Have you ever wondered how deviled eggs got their name? You're not alone. I mean, "deviled" is a pretty harsh way to describe a perfectly delightful appetizer. Here's how the classic dish got its satanic moniker.
What Are Deviled Eggs?
Deviled eggs are hard-boiled eggs that have been peeled, cut in half, then stuffed with a paste made from the yolk and other ingredients.
Basic deviled egg filling is made with egg yolks, mayonnaise, relish, mustard, salt, and pepper. The eggs are often seasoned with spices like paprika or cayenne pepper.
Typically, deviled eggs are served as appetizers. They often make appearances at holiday parties, picnics, or other social functions.
Believe it or not, the Southern Sunday school staple actually originated in Ancient Rome. Though they weren't prepared the same way they are now, eggs that had been boiled and seasoned were a popular appetizer among the elite members of Roman society. The dish was so common that it inspired the phrase "ab ova usque ad mala, which literally means "from eggs to apples, or from the beginning of a meal to the end.
"By the 15th century, stuffed eggs had made their way across much of Europe," according to History.com. "Medieval cookbooks contain recipes for boiled eggs that were often filled with raisins, cheese and herbs such as marjoram, parsley and mint and then fried in oil and either topped with a sauce of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and raisins with verjuice (a tart juice made from unripe fruits) or powdered with sugar and served hot."
Stuffed eggs began appearing in U.S. cookbooks by the mid-1800s.
In this case, the adjective "deviled" has a (somewhat) secular meaning — the word "devil" is just a culinary term that is used to describe a highly seasoned dish.
To devil means to "combine a food with various hot or spicy seasonings such as red pepper, mustard, or Tabasco sauce, thereby creating a 'deviled' dish," according to the Food Lover's Companion, the definitive guide to all things food and cooking.
The term likely comes from the connection between spiciness and the presumably hot temperatures in hell.
Since the word "devil" does have negative connotations, though, some groups of people prefer to call the dish "stuffed eggs," "salad eggs," or "dressed eggs."
Deviled Egg Recipes
No matter what you call them, the hard-boiled egg dish is pretty dang delicious. Try your hand at one of our favorite takes on the ancient recipe:
The term deviled egg comes from an 18th-century culinary term that the Oxford English Dictionary originally used to describe a fried or boiled dish that was highly seasoned. and this was eventually used to also include spicy, condiment-filled dishes, as well. It was eventually used to describe eggs.
In the 19th century, the adjective "deviled" came to be used most often with spicy or zesty food, including eggs prepared with mustard, pepper, or other ingredients stuffed in the yolk cavity. Similar uses of "devil" for spiced foods include deviled ham and fra diavolo sauce (from the Italian word for "devil").
Wealthy Roman diners were served a first course called “gustatio” – which was basically boiled eggs seasoned with some sort of spicy sauce. By the 1400s, different versions of stuffed eggs became popular across Europe and recipes can be found in medieval cookbooks.
Originally introduced as a culinary term in the late 1700s, the term "deviled" isn't just used for eggs. Deviled crab, salmon, ham and chicken all refer to dishes that are heavily spiced with paprika, pepper or mustard powder, or are very spicy.
This whole thing started when the family shared a photo on their official Facebook making what is very clearly the dish commonly referred to as deviled eggs. However, the photo was captioned "Made some "Yellow Pocket Angel Eggs" together with Johannah and Jordyn! They're one of our favorites!"
Growing up, Perry and her siblings were not allowed to eat the cereal Lucky Charms as the word "luck" reminded their mother of Lucifer, and were also required to call deviled eggs "angeled eggs". Perry primarily listened to gospel music, as secular music was generally discouraged in the family's home.
In some regions of the South and the Midwest, deviled eggs are also called salad or dressed eggs when they are served at a church function, to avoid the term "deviled."
With eggs, especially spicy and zesty eggs made with mustard, pepper, or other ingredients like paprika stuffed into the empty yolk cavity of half an egg, they are called “deviled,” though in some places they're also referred to as stuffed eggs, dressed eggs, or even Russian eggs.
The deviled egg we know today can be traced back to ancient Rome, where boiled eggs were seasoned with spicy sauces and served as the starter of a fancy meal usually made for guests.
In some parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States, the terms "stuffed eggs", "salad eggs" or "dressed eggs", or "ANGEL EGGS" are used, particularly when the dish is served in connection with a church function—presumably to avoid any association with The Devil.
Despite deviled eggs becoming popular after WWII, they didn't originate in the US. Traveling all the way back to Ancient Rome, eggs were boiled, seasoned with spicy sauces, and typically served at the beginning of the meal, called “gustatio,” aka a treat for wealthy patricians.
It's common for deviled eggs to "sweat" in the fridge, which can make them kinda soggy in a day or two. The paper towels will absorb the extra moisture and keep them fresh much longer! Change the paper towels every other day if you haven't already devoured them by then.
Pickled eggs are typically hard-boiled eggs that are cured in vinegar or brine. As with many foods, this was originally a way to preserve the food so that it could be eaten months later.
Definitions of stuffed egg. noun. halved hard-cooked egg with the yolk mashed with mayonnaise and seasonings and returned to the white. synonyms: deviled egg.
According to The Oxford Companion to Food, "devil" is a culinary term that first appeared in the 18th century as a noun and then in the early 19th century as a verb, "meaning to cook something with fiery hot spices or condiments." The hot spices or condiments most often referred to the addition of mustard and cayenne ...
Far from evil, the word “deviled” is a culinary term that means “adding spices” — usually hot ones like cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard, or chopped chili peppers — to foods like ham, eggs, turkey, or even lobster.
Hard-boiled is documented as being first used by Twain in 1886 as an adjective meaning "emotionally hardened." Apparently, Twain and others saw the boiling of an egg to harden the white and yolk as a metaphor for other kinds of hardening.
Also not setting a timer while boiling the eggs can lead to overcooked, dry, crumbly eggs. Peeling the eggs while they are hot causes the shell to stick to the egg and you end up burning your hands. Using a fork to make the egg filling leaves you with a lumpy and chunky mixture when you are all done.
Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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