yesterday from your cookbook……which was delicious, I might add…..I am taking a break from sugar today and enjoying some good old veggies. Your boiled egg sounds so good to me that I am going downstairs to make myself one right now. :) Hope Easter was wonderful! My next adventure from your cookbook will be the chamomile cupcakes. Looking forward to them! Have a beautiful day! xoxo
Jenny
Joy, as always, your colour use is marvelous – a talent I am very envious of! simple, beautiful and delicious!
Patti
Joy! I have to tell you how much I love your cookbook … I started with the cocoa crusted almonds and yesterday made the brownies with the buttercream frosting. I can’t wait to make the next thing that suits my fancy, maybe the chocolate and peanut butter ice cream. Thanks Joy!
p.s. what’s up with all the self-promoting a-holes in the comments? Jeesh, leave us alone!
what katie's baking
yum. that asparagus pee will getchya though
Erika - The Teenage Taste
I love the idea of this little lunch! I bet it tastes fabulous!
Estelle
I had no idea Sophie released a new cookbook, thanks so much for sharing, I am such a fan of her first one!
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
Love.
Heidi xo
green beans & grapefruit
Too funny- I have something very similar to this going up on my blog shortly…great minds!
CourtneyElizab
There are so many comments about your cookbook! I want it so much..But I moved to Sweden last year and I’m not sure it is in stores here..Anyway, I wish my husband would eat simple food like this, he isn’t much for anything that doesn’t contain meat.. More for me, I guess!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles
There’s new little asparagus planted in my home garden! Might be awhile before it’s able to contribute to any sort of asparagus lunch, but luckily I also just bought some at the store! ;)
Tobi
Hi there, Joy! I am a new follower of yours. A few weeks back I posted a similar recipe…my favorite way to have asparagus is roasted with egg, lemon, tomato, and parm. If you have a chance, take a look. Thanks! http://huntingforbliss.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/asparagus-a-la-egg/
Sophie
Nothing beats the amazingness of an egg!
Mallory
Look at those bright green asparagus and vibrant yellow yolks. The colors speak spring all by themselves, let alone the flavours!
Karla
This looks perfect. And, I love the chalk board background….hope you don’t mind if I borrow the idea?
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen
I love how you’re keeping it simple as your life gets super crazy. Thanks for staying with us!
thelittleloaf
I love this kind of simple lunch and HOW CUTE is your cat?! Your photos look lovely in this post too – really sharp and clean.
Saba
Yum! I wish it was asparugus season over in my corner of the world! My family make a similar dish, only we also add boiled potatoes, and then drown everything in butter and add salt (prob don’t need to if you use salted butter). Suuper easy yummy meal!
anna
delicious! simple! healthy! and i love your cat!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
Loving the simplicity of this!
archer
love the chalkboard. please share how you did it! :) beautiful.
Tida
This totally inspired by breakfast this morning! Whole wheat biscuits, roasted asparagus and scrambled eggs. Dang, it was delicious.
http://everydayfoodlovers.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/whole-wheat-biscuits/
Julia {The Roasted Root}
Fun and well-balanced meal! Veggies and protein are two items I try to include in every meal and your recipe looks like an easy-peasy and healthy lunch food. Sophie’s cookbook looks like fun, I’ll have to check it out!
chefroommate
This looks tasty – love some springtime asparagus! What is that chalkboard apparatus? Is that your floor? I actually kind of hope it is – I hope you draw happy chalk drawings all over your floor all the time because that would be excellent.
bakerkat
I love the idea of asparagus and eggs. It does sound like Spring.
Vegetables and eggs can be a wonderful combination. So Good!
Joy,I really,really love your cookbook.
I’m so glad you decided to write it.
Gen
Yum,I love it, it smells like spring!
Patricia
Love, love, love asparagus. Love Spring (where is it?) Already have many hard boiled eggs. This is going to be a lovely appetizer for Easter Dinner.
Love you…..and Jules. He has definitely grown from that little ball of orange fluff into a full grown ‘Joy’. Am impatiently awaiting arrival of your cookbook! It must be Spring as it seems I am full of Love!
Katya
This is exactly what I was looking for today for my lunch! Thank you Joy. You are always an inspiration for my brain and belly!
Kirsty Pope
I want your kitty: so beautiful :-)
Sarah @ See Sarah Bake
If I buy chalkboard paint, will you come over and write on it? I love your handwriting! (I know- weird thing to post about when the asparagus and egg looks so simply beautiful and delish, but I’m an odd ball)
Elizabeth@ thebakingapprentice
This looks really good, and healthy!
