Make Ahead

Deviled Eggs, Purgatory Edition

by:
October  4, 2022
4.8
4 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes 24 eggs
Author Notes

My sister-in-law, who eats no fattening food of any kind, made deviled eggs for a Super Bowl party. Immediately suspicious, I pressed her for her method - no way had she allowed mayonnaise into her house for them. Her secret, she said, was Greek yogurt. While I think that using all yogurt is overpowering, combining it with the traditional mayonnaise in the filling produces a subtle tang and lighter flavor. —MeghanVK

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: MeghanVK is a longtime Food52er and a TV programmer living in Brooklyn.
WHAT: Deviled eggs, with a welcome tang.
HOW: Hard-boil your eggs; mix the yolks with mayonnaise, yogurt, and mustard; pipe the mixture back into the whites; garnish as you please.
WHY WE LOVE IT: It's easy to think of lightened-up deviled eggs with an eye roll, but we think that Greek yogurt is just what they need: more depth, more tanginess, more reasons to eat a plateful. We love MeghanVK's garnish suggestions; our favorites were pimenton and Parmesan. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the eggs
  • 12 extra large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt (fat content is up to you; I think nonfat works fine)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Suggested toppings
  • Truffle salt (my favorite)
  • Smoked pimenton
  • Chopped olives
  • Ras al hanout
  • A dab of tomato paste
  • Pesto
  • Marinated mushrooms
  • Grated Parmesan
  • Sweet pickle relish
  • Preserved lemon
Directions
  1. Place the eggs in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Once the water is rolling, turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for thirteen minutes. Remove the eggs to a bowl of ice water, allow to cool, and peel. Slice the eggs in half, wiping down your knife with a damp towel between cuts.
  2. Remove the egg yolks to a bowl and mix with the mayonnaise, yogurt, and mustard. Combine with a fork (if you want the filling perfectly creamy, you can do this in a food processor).
  3. Spoon the filling into a plastic baggie, snip off a corner, and pipe into the egg whites. Be generous! Arrange on a platter and top with truffle salt, your favorite spice mixture, smoked Spanish paprika, chopped olives, or whatever your heart desires.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Peggy Griswold
    Peggy Griswold
  • I_Fortuna
    I_Fortuna
  • gingerroot
    gingerroot
  • MeghanVK
    MeghanVK
  • AntoniaJames
    AntoniaJames

13 Reviews

Qwe123az January 12, 2024

This is a very good recipe! I made it the same way but added a little bit of black sturgeon caviar. By the way, if you want to repeat what I did, then buy caviar from kingdomcaviar.com , they have the lowest prices and fast delivery.
 
Peggy G. January 22, 2022
Link to Food 52 Article: Best way to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs:
https://food52.com/blog/9549-the-neat-pain-free-way-to-peel-hard-boiled-eggs
 
Peggy G. January 22, 2022
Best and easy way to peel hard boiled eggs:

Post Image
Credit: Photo: Ghazalle Badiozamani; Food Styling: Brett Regot
Egg-Peeling Trick: Peel Under Water

Peeling time, recently cooked eggs: 13 seconds (steamed); 15 seconds (boiled)
Peeling time, aged eggs: 16 seconds (steamed); 15 seconds (boiled)
Rating: 10/10
About This Method: This technique from Food52 starts by filling a bowl (I used a medium-sized, fairly deep one) with room-temperature water. Working with one egg at a time, you submerge the egg under water in the bowl. You then crack it against the bottom or side of the bowl, and slip off the shell underwater.
 
I_Fortuna July 22, 2015
I like this recipe but it is far from "Purgatory" style. Purgatory, by definition is far from being H*ll. If your equating these eggs with H*ll then we need to add some *heat* !
(Just joking, but some sriracha or cayenne might be good). : )
 
gingerroot November 28, 2014
I served these for an early Thanksgiving gathering and they are fantastic. We topped half of them with nigella seeds and the other half with sumac.
 
Linda L. March 8, 2014
Celery salt is wonderful as a topping.
 
Britastina March 6, 2014
btglenn,
I, too, avoid yolks for health reasons (but have a difficult time doing it). Your suggestions are amazing. Why didn't I think of those? You got me with the guacamole. For the rest of the family, it is going to have to remain yolks but now I can eat happily!
 
I_Fortuna July 22, 2015
Too bad yolks are off your list because the yolk of the egg has the most vitamin content and 1/2 the protein in an egg. The white has only protein and trace anything else.
Yolks have loads of vitamins including omegas and folate.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/113/2
I am a senior and have eggs almost every day without any problem. But, everyone is different. I would rather have eggs than red meat which has 83% cholesterol per pound of lean beef.


 
btglenn March 2, 2014
I, unfortunately, avoid egg yolks for health reasons, boo, hoo. When I saw this recipe, I though that is what it was about. For others who need to avoid egg yolks, but still wish to enjoy stuffed eggs, here are some suggestions:
If avoiding egg yolks, fill with guacamole or seasoned cottage cheese or cream cheese or hummus. OR, chop additional egg whites for fillings, and flavor Southwest style with a chile and ground cumin, OR, Mediterranean with hummus, sun-dried tomatoes. Tuna, and plain yogurt or cottage cheese could make another filling. For one that could satisfy all your eaters: smoked salmon and cream cheese, topped with a cheery slice of pimento and a sliced olive.
 
btglenn July 22, 2015
Thanks for your great suggestions. I too avoid yolks for health reasons.
 
MeghanVK February 26, 2014
I won a Wildcard?! Who knew. Thanks, guys! My new party trick is to make half the eggs this way and half with all mayo, and see which go first.
 
AntoniaJames February 26, 2014
Congrats! We made these, as noted in my comment below, using (i) chopped homemade Kosher dills; (2) chopped picholine olives; (3) dukkah (my own blend); and an anchovy/toasted almond/parsley gremolata. Wish I could tell you which went first. My son took them out to the block party. By the time I'd removed my apron, made myself more presentable and walked down the block to the party, they were, every last one the 2.5 dozen, gone. (I was told the kids really liked them! I sure did, having made sure to share a sample of each one in the kitchen.) ;o)
 
AntoniaJames June 30, 2011
Love these! What a nice recipe. I'm crazy about deviled eggs. These are such good ideas for fun, different fillings. How timely, too. I plan to wow the neighbors with these at the Big Block Party Food Fest on Monday.;o)