There’s something timeless about a good Egg in the Hole breakfast—simple, comforting, and loved in kitchens all over the world. Also known as Egg with a Hat or Gashouse Egg, this humble classic is pure childhood nostalgia wrapped in buttery, golden toast . My James Cagney Eggs take that familiar favourite and give it a playful grown‑up twist: a touch of garlic powder and a pinch of chili flakes for a subtle “gangster” kick that transforms the whole experience beautifully!
With crisp artisanal bread, a perfectly runny yolk, and that charming little toasted “hat,” this dish proves that comfort food doesn’t need to be complicated to feel special . Whether you’re making a hearty breakfast or a simple supper, James Cagney Eggs bring delight to the table every single time.
- 1 slice good artisanal bread, sliced about 1 inch thick
- softened butter to spread
- 1 large egg
- fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder to taste
- a pinch of crushed red chili flakes
- Make sure you use a nice sturdy slice of bread. You can use white, or whole wheat or even a granary bread. The important thing is that it is fresh and sturdy enough to hold the egg.
- I use salted butter. That is the only butter I keep in my house.
- I buy my eggs locally at a chicken farm. They are fresh and organic and free range which is important to me.
- The amount of seasonings and chili flakes will vary according to personal taste.
- Butter your slice of bread on both sides with the softened butter. (Make sure you spread it right to the edges in a nice even layer.)
- Using a sharp 2 inch round cutter, stamp out a hole in the centre. Reserve the hole for a bit later. (I find the round metal biscuit cutters work perfectly for this.)
- Heat a non-stick skillet with a heavy bottom over medium-high heat. (A heavy bottom holds the heat well and aids in browning evenly.)
- Lay the slice of bread in the skillet and add a tiny knob of butter into the hole in the centre. Once it begins to foam, crack the egg into the hole, taking care not to break the yolk.(The butter foaming tells you that it is the right temperature. Take care not to let it burn.)
- Sprinkle lightly with salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili. Leave to cook for a few minutes. (Use your own judgement when it comes to amounts. If you like a lot of heat and spice you can add more chili flakes.)
- Flip over carefully when the egg has begun to set and the bread has turned golden-brown. (On the bottom, golden brown on the bottom. I use a wide spatula to do this.)
- Add the bread hole to the pan. Season all with more sea salt, pepper, garlic powder and crushed red chili. (Again use only as much as you think you can tolerate.)
- Continue to cook until golden on the other side, taking care not to over cook the egg. You want it to still be runny. It will only take a few minutes. Also flip the bread hole over when it has browned and brown the other side. (If you like hard set eggs, obviously you can leave it for longer.)
- Serve the egg toast accompanied with the toasted bread hole placed slightly ajar on top. (This makes for a pretty presentation.) Delicious!
- Purchase clean, fresh eggs, from refrigerated cases, and reputable sources.
- When you bring them home, refrigerate eggs promptly, with the large ends up.
- For best quality, use your eggs within one week or purchase. They will be safe to eat for up to five weeks after purchase in most cases.
- Discard any eggs that are broken or cracked. They may have been contaminated with harmful bacteria called salmonella.
- Serve hot egg dishes right away.
- Refrigerate chilled egg dishes immediately after mixing and keep them refrigerated until you are ready to serve them.
- Chill leftover or make-ahead dishes using eggs promptly.
- Using uncooked eggs or slightly cooked egg (as in a Caesar salad dressing) may be harmful to the very young or the elderly. Use caution in these instances.
James Cagney Eggs
A delicious recipe of an old childhood favourite, amped up with adult flavours! This can easily be multiplied to make as many servings as you like.
Ingredients
- 1 slice good artisanal bread, sliced about 1 inch thick
- softened butter to spread
- 1 large egg
- fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder to taste
- a pinch of crushed red chili flakes
Instructions
- Butter your slice of bread on both sides with the softened butter.
- Using a sharp 2 inch round cutter, stamp out a hole in the centre. Reserve the hole for a bit later.
- Heat a non-stick skillet with a heavy bottom over medium-high heat.
- Lay the slice of bread in the skillet and add a tiny knob of butter into the hole in the centre. Once it begins to foam, crack the egg into the hole, taking care not to break the yolk.
- Sprinkle lightly with salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili. Leave to cook for a few minutes.
- Flip over carefully when the egg has begun to set and the bread has turned golden-brown.
- Add the bread hole to the pan. Season all with more sea salt, pepper, garlic powder and crushed red chili.
- Continue to cook until golden on the other side, taking care not to over cook the egg. You want it to still be runny. It will only take a few minutes. Also flip the bread hole over when it has browned and brown the other side.
- Serve the egg toast accompanied with the toasted bread hole placed slightly ajar on top. Delicious!
Did you make this recipe?
This content, written and photography, is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.
