Short on time, but want dinner to hit the spot? Then eggs are your best bet. Most egg-based Indian dishes are packed with protein, ready in minutes, and totally customisable – from egg bhurji simmered in gravy to egg keema that swaps meat with eggs in an old favourite. Whether you’re working with leftovers or pantry staples, your eggy lifeline for hunger panga is here!
When the day gets away from you and dinner feels like a chore, eggs are the ultimate rescue ingredient. Affordable, nutrient-dense, and adaptable, they turn into a proper meal with barely any prep. Whether you’re craving something rich, light, spicy, or comforting, Indian cuisine offers egg dishes that go way beyond the basic bhurji. Below, we crack open recipes that are fast, flavourful, and packed with practical tips on how to swap, serve, and switch them up so you never get bored.
Rich, fiery, and soul-soothing, the classic egg or anda curry takes boiled eggs and drowns them in a thick tomato-onion gravy packed with flavours of ginger, garlic, turmeric, and spices like garam masala. Each egg soaks up the rich sauce, delivering a good dose of protein with every bite. Perfect with hot steamed rice or roti, this dish is a weekday lifesaver that brings Indian comfort food straight to your plate. You can experiment with the gravy – going heavy on the jeera, using kadhai or tikka masala, and topping with fresh coriander for a wholesome dinner.
A South Indian favourite, boiled egg fry features boiled eggs pan-fried with mustard seeds, curry leaves, turmeric, and chilli powder. You can add roasted peanuts, which are often crushed and sprinkled over the dish with some chopped onions. Swap curry leaves with fresh basil to add an Italian or Thai flavour to your egg dish. It pairs best with hot steamed rice or plain roti. This dish is great as a quick snack or light meal, delivering spice and texture in every bite.
Popular as street food in cities like Mumbai, spicy bhurji pav is scrambled eggs cooked with tomatoes, onions, green chillies, and aromatic spices like cumin and turmeric, and served with pav. Swap regular pav buns with toasted whole wheat or multigrain bread for a healthier option. Add finely chopped bell peppers or peas to boost the nutrition quotient of the dish. You can also serve the bhurji in buttered buns or even inside a wrap. Pair with mint chutney or ketchup for an extra flavour punch.
Inspired by the Middle Eastern shakshuka, the Indian version blends poached eggs in a spicy tomato-pepper sauce with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and green chillies. If you want a ‘hatke’ variation, add paneer cubes (crumbled works too) or spinach for extra texture and nutrients. Pair it with buttered pav, roti, or crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Swap green chillies for smoked paprika if you want milder spice levels. This dish is a one-pot meal and a cozy dinner option that is perfect for other meals of the day as well.

A South Indian street staple, egg dosa features a crispy fermented rice-lentil crepe topped with spiced and beaten eggs, onions, and chillies. You can add grated cheese for richness or finely chopped tomatoes for freshness. Serve with coconut chutney and sambar as is the norm for southern dishes to balance the flavours. It’s fast to prepare, crispy, spicy, and protein-rich.
This is an eggterian dish that swaps mutton for eggs. Egg keema, which came from the Mughals (the cooking process at least), mixes finely chopped boiled eggs cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and garam masala. You can add minced vegetables, peas, or chopped mushrooms into the masala for added nutrients along with the protein. Serve with buttered parathas, roti, or steamed rice. You can also swap boiled eggs for scrambled eggs for a less chunky texture. Add a dash of cream or yoghurt to mellow down the spice levels.
Egg salad is a Western classic that uses chopped boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, celery, and fresh herbs like dill. To switch things up, try Greek yoghurt instead of mayo for a tangier, lighter version. Add diced apples or pickles for a sweet and crunchy egg salad. You can also transform it into Russian salad by generously using mayonnaise, potatoes, carrots, and peas. You can pack in the egg salad as a sandwich filling, on lettuce wraps, or alongside crackers. Pair it with fresh greens or tomato soup for a balanced meal.
Eggs are the MVP of quick dinners. They’re endlessly flexible, cook in minutes, and absorb spices like a charm. You can make anything from the staple anda curry to zero-effort egg salad, which can be had at any time of the day. Earmark these egg dishes for those nights when takeout feels like a drag and hunger hits hard. You can always get creative by swapping and mixing ingredients to build your own versions of each of these egg dishes.