There’s a quiet magic in the moments we don’t plan—the ones that sneak up on us between errands, beneath trees, beside roadside stalls. One such moment unfolded on a warm afternoon, when the hum of traffic and the scent of sizzling butter turned a simple wait into a memory worth savouring.

Tania and I had parked under the shade of a tree, waiting for Judhajit to return from a home call. The road was alive with movement—vendors calling out, scooters zipping past, and the unmistakable aroma of street food curling through the air. Just a few feet away, a modest stall was serving up egg dishes with remarkable flair: boiled eggs, omelettes, and something that smelled like comfort itself.

“Fancy trying some fried boiled eggs while we wait for Judhajit?” I asked. Tania’s eyes sparkled, and with a smile that needed no words, we walked over to the vendor.

What followed was a masterclass in simplicity. The vendor halved the boiled eggs and sautéed them in butter until their edges crisped into golden perfection. Then came the aromatics—finely chopped onions, green chillies, and fresh coriander leaves—tossed into the pan and seasoned with just a pinch of salt. The result? A plate of warm, buttery, mildly spicy eggs served on saal leaves, rustic and beautiful.

Just as we were about to dig in, Judhajit returned and joined us. The three of us enjoyed our impromptu snack, savouring every bite. The eggs were a perfect balance of soft and crispy textures, with the onions and chillies adding a burst of flavour that danced on our taste buds. It was such a simple dish, yet it was incredibly satisfying.

Inspired by the delicious experience, I snapped a photo of the fried boiled eggs and posted it on Instagram. That evening, one of my school batchmates, Atish, called me from Kolkata. He and his wife Shoma, had seen the photo and were intrigued. They loved the look of the dish and wanted to know how it was prepared.

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A post shared by Indrajit Roy Choudhury (@indroyc)

Sharing the recipe with Atish brought back the joy of that day. Here it is, for anyone else who might want to recreate this delightful street food at home:

Recipe: Fried Boiled Eggs, Street-Style

Ingredients:

• Boiled eggs (as many as you like)
• Butter (generous amounts)
• Onion (finely chopped)
• Green chillies (sliced)
• Fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
• Salt (to taste)

Steps:

1. Boil & Halve: Start with hard-boiled eggs. Once cooled, slice them lengthwise.
2. Sauté in Butter: Heat butter in a pan. Place the egg halves cut-side down and sauté until golden. Flip gently and sauté the other side. Remove and set aside.
3. Prepare the Topping: In the same pan, add more butter if needed. Fry the onions, chillies, and coriander until golden and fragrant. Season with salt.
4. Combine & Serve: Pour the aromatic mixture over the fried eggs. Serve hot, preferably on saal leaves for that authentic touch.

This dish is not only a treat for the senses but also fits beautifully into low-carb, keto, and gluten-free diets.

A Taste That Lingers

That afternoon reminded me that joy often hides in the everyday—in a roadside snack, in shared silence under a tree, in the buttery crispness of a fried egg. So the next time you find yourself with a few boiled eggs and a bit of time, try this recipe. You might just stumble upon your own little moment of serendipity.