The History of Scrambled Eggs

It is thought that the ancient Romans were the first to make eggs for breakfast. In fact, the idea of breakfast in Europe was largely associated with the Romans, and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the entire meal largely disappeared along with them: Throughout the Middle Ages, most Europeans ate just two meals per day, although a third meal was sometimes provided to children, laborers, and the elderly. However, it seems that various preparations for making eggs were quite enduring, because eggs are mentioned in a 14th century Italian tome entitled Liber de Coquina (or Libro Della Cucina) and are also mentioned by Dante Alighieri, the author of The Divine Comedy. Many of these early recipes were for stuffed eggs, but it is very feasible that scrambled eggs were made both by the ancient Romans and by Europeans living in the Middle Ages. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, eggs weren’t associated with breakfast for quite some time. It wasn’t until 1620 that an English medical writer, Tobias Venner, suggested eating eggs for breakfast (he recommended poached eggs with salt, pepper, and vinegar served alongside bread and butter). Later, the Industrial Revolution created the need for filling breakfasts to fuel workers — eggs were cheap and hearty, so they became a breakfast staple in many parts of the Western world. Over time, scrambled eggs became an especially popular option as they were relatively quick and easy to prepare. It is also important to note that over the years, diverse cultures all around the world developed their own unique versions of scrambled eggs and other egg-based dishes. Today, scrambled eggs are one of the most popular dishes in the world.