Huevos Ahogados en Tinga (Eggs Poached in Chipotle Tinga Sauce)
Eggs poached straight in bubbling smoky chipotle sauce, scooped up with warm corn tortillas for a punchy brunch.
Made with Chipotle tinga sauce and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.54 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a wide, deep frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the chopped onion for 4 minutes until soft.
4 min - 2
Add your ready made chipotle tinga sauce (see the base recipe) and 100 ml of water. Bring to a gentle simmer for 3 minutes.
3 min - 3
Make 8 wells in the sauce with the back of a spoon and crack an egg into each one. Cover and cook on a low heat for 4 to 6 minutes, until the whites are set and the yolks are still soft. Cook longer if you like firm yolks.
5 min - 4
Meanwhile, warm the corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan and keep them wrapped in a tea towel.
- 5
Scatter the queso fresco and coriander over the pan and drizzle with crema. Serve at the table with the warm tortillas for scooping.
Tips
- Keep the heat low once the eggs go in. Hard bubbling breaks the whites and overcooks the yolks.
- Thin the sauce with a little water so it is loose enough to poach in. It thickens as it cooks.
- Use very fresh eggs. They hold together better in the sauce.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. If you must keep leftovers, chill within 1 hour and eat within 24 hours, reheated until steaming hot with the eggs cooked through.
Questions
How spicy is it?
Medium. The heat depends on your tinga sauce. Serve with extra crema, avocado or a squeeze of lime to cool it.
Can I make it for a crowd?
Yes. Use a bigger pan or divide the sauce between oven dishes, crack in the eggs and bake at 180C (160C fan) for 12 to 15 minutes until the whites set.
Is it dairy free?
Not as written because of the queso fresco and crema. Leave them out and add avocado slices and coriander for a dairy free version.
More made with chipotle tinga sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.