Elevate Your Deviled Eggs With One Spicy Indian Staple

A classic deviled egg filling is typically made from egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, and pickle juice or relish stuffed into a smooth, hard-boiled egg white — what's not to love? Well, even when topped with smoked paprika, some foodies may find that deviled eggs lack depth of flavor amid all that decadent richness. However, by incorporating one spicy Indian staple into your recipe, you'll have a batch of heavenly deviled eggs that flavor fanatics will love. Enter curry paste.

Curry paste is made from a concentrated blend of spices, herbs, roots, chilies, lentils, and other aromatics ground into a thick puree. From ground ginger and turmeric to pulverized chili powder and galangal, curry paste is a flavor bomb commonly used in soups, stews, stir-fries, and, of course, curry dishes that provide a much-needed complexity to the often one-dimensional taste of deviled eggs. Curry paste can be emulsified into the filling or used as a flavorful topping, giving you agency over how it's introduced to your favorite deviled egg recipe.

Not only does curry paste invite a more intense flavor and aroma to deviled eggs, but its whipped texture blends seamlessly with deviled egg filling, ensuring the luxurious mouthfeel of the classic hors d'oeuvre isn't compromised. Plus, curry paste pairs well alongside many other deviled egg fixings, so your options for zhuzhing things up beyond the punch of the curry spice are never limited.

Curry paste isn't a fixed ingredient, and it's often revolutionized and remixed depending on the spirit a chef wants to infuse into their dish. Because the curry paste you select for your deviled egg recipe determines the nuanced shades of flavors that will define your newly improved egg dish, it's important to consider the differences between some common curry paste variations.

Madras curry paste is one of the most popular types, which makes it a familiar-tasting option for adding to your deviled eggs. Thanks to the chilies it's made with, madras curry paste is typically spicy, fragrant, and tangy. However, the level of fire depends on the product you purchase. Made with almonds and coconut powder, korma curry paste is creamy, luscious, and rich in flavor, blending harmoniously with the traditional elements of deviled eggs while still providing them with a dynamic punch of flavor. Made with nuts and toasty, warming spices, pasanda curry paste has a mild heat, making it perfect for those with spice sensitivities who still enjoy the power of bold-flavored herbs and aromatics.

Apart from Indian flavors, you can also try using Thai curry paste, which comes in three categories — green, yellow, and red. Red Thai curry paste is mildly spicy and flavorful, yellow Thai curry is sweet and mellow, and green Thai curry paste is sharp and poignantly spicy.

Adding curry to your deviled eggs as a topping or filler is an easy way to bring bold, bright flavors to them, and there are no rules stating that you need to add anything more. However, bringing additional ingredients into a batch of curry-kissed deviled eggs can bolster or curb some of the flavors while providing some textural contrast to their smooth, creamy consistency.

To boost the flavors of your curry paste, garnish deviled eggs with whole or partially crushed versions of the paste's key ingredients. Crispy onion strings add a crunchy, savory, allium flair to the eggs, while shredded coconut shavings can impart a nutty sweetness. Herbs like cilantro provide a vibrant herbal flavor with citrusy undertones that complement the aromatic spices in the curry paste. If you opt for cilantro, consider squeezing fresh lemon or lime juice over the final product for an added touch of zest.

You can also add some crunch to your deviled eggs by dusting them with breadcrumbs. Thanks to their mostly neutral taste, breadcrumbs provide structure and texture to the velvety smooth consistency of deviled eggs without distracting from the vibrant flavors of curry paste.

Although curry paste is only one of the many ingredients that make deviled eggs more delicious, it's one of the best and most flavorful options. Next time you prepare deviled eggs for a party (or casual snack), spice things up with curry paste.