In the 19th century, the adjective “deviled” came to be used most often with spicy or zesty food, including eggs prepared with mustard, pepper, or other ingredients stuffed in the yolk cavity. Similar uses of “devil” for spiced foods include deviled ham and fra diavolo sauce (from the Italian word for “devil”).
Deviled eggs are believed to have evolved from an Ancient Roman appetizer. Bon Appétit reveals that Romes wealthy elite enjoyed a dish made of boiled eggs and spicy sauce. By the 13th century, people began using the signature process of separating the yolks and blending them with spices. In the region of present-day Spain, cooks blended egg yolks with pepper, onion, cilantro, and fermented fish sauce before stuffing them back into the hollow whites. Many medieval cookbooks include recipes for stuffed eggs filled with all manner of things including raisins, cheese, and sugar. Despite their ancient popularity, Yahoo! Life reveals that the deviled name did not come around until the late 1700s.
There are many kinds of foods other than eggs that are considered “deviled,” like deviled crab, deviled ham, and deviled chicken, as deviled food can refer to anything made with spicy seasonings. Its assumed that the association comes from the devil being a big fan of heat, but the Satanic link doesnt sit well with everyone. Yahoo Life! notes that Americas early Puritan population wasnt a fan of the term (shocking, we know). Consequently, there are several alternative names for deviled eggs, including stuffed eggs, salad eggs, and angel eggs.
A traditional deviled egg recipe calls for just a few pantry staples: Mayonnaise and paprika are a must, and adding a few extras like vinegar and hot sauce can kick up the flavor. But nowadays, restaurants are coming up with some truly wild takes on this classic. Bon Appétit notes some particularly stunning examples: At San Franciscos Anchovy Bar, deviled eggs collide with caesar salad, the eggs being topped with anchovies, dressing, parmesan, bottarga, and chives. New York Citys Tuome coats the egg whites Panko breadcrumbs and fries them before adding the yolk mixture.
But this egg dish has come a long way from its origin and has been around for much longer than you might think, though it didnt get coined with its deviled moniker for quite some time.
Why are they called deviled eggs?
FAQ
Why deviled eggs are called deviled?
What is the derivation of deviled eggs?
What is the difference between stuffed eggs and deviled eggs?
Are deviled eggs a Southern thing?