Turn on the toaster, juicer, and food processor to create soft pancake dough.
Whether sweet or savory, the American breakfast is a real delicacy for the palate and it gives you energy to start the day in the best possible way.
Among the essential ingredients, eggs and orange juice take the top spots, but there are countless variations to suit every taste, all simple to prepare.
What Americans eat for breakfast
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of an American breakfast? Probably a buffet brimming with all kinds of dishes, like eggs and bacon, pancakes, or those family-sized boxes of cereal you see in films.
One thing is certain: when you think of a hearty breakfast, the American breakfast comes to mind. It’s a complete meal in every sense—not exactly light, but certainly rich in proteins, varied, and above all, inviting. Perfect for Sundays, it’s the ideal solution for those mornings when you wake up later than usual and find it too late for breakfast but too early for lunch. No wonder it’s often associated with brunch (a term that combines the words breakfast and lunch), a meal halfway between breakfast and lunch.
The American breakfast is quite similar to that of its Anglo-Saxon cousins, particularly in its savory options, but it offers much more variety. The inevitable eggs, prepared in countless ways, are accompanied by bacon, sausages, cured meats, cheeses, and toasted bread. Additionally, you’ll find avocado, salmon, and vegetables, offering the perfect alternatives for those who don’t eat meat.
From the classic combination of butter and jam on bread to chocolate or blueberry muffins, pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, and fresh fruit to accompany yogurt, the options abound. Don’t forget the famous chocolate chip cookies! And then there’s waffles, French toast, and donuts—whether classic with holes or covered in icing, there’s something for everyone’s sweet tooth.
And the drinks? Americans usually drink orange juice, fruit juices, smoothies, milk, tea and yes, even coffee in the morning! But forget the mocha and espresso coffee, what you need is a filter coffee machine to prepare real American coffee—black and boiling hot, which must strictly be poured into a large cup, the kind you usually use for tea.
How to prepare an American breakfast
Among breakfasts worldwide, the American one stands out for its abundance. While it may seem more involved than simply ordering a croissant and cappuccino at a café, fear not! The recipes are easy and suitable even for those not overly comfortable in the kitchen.
For sweet recipes, get the basic ingredients, such as sugar, flour, yeast, butter, eggs and milk, and make sure you have an electric mixer or food processor at hand that also allows you to knead. If you don’t want to get up at dawn, consider preparing the muffins and cookies the day before—they can simply be popped into the oven when you wake up.
The dough for pancakes and waffles can be prepared in advance, but it’s crucial to cook them the same morning to enjoy them hot. French toast, on the other hand, can be whipped up on the spot. Simply soak slices of brioche or classic bread in a mixture of eggs and milk, then fry them on both sides in a well-buttered non-stick pan. This same pan will also come in handy for cooking pancakes, while waffles require a special plate. As for toppings, let your taste buds guide you. Whether it’s blueberries, strawberries, bananas, or any other fresh fruit, or perhaps jam, chocolate spread, or cream, the options are endless. And don’t forget the finishing touches— drizzle with honey or maple syrup and a final dusting of icing sugar.
For savory recipes, however, you need eggs, bacon and sausage, cheese, vegetables, legumes and obviously, bread. Whether it’s classic, wholewheat or gluten-free, bread must strictly be toasted in the toaster, please! Sausage and bacon, on the other hand, should be cooked to a crisp in a pan.
You can also replace the meat with vegetables, beans, or salmon, perhaps combined with slices of avocado or cheese, both fresh and matured.
Preparing drinks is much easier. Ready-made milk and fruit juices simply need to be placed on the table. For tea it will be sufficient to have a kettle or a saucepan, while for coffee, as we have already said, you will need a special machine. Furthermore, with the right kitchen appliances, you will be able to try your hand at preparing smoothies and fruit-based drinks.
How to cook eggs for breakfast
Eggs are the undisputed protagonists of the American table and deserve special attention. They are a food rich in proteins and therefore able to provide a lot of energy. You can eat them alone or you can use them as an ingredient to create more elaborate dishes. But how are they cooked? Eggs can be prepared in so many ways. Let’s see together the most famous and suitable ways for a real American breakfast experience.
Soft-boiled eggs
Immerse the whole egg in a saucepan with cold water, bring it to the boil and turn off the heat about 40-60 seconds later. You can also put a saucepan with water on the heat and immerse the egg when it comes to the boil, leaving it to cook for a couple of minutes. The cooking duration varies according to the size of the eggs but, to prevent the yolk from overcooking, do not exceed a minute and a half for cooking in cold water and 3 minutes of cooking in hot water. You can serve it in a regular glass or an egg cup. Remove the top and enjoy it with a teaspoon or by dipping it in some croutons.
Scrambled eggs
Preparing scrambled eggs couldn’t be simpler. Crack the eggs into a bowl, beat them thoroughly, and season with salt and pepper to taste. For a softer flavor, you can also add a splash of milk. Grease a non-stick pan with oil or butter, and once it’s hot, pour in the egg mixture. Cook for a few minutes, stirring continuously, until the eggs are set. And that’s it!
Poached eggs
This preparation requires a certain amount of skill. First, boil water with a little vinegar and a pinch of salt in a large, deep pan. Lower the heat, open the egg in a bowl and then, using a spoon, create a vortex to the water in the pan, by always turning in the same direction. Carefully immerse the egg and when after a couple of minutes the egg white is completely white, remove it using a slotted spoon.
Fried eggs
They only take a few minutes to prepare!
Heat a non-stick pan with a bit of butter or oil. Crack the eggs into a bowl before pouring them into the pan or simply pour them directly. Lower the heat and cook until the egg white becomes firm. The yolk will remain slightly runny, but if you prefer it more solid, cook it a bit longer. If you like it completely fried, tilt the pan during cooking so that the oil or butter covers the top of the egg.
Hard-boiled eggs
The process for preparing hard-boiled eggs is the same as for soft-boiled eggs. You will just have to cook them longer, between 7 and 10 minutes from placing them in the boiling water.
Beaten egg
Take the egg yolk and, using a teaspoon or a fork, beat it with the sugar until you obtain a frothy mixture: your beaten egg is ready! Depending on your taste, you can add a pinch of cocoa or a drop of coffee to the mixture.
Omelettes
Whisk together eggs, milk and salt (or sugar if you prefer the sweet version) and heat a pan with a drizzle of oil or butter. When it is hot, pour in the mixture, put the lid on and let it cook over low heat for a couple of minutes, only on one side. You’ll know when it’s done because it lifts easily from the pan. Fill it as you prefer and serve it rolled or folded into a half moon shape.
What to pair with eggs for breakfast
The flavor of eggs goes well with both sweet and savory ingredients. For a true American breakfast experience, scrambled eggs are often accompanied by crispy bacon, sausages, beans, or vegetables. Alternatively, they might be used to cover toast or prepare delicious French toast topped with pieces of fruit. Then there are eggs Benedict, in which the poached egg is placed on top of a slice of crunchy bread and flavored with bacon, chives and hollandaise sauce (based on eggs, butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper).
In short, eggs are incredibly versatile and fundamental for a typical American morning meal. They not only stand alone as a dish but are also used in numerous recipes, including muffins, pancakes, and savory pies.