To find more recipes that are really easy, but good, google “thebakingapprentice”
Thanks Joy!
Rocky Mountain Woman
Wowsa! I’ll be right over, set a place for me!!!
Elizabeth
This looks really healthy, and good!!!
If you guys are craving chocolate and super simple recipes just google “thebakingapprenitce”
Hope you like it, its one of my favorite baking blogs!
Michelle
I love both of these separately, but have never tried them together. Simple but awesome.
Jessica
Oooh! I have been craving boiled eggs recently and the asparagus is out (as evidenced by my most recent post) so this is going on the list of must-makes. Disclaimer to anyone who looks at my blog: It’s not really about food but always is and my photography will never be at Joy’s level but it’s still fun to take these pics. Joy, I am inspired by your unabashed approach to pattern-mixing and use of color so please share feedback if you are so inclined!
Sarah @ See Sarah Bake
I know you asked for Joy’s feedback and not some random from the internet, but don’t ever think you need to put a disclaimer about your blog. If you love it and it makes you happy, that’s all that matters :) P.S. I think your pattern mixing on your most recent post is pretty “Joy the Baker”-ish too
Laura @ She Eats Well
I mean, that picture is just classic beautiful food. Love.
lidia
this looks so delicious! it’s crazy how simple it is!
I’m going to try this soon as a side dish to maybe some chicken
for i don’t think asparagus and an egg will satisfy my hunger :S
as always thanks for sharing this joy (:
can’t wait to get my hands on your cookbook, can’t believe i don’t have it yet!
Adam @unorthodoxepicure
Simplicity can be delicious, as you’ve shown here. Very nice.
Helene @ Homebound
i love sophie’s new cookbook. have you seen ‘the delicious miss dahl’ produced by the bbc {on you tube}? it’s sooooo great. and the food looks delish… that black backdrop makes the colors pop out even more. yummy… happy easter Joy! xo
Katie
I just bought chalkboard paint to do the same thing to an unfinished table I have! I thought it would be great for blog photos and also for hosting friends…labeling different cheeses or fruits and wines.
Katherine Marie
What is that chalkboard thing??? love love this set up. to the max.
Megan Gordon
What a sweet book, isn’t it?! I have it by my bed and really love her tone and the feel of the whole thing. Loving the way this lunch looks, too. Happy weekend, J.
Amy
I go through phases of being obsessed with hard-boiled eggs and asparagus. Luckily I’m in one right now. This looks fantastic.
xoxo,
mon amy
Stevie
What is that awesome chalkboard surface?! :D
Laura
Mmmm egg and asparagus is such a good combo. I must say though, my favourite way to eat it will always be the asparagus grilled with sea salt, pepper and olive oil, and then use them to dip into a soft boiled egg like soldiers. Heaven!
xxx
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Thanks for the book review and I just love love love your book, Joy. Seriously I have opened it up, almost daily, since I met you in O.C. at Todd & Dianne’s and have loved all the recipes and your adorable stories :)
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
Umm…LOVE these pictures! I want that chalkboard thing! Looks like a yummy lunch too – I literally just made hard-boiled eggs 20 minutes ago to dye for Easter!
Sally @ Spontaneous Hausfrau
The kitty is totally stealing the show – I mean, this lunch looks delicious, but I really want to eat the kitty’s little face.
Trina
I seem to remember Julia Roberts having a carpet picnic with nothing but asparagus, a hard-cooked egg, some olives, and a copy of the paper in the movie version of Eat Pray Love…part of the whole “dolce far niente/sweetness of doing nothing” thing.
Lucia
Simple things are the best ones. Spring is simple. Hugs are simple. Asparagus are simple.
Julia Levy
Asparagus dipped in soft boiled eggs with sea salt, simple pleasures, total heaven.
Chris
Absolutely perfect. I know it’s not as simple, but when it comes to asparagus and egg combos, I’m not sure your asparagus quiche can be beat. I could happily live the rest of my days off of that heavenly creation. Oh yes.
Maria @ Orchard Bloom
The best asparagus I ever had were very similar to this, except saucier. You’ve inspired me to recreate! Also, I’ve wondered about that cookbook. Glad to know it’s good!
Amy
The egg and veggie combo is one of my faves. Sometimes, I sub brussels sprouts in for asparagus or fry the egg instead.
Also, I’m a little obsessed with Jules. I want him to be friends with my cat, Harry.
Finally, this staging = ADORABLE. Holy cow.