Venezuelan Perico (Scrambled Eggs With Onions and Tomatoes)

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Updated on 12/22/21
Venezuelan Perico

 Lauri Patterson/Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Perico is a savory Venezuelan breakfast dish of scrambled eggs seasoned with sauteed onions, tomatoