Crispy Breadcrumb Fried Eggs

Serves 2 to 4

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 slice stale bread, torn into small (pea-size or smaller) breadcrumbs
Fine-grain sea salt
4 large eggs
Freshly ground black pepper
Hot sauce (optional)

Melt the butter in a medium-size skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs to the melted butter and stir them around to coat. Add a pinch of salt or season to taste. Cook the breadcrumbs until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure the breadcrumbs are scattered evenly in the skillet and then crack the eggs on top of them. Continue cooking the eggs over medium heat until the whites are set and the yolks are cooked to your liking, and season with sea salt. This could take just over a minute or up to 4 minutes depending on your yolk preferences. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and, optionally, a few dashes of hot sauce.
Excerpted from Cooking With Scraps by Lindsay-Jean Hard (Workman Publishing). Copyright © 2018. Photographs by Penny De Los Santos.