Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons grated onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 (8-ounce can) Spanish style tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup vegetable stock or water
  • 1 1/2 cups (removed from casing and crumbled) Mexican chorizo
  • 2 Hass avocados
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Vegetable oil cooking spray
  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese (see Cook's Notes) or mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup crema Mexicana (see Cook's Notes) or sour cream
  • Minced fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
  • Special Equipment: 6 (5 1/2 by 1-inch or similar size) flameproof casseroles

Method

  • To make the tomato sauce: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small saucepan.
  • Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the chili powder, cumin, and oregano.
  • Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomato sauce and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
  • Stir in the stock, bring to a boil, then adjust the heat so the sauce is simmering.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is lightly thickened, about 15 minutes.
  • Set the rack about 4 inches from the broiler and preheat the broiler.
  • Cook the chorizo in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Drain on paper towels and set aside
  • Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit and peel the halves.
  • Cut each half lengthwise into 6 thin slices.
  • Toss together in a medium bowl with the lime juice.
  • Divide the chorizo among 6 oven-proof, individual serving casseroles, about 5 1/ 2-inches wide by 1-inch deep.
  • Cover the chorizo in each casserole with 4 thin slices of avocado.
  • To cook the eggs: Spray a frying pan or griddle with the vegetable cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
  • Add as many eggs as will fit without touching and cook until the underside of the eggs is set, about 1 minute.
  • Reduce the heat to low and cook until the whites are completely set, about 3 minutes.
  • Place 2 eggs on top of the avocado in each casserole.
  • Repeat with the remaining eggs.
  • Divide the tomato sauce among the 6 casseroles, topping the eggs with a thin, even layer of sauce.
  • Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce, dividing it evenly.
  • Broil just until the cheese melts, about 1 minute.
  • Top each casserole with a teaspoon of crema and sprinkle the chopped cilantro over the cream.
  • Pass the remaining crema separately.
  • Cook's Notes: Crema Mexicana is a mildly acidic dairy product with a consistency that makes it perfect for drizzling over finished dishes.
  • It is available in Latin markets and some supermarkets.
  • If you cannot find it, substitute sour cream, thinned down with water.
  • Oaxaca cheese is a mild string cheese from the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.
  • It is available in Latin markets and some supermarkets.
  • Whole milk mozzarella is the perfect substitute.