If you’ve ever wished you could whip up soft, warm naan breads without the time or fuss of working with yeast, you’re going to love this recipe. These Yeast‑Free Naan Breads come together in minutes using simple pantry ingredients, and they cook right on the stovetop — no rising, no kneading, no waiting around. Just mix, roll, and toast until they’re puffed, golden, and irresistibly tender.
They’re perfect for scooping up curries, wrapping around grilled meats, or serving warm with a bit of garlic butter. And because they’re so quick and easy, they’re ideal for busy weeknights or last‑minute meals when you want something homemade but don’t have hours to spare.
If you’ve never made naan before, this is the recipe that will make you wonder why you waited so long. Soft, simple, and ready in a flash — a real kitchen keeper.
- 1 1/3 cups (165g) plain all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- pinch sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 TBS +1 tsp (50ml) whole milk
- 2 TBS butter (cut into bits)
- 1/4 cup (65g) creamy full fat yoghurt
- Do not use self raising flour for this recipe. All-purpose or plain flour is what is needed.
- It is not a lot of baking powder, but you really don't want a lot. You just want enough to encourage the dough to puff up when it hits the hot griddle pan.
- Just a pinch of sugar. I use Kirkland organic granulated sugar. In the U.K. I would use caster sugar.
- You will want to use whole milk as it has a richer flavor.
- I used salted butter as that is all I keep in my house. I have never found anything to be super-salted in doing so.
- Make sure your yogurt is full fat. Alternately you can use full fat sour cream if you haven't got any yogurt.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together.
- Warm the milk gently with the butter to melt the butter. Cool to lukewarm and whisk in the yogurt. Stir this into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon to make a soft dough. (Keep an eye on the milk. You don't want it to boil, just warm up enough to melt the butter.)
- If the dough is too sticky, dust lightly with flour. Knead in the bowl for a few minutes, then cover with a clean tea towel and let sit for half an hour.
- At the end of that time, divide into 4 equal portions and shape into balls. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Rotate slightly as you roll them, sprinkling lightly with flour as you go until you have a rough oval shape. (I find it easy to do this moving them a quarter turn with each roll of the rolling pin.)
- Heat a large non-stick skillet or flat pancake griddle pan over medium high heat. Once it is hot you can start to bake the Naan's. (You can hold your hand just about the pan and feel how hot it is. I used a Pampered Chef grill pan to cook these on. In most cases you will only be able to cook one at a time.)
- Pick up and remove any excess flour by slapping the dough between your hands and flip it onto the pan.
- Cook until the surface is covered with bubbles, and it is lightly toasted on the bottom, flip over and repeat. (Do keep a close watch on it as they can turn very quickly.)
- Remove to a clean tea-towel and cover to keep warm while you cook the rest. This helps to keep them soft. Serve warm.
- You will want your dough to be not sticky, not dry, but somewhere in the middle.
- Roll your dough out thin so that it cooks out evenly and light.
- Use a well heated non-stick skillet. This will help to create the lovely characteristic bubbles and charring.
- You can vary the flavor by brushing some garlic or herb butter on top of the breads after cooking while they are still warm.
- Keep a close watch on your breads while they are baking. They can turn in the blink of an eye. When they start to blister and puff up, and start turning brown, they are done.
- Keep your Naan breads wrapped loosely in a clean tea towel while you finish cooking them all. This helps to keep them nice and soft and prevents them from drying out.
Yeast Free Naan Breads
The dough for this can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator instead of the normal resting time. Just bring back to room temperature before continuing.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups (165g) plain all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- pinch sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 TBS +1 tsp (50ml) whole milk
- 2 TBS butter (cut into bits)
- 1/4 cup (65g) creamy full fat yoghurt
Instructions
- Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together.
- Warm the milk gently with the butter to melt the butter. Cool to lukewarm and whisk in the yogurt. Stir this into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon to make a soft dough.
- If the dough is too sticky, dust lightly with flour. Knead in the bowl for a few minutes, then cover with a clean tea towel and let sit for half an hour.
- At the end of that time, divide into 4 equal portions and shape into balls. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Rotate slightly as you roll them, sprinkling lightly with flour as you go until you have a rough oval shape.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet or flat pancake griddle pan over medium high heat. Once it is hot you can start to bake the Naan's.
- Pick up and remove any excess flour by slapping the dough between your hands and flip it onto the pan.
- Cook until the surface is covered with bubbles, and it is lightly toasted on the bottom, flip over and repeat.
- Remove to a clean tea-towel and cover to keep warm while you cook the rest. This helps to keep them soft. Serve warm.
Notes
If you want a garlic flavoured Naan, you can rub the surface of the finished breads with the cut side of a clove of garlic and brush with butter.
Did you make this recipe?
This content, written and photography, is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.

Social Icons