Ingredients
Eggs
- megapode eggs, freshly dug
To boil
- water, to cover
- salt
To bake
- hot sand or embers
- banana leaves, if wanted
To serve
- salt
- lime wedges
- boiled taro or sweet potato
Note
- these are harvested under customary rules and are not sold outside the islands
Directions
- Wash the sand off gently under cold water. Do not scrub them, since the shell is easily broken.
- Check each one for cracks and use any cracked ones first. Testing freshness is done the same way as any egg.
- Put the eggs in a pot and cover them with cold water. Starting in cold water reduces the chance of cracking.
- Add a good pinch of salt to the water. Bring it slowly to a gentle boil. Judging the timing takes account of the yolk.
- Boil them for about twelve minutes for a fully set egg. Boil them for about eight minutes for a soft rich centre. Take one out and test it before committing the batch.
- Drain them and plunge them into cold water. Let them sit for five minutes. Crack the shell all over and peel under running water. The thin shell comes away easily.
- Serve them hot, peeled, with salt. One or two is enough per person, since they are very rich.
Technique
- Megapode populations have declined under harvesting pressure and customary limits are what protects them.
- The yolk dominates the egg, so they behave differently from hen’s eggs when boiled.
- The shell is thin and brittle, so start them in cold water and handle them gently.
Substitutions
- Duck eggs, which are the nearest widely available equivalent in richness.
- An oven at 180C in place of hot sand.
Variations
- Baked in hot sand beside the fire.
- Boiled soft, for a rich running yolk.
- Served alongside grilled reef fish.
History
Savo and Simbo islanders harvest incubator-bird eggs from communally owned nesting grounds under customary rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is Megapode Eggs?
Megapode Eggs is a main from Solomon Islands: large yolky eggs dug from hot volcanic sand and boiled or baked. Savo and Simbo islanders harvest incubator-bird eggs from communally owned nesting grounds under customary rules.
How long does Megapode Eggs take to make?
Megapode Eggs takes 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking. The recipe makes varies with the harvest. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Megapode Eggs?
Yes, within limits. Duck eggs, which are the nearest widely available equivalent in richness. An oven at 180C in place of hot sand.
What is the most important thing to get right in Megapode Eggs?
Wash the sand off gently under cold water. Do not scrub them, since the shell is easily broken.
