Deviled eggs seem to be a favorite at any party… and for good reason! This popular French version, known as “Oeufs Mimosa”, presents hard-boiled eggs cut in half and stuffed with a rich and creamy filling of egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and fresh herbs for classic French flavor. Read along for another fun French twist that explains the “Mimosa” name.
And while you might be thinking about the popular Mimosa brunch co*cktail, it’s not that. Though, I don’t think many would say no to a glass on the side!
What are Oeufs Mimosa?
These French-style Deviled Eggs, known as Oeufs Mimosa, are a staple starter in France. If you ever have lunch at a French bistro, there is a high chance you will find “Oeufs Mimosa” offered on the menu, alongside some other classics like Celeriac Remoulade or a Salade Lyonnaise. Oeufs Mimosa are also popularly served as part of a buffet, for Spring and Summer brunches in specific.
To prepare Oeufs Mimosa, hard-boiled eggs are halved, and the yolks are removed. You then mix the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper to create a creamy filling. This filling is then spooned or piped back into the egg white halves. Oeufs Mimosa are then often garnished with more fresh herbs and a sprinkle of paprika for extra flavor and visual appeal.
So what makes Oeufs Mimosa different from classic Deviled Eggs?
In terms of flavor, the filling of Oeufs Mimosa features Dijon Mustard and fresh herbs for typical French flavors. But the real difference is how the egg yolks are prepared!
Once removed from the whites, the hard egg yolks are passed through a fine-mesh strainer to create a fluffy yellow texture, reminiscent of Mimosa flowers – hence the name of this recipe.
The egg yolk fluff is then mixed with the mayonnaise to create an utterly creamy filling. Some of it is also sprinkled atop the finished eggs just before serving, to accentuate the idea and look of a Mimosa flower.
Ingredients you’ll need for these French-style Deviled Eggs
Oeufs Mimosa are relatively easy to make, required simple ingredients and minimal cooking skills. I think they’re actually really fun to make, and I love to prepare them as a Sunday starter or for a potluck. They’re always a hit!
- Eggs. Hard-boiled eggs are the stars of this recipe. Choose large chicken eggs, ideally organic or farm fresh.
- Mayonnaise. I happily rely on store-bought mayonnaise for this recipe: choose your favorite brand of plain European-style or American-style egg mayonnaise, which you an find in most grocery stores. Full fat or low fat both work for this recipe.
- Dijon mustard. Two teaspoons of Dijon brings a subtle French flavor to these deviled eggs. Choose a classic French Dijon mustard, which you can also find in most grocery stores.
- Shallot. Finely minced shallot brings a touch of acidity and a subtle crunch. As an alternative, you can also use red onion.
- Vinegar. A little splash of vinegar adds tang and cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and egg yolks. Choose a light tasting vinegar like white vinegar, champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar. Stay away from balsamic for this recipe.
- Fresh herbs. I use two tablespoons of fresh herbs in the filling of these Oeufs Mimosa. I often opt for a mix of fresh chive and parsley. I also love to opt for tarragon when I can get my hands on it. Fresh dill also works great.
- Paprika. This is optional, but I like to sprinkle a dash of paprika on top of the eggs just before serving for a spicy kick. Hot, sweet or smoked all work great.
Oeufs Mimosa are a fun and versatile recipe! You can customize the filling to suit your taste with different herbs or spices if you would like. Get creative!
Do you have a favorite way to put a twist Deviled Eggs? Let us know in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make this recipe in advance?
Yes, you can. You can prepare deviled eggs up to 48 hours ahead. The key step though is to store the egg whites and yolk filling separately. Wrap the egg white halves with plastic wrap and keep the egg yolk filling in an airtight container. You can then assemble the Oeufs Mimosa just before serving.
Can you use sweet mustard instead of Dijon?
I really recommend sticking to Dijon mustard for this recipe. It brings a true French flavor.
Do you really have to pass the egg yolks through a strainer?
The unique French feature of this recipe is passing egg yolks through a strainer to create a fluffy texture and look, reminiscent of a Mimosa flower. So, I think you would be missing on the appeal of this recipe by skipping this part. That said, you won’t alter the taste if you decide to mash the egg yolks with a fork instead.
How long can you keep Deviled Eggs?
Once filled, store the deviled eggs in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the fridge. Beyond this period, deviled eggs can become dry and lose flavor.
Audrey’s tips:
- If you have time to make homemade mayonnaise for this recipe, please feel free! For a great mayonnaise recipe, I can recommend this one from the New York Times. This recipe gives you a French-style mayonnaise, that is a little runnier than the thicker American one.
- For making hard-boiled eggs, I like to use eggs that have been sitting in my fridge for about a week. Fresh eggs have a low PH (meaning, high acidity) and they tend to be more difficult to peel. If you let your eggs “age” for a few extra days, they will be much easier to peel after hard boiling them.
- You can easily double this recipe to feed a larger crowd.
If you enjoy deviled eggs, I think you’ll love this French-style Deviled Eggs (Oeufs Mimosa) recipe as much as I do! If you have any questions, please leave a comment.
More French starter recipes:
- Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tarte Soleil
- Gruyere Cheese Twists (Torsades au fromage)
- Celery Root Remoulade
- Classic French Potato Salad
- Green Bean Potato Salad
- Piemontaise Potato Salad
- White Asparagus with Grenobloise Sauce
- Classic French Lentil Salad
French-style Deviled Eggs (Oeufs Mimosa)
Print Recipe
Serves: 12 Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 4.8/5
( 4 voted )
Ingredients
6 large eggs
¼ cup (60g) mayonnaise
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1 small shallot, peeled and minced
1 tsp vinegar (white, champagne or white wine)
1 tbsp chive, minced (+ extra for garnish)
1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, minced
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp salt
½ tsp paprika (hot, sweet or smoked), for garnish
Instructions
Step 1. Make the hard-boiled eggs. Place the eggs in a pot and ensure the eggs are completely submerged under at least ½ inch of water. Cover the pot with a lid, turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a firm boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat, keep the pot covered and set a timer for 12 minutes. Once the timer rings, carefully remove the eggs from the hot water with a slotted spoon and place them in a bowl filled with cold water.
When the eggs are cool, peel them. For cutting the eggs in half (lengthwise), do it as if cutting an avocado: run a sharp knife through the egg white until you feel the yolk - but do not cut through the yolk! Roll your knife around the yolk, like an avocado pit, cutting the white without cutting the yolk. The white halves and yolk will separate cleanly. Reserve the whites on a plate.
Step 2. Make the filling. In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced shallot, vinegar, chive, parsley, pepper and salt.
Place the egg yolks into a fine mesh strainer and place the strainer above the mixing bowl. Using the back of a spoon, press onto the eggs yolks to pass them through the strainer and create a fluffy texture. Reserve two tablespoons of the fluffy egg yolks aside (for garnish) and mix the rest with the ingredients in the bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed (salt, pepper).
Step 3. Use a piping bag or a spoon to add filling into the hole of each egg white half. Transfer eggs onto a serving plate, sprinkle each with the reserved “fluffy” egg yolks, chive and a sprinkle of paprika.
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Audrey
Bonjour ! I'm Audrey Le Goff, a French cookery writer, photographer, creator of the blog Pardon your French, and cookbook author of Rustic French Cooking Made Easy.
