Brown Butter Crispy Anchovies with Soft-Scrambled Eggs - For the Carnivore Diet

A fast, zero-carb carnivore skillet: crispy anchovies basted in brown butter folded into soft eggs.

This quick skillet centers salty, umami-packed anchovies, crisped in brown butter and folded into soft-scrambled eggs. It’s rich, satisfying, and on the table in minutes, with no plants or seasonings required beyond salt.

Use tinned anchovy fillets for convenience—just drain well (or briefly rinse and pat dry if packed in oil) so they crisp instead of steam. Butter or ghee provides flavor and browning; beef tallow works if you prefer a dairy-free fat. A little aged hard cheese on top is optional but delicious and stays within carnivore guidelines.

Serve immediately while the butter is still glossy and the eggs are custardy. For a leaner version, use a bit less butter; for extra richness, finish with another small knob of butter or a spoon of beef tallow. Leftovers keep up to 1 day chilled and reheat gently over low heat with a splash of melted butter.

Ingredients

• 2 tins anchovy fillets, drained well (or salt-packed fillets rinsed and patted dry)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee (plus a little extra to finish, optional)
• 4 large eggs
• Sea salt to taste (anchovies are salty; use sparingly)
• 1 ounce grated aged hard cheese, optional (e.g., pecorino or parmesan)

Instructions

1. Prep the anchovies: drain thoroughly. If packed in oil, a quick rinse under cold water and a pat dry helps them crisp. If salt-packed, rinse and soak 5 minutes in cold water, then dry.
2. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter or ghee and let it foam.
3. Lay in the anchovy fillets in a single layer. Cook 30–60 seconds per side until edges frizzle and the aroma is nutty. Push them to one side of the pan.
4. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the empty side and lower the heat to medium-low. Crack in the eggs and gently stir, forming soft curds 1–2 minutes. Fold the crispy anchovies through the eggs.
5. Taste and add a pinch of salt only if needed. Finish with a small knob of butter and, if using, a sprinkle of grated hard cheese. Serve immediately.

Time: 10 minutes Servings: