Lunch: Ranch-Style Eggs with Chorizo and Tomato-Red Chile Sauce

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Honey

Health benefits of Ranch-Style Eggs with Chorizo and Tomato-Red Chile Sauce

Honey, often hailed as a superfood, possesses a wealth of nutritional benefits that make it a valuable addition to a balanced diet. With a glycemic index (GI) of 55 for one tablespoon, honey is considered a moderate GI food. This means it does not spike blood sugar levels as high or as quickly as high-GI foods, making it a better choice for maintaining steady energy levels and supporting overall health.

Rich in antioxidants, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, honey offers protective benefits against oxidative stress and inflammation. These antioxidants can help combat the damage caused by free radicals, which are linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, the natural sugars in honey can provide a quick energy boost, making it an excellent option for a pre-workout snack or a natural sweetener in beverages and meals.

Honey's benefits extend beyond its nutritional profile. Its antimicrobial properties make it a natural remedy for wounds and burns, promoting healing by providing a moist environment and acting as a barrier to infection. Additionally, honey has been used for centuries to soothe sore throats and coughs, thanks to its ability to coat the throat and reduce irritation.

However, it's important to consume honey in moderation. While it is a healthier alternative to refined sugar, it is still a form of sugar and can contribute to weight gain and other health issues if consumed in large amounts. For individuals with diabetes or those monitoring their blood sugar levels, it's crucial to account for honey's GI and its effects on blood sugar.

Choosing raw, unprocessed honey can also maximize its health benefits. Raw honey is more likely to retain its antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that can be lost during processing. Incorporating honey into your diet can be as simple as adding it to yogurt, drizzling it over oatmeal, or blending it into smoothies. Its natural sweetness and health-promoting properties make honey a superfood worth including in a healthy, balanced diet.

Ingredients

Crispy Chorizo
2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more to coat
8 ounces chorizo sausage, casings removed
Tomato-Red Chile Sauce
1/2 Spanish yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
1 cup dry red wine
2 1/2 cups canned plum tomatoes and their juices, pureed until smooth and strained
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo puree
2 tablespoons pasilla chile powder
2 tablespoons honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Juice of 1 fresh lime
Eggs
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 large eggs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For serving
1/2 cup Lime Crema, recipe follows
Finely grated zest of 1 lime
Tomato-Red Chile Sauce, recipe follows
4 fried corn tortillas, fried whole, plus more cut in strips, for garnish
3/4 cup coarsely grated aged white Cheddar cheese
5 fried eggs, over easy, recipe follows
Crispy Chorizo, recipe follows
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
Lime Crema
Juice of 1/2 lime (1 tablespoon)
1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

For the chorizo: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the chorizo and using a wooden spoon break it up into small pieces. Cook the chorizo until it is golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool slightly. Reserve the chorizo for the egg recipe, below. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat for the eggs.
For the tomato-red chile sauce: Add the onions to the pan with the sausage drippings and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Deglaze with the wine and cook until reduced by half.
Add the pureed tomatoes, water, ancho chile, chipotle chile in adobo, pasilla chile, and honey and cook over medium-high heat until the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally, about 20 to 30 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and stir in the lime juice just before removing from the heat.
For the eggs: Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the 1 tablespoon rendered fat from the sausage. Add the butter to the pan, after the butter melts, turn the heat down to medium.
Carefully crack the eggs into the pan and add the cooked chorizo sausage, season with salt and pepper and cook, until the whites are completely firm but the yolks are still soft, about 2 minutes - sunny-side up.
For serving: Combine the crema and lime zest in a small bowl.
Place a few spoonfuls of the tomato-red chile sauce on 4 plates. Place a fried tortilla on each plate and sprinkle with Cheddar cheese, put the plates in the oven and melt the cheese on top of the sauce. Divide the fried eggs and crisped chorizo over the tortillas and ladle the warm tomato-red chile sauce over top. Sprinkle each tortilla with about 3 tablespoons of the cheese and some of the lime crema and garnish with the chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.

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