Delia Smith has been showing the British public how to cook for more than 25 years. In 1998 her 'How to Cook' series stripped cookery back to basics, the first chapter of the book was devoted to eggs including a recipe of how to boil the perfect soft-boiled egg which when featured in the TV series led to an increase in egg sales.

Delia Smith's recipe
Obviously every single one of us has a personal preference as to precisely how we like our eggs cooked. Over the years I have found a method that is both simple and reliable, and the various timings set out here seem to accommodate all tastes.

First of all have a small saucepan filled with enough simmering water to cover the eggs by about 1/2; inch (1cm). Then quickly but gently lower the eggs into the water, one at a time using a tablespoon.
Now switch a timer on and give the eggs exactly 1 minute's simmering time.
Then remove the pan from the heat, put a lid on it and set the timer again, giving the following timings:
6 mins will produce a soft, fairly liquid yolk and a white that is just set but still quite wobbly
7 mins will produce a firmer, more creamy yolk with a white that is completely set

Recipe taken from Delia's How to Cook: Book One by Delia Smith, published by BBC Books.
Reprinted by permission of The Random House Group Ltd. Other Delia recipes can be found at www.deliaonline.com

www.britegg.co.uk.

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