This site uses only a few technical cookies necessary for its operation. By continuing to browse, you accept their use.
To find out more...
To find out more...
"Buttonhole" quail eggs
This little appetizer consists of a small finger of toast, a slice of cured ham and three quail egg yolks arranged on a rectangle of egg white. It is a bit tricky to make, but very attractive to serve, and delicious, of course.
188 K 4.4/5 (5 reviews)
60 min.
Average
6 canapés
7 IngredientsLast modified on: June 26th 2011
3 slices 
3 slices smoked ham
30 g 
18 quails egg
1 teaspoon 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 60 min.
Cooking: 3 min.
All in all: 60 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 7 min.
Cut 3 slices bread into rectangles about 5cm x 2.5cm (2 x 1 inches).
Cut 3 slices smoked ham to the same size.
Cut 3 slices smoked ham to the same size.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Butter both sides of the bread.
Stage 3 - 15 min.
Crack open the 18 quails egg and separate the yolks from the whites.
Note: The action needed to crack quail's eggs is not easy to describe; you might like to watch this short demonstration video.
Note: The action needed to crack quail's eggs is not easy to describe; you might like to watch this short demonstration video.
Stage 4 - 2 min.
Stage 5 - 10 min.
When the whites are cooked, salt and tip onto a chopping board, and cut out rectangles the same size as the pieces of bread.
Cut 3 circles of 1 cm (0.5 inch) diameter out of each rectangle. For this it is best to use the nozzle of a forcing bag of the right size.
Cut 3 circles of 1 cm (0.5 inch) diameter out of each rectangle. For this it is best to use the nozzle of a forcing bag of the right size.
Stage 6 - 1 min.
In the same pan, fry the ham for 1 minute on each side.
Stage 7 - 4 min.
Then fry the slices of bread until golden brown on each side.
Stage 8 - 5 min.
Turn down the heat under the pan. Arrange a slice of ham on each piece of bread, then a rectangle of egg white. Salt and pepper lightly.
Stage 9 - 10 min.
Finish by placing an egg yolk in each hollow.
This is the tricky moment in the recipe. You need to do this gently so as not to break the egg yolks.
Leave like this on low heat for about 5 minutes to warm the yolks through, but they should not cook.
This is the tricky moment in the recipe. You need to do this gently so as not to break the egg yolks.
Leave like this on low heat for about 5 minutes to warm the yolks through, but they should not cook.
Remarks
Everything can be prepared in advance, only the yolks need to be added at the last minute.
You can add a little surprise flavour in the hollow of the whites under the yolks, something strong like a drop of wasabi, a few drops of vinegar, or whatever you can think of.
You can add a little surprise flavour in the hollow of the whites under the yolks, something strong like a drop of wasabi, a few drops of vinegar, or whatever you can think of.
Keeping: Just a few minutes.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 270 RDI=100 % | 1,720 RDI=160 % | 100 RDI=20 % | 1,220 RDI=60 % | 5,100 RDI: 60 % |
| Per 100 g | 50 RDI=20 % | 350 RDI=30 % | 20 RDI=3 % | 250 RDI=10 % | 1,040 RDI: 10 % |
| Per canapés | 40 RDI=20 % | 290 RDI=30 % | 20 RDI=3 % | 200 RDI=10 % | 850 RDI: 10 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 6 canapés : 4.55 €
- Per canapés : 0.80 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Butter
Like these other recipes: Yeast-based flaky dough (for croissants), Purée of Jerusalem artichokes with foie gras, Savoury French toast, Layered Leek and Egg Gratin , Mushroom duxelles, ... See them all 476
Quail egg
Like these other recipes: Quail egg canapés, ... See them all 1
Bread
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Cornouaillaise salad, Eggs meurette, Bistro-style red endive salad, Greek style sandwiches, Smoked haddock and leek fondue tartines, ... See them all 74
Smoked ham
Like these other recipes: Ham spirals, Potato galette, Cauliflower "moelleux" in ramekins, Rolls of fish in smoked ham, Croque-monsieur gourmand, ... See them all 30
Other recipes you may also like
Chocolate tart
As you can see, there's very little added sugar in this recipe, so it's a very chocolatey and bitter-sweet tart. November 16th 2013302 K 15 2 hours 30 min.
Clarified butter
This is a way of melting butter to eliminate all the impurities. The clarified butter can then be heated without spoiling, and is more digestible. It is ideal for cooking at high temperatures where small black specks would spoil the appearance, or for emulsified sauces like béarnaise or mousseline. June 21th 2017474 K4.2 2 hours 15 min.
Almond cream
Light and delicious, it is used in a lot of desserts like tarts, cakes and pies (epiphany galette). August 31th 2025473 K 25 20 min.
Tartiflette
A personal version of a classic recipe from Savoy. September 16th 2019621 K 14.6 1 hour 30 min.
New tiramisu
This new version of tiramisu is easier, and in my opinion much better. You will certainly appreciate, like me, the light creamy taste, this time presented in brandy goblets. January 19th 2015402 K3.3 55 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-09-14)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.