Tuesday, January 20, 2009

How did deviled eggs get its name?

This is for everyone! Thanks a lot Dangz Madz and Donabel for bringing the question up...hehhehe! I have searched the internet, and here's what I have gathered.

Where's the devil?

According to the food historians the practice of "devilling" food "officially" began sometime during the 18th century in England. Why? Because that was when the term "deviled," as it relates to food, first shows up in print. The earliest use of this culinary term was typically associated with kidneys & other meats, not stuffed eggs:

"Devil...A name for various highly-seasoned broiled or fried dishes, also for hot ingredients. 1786, Craig "Lounger NO. 86 'Make punch, brew negus, and season a devil.'"


"Devil--a culinary term which...first appeared as a noun in the 18th century, and then in the early 19th century as a verb meaning to cook something with fiery hot spices or condiments...The term was presumably adopted because of the connection between the devil and the excessive heat in Hell...Boswell, Dr Johnson's biographer, frequently refers to partaking of a dish of "devilled bones" for supper, which suggests an earlier use."


"Deviled...Any variety of dishes prepared with hot seasonings, such as cayenne or mustard. The word derives from the association with the demon who dwells in hell. In culinary context the word first appears in print in 1786; by 1820 Washington Irving has used the word in his Sketchbook to describe a highly seasoned dish similar to a curry. Deviled dishes were very popular throughout the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries, especially for seafood preparations and some appetizers."

"Around 1868, Underwood's sons began experimenting with a new product created from ground ham blended with special seasonings. The process they dubbed "deviling," for cooking and preparing the ham, was new. But best of all, the taste was unique. Soon thereafter, the "Underwood devil" was born."

Source:foodtimeline.com

3 comments :

Dean and Lee Schroeder said...

now I know why it is called deviled eggs. I thought sinapian ng demonyo hahaha

Umma said...

Mao diay no? Hahahah..bitaw naglibog sad me pinsar ana why is it was called Deviled Eggs..
Thanks for your resourcefulness sistah.. maayo jud ka pisana mag research hahaha.

Madz said...

hhahah pero taasa sa explanation dangz uy, mosamot kakutaw ako libog!! hahahaha.. ah bsta ang akong nahibaw-an nga nakakaon na ko ani but wla ko sure sa iyang ngalan! unya Deviled Eggs diay to, weird!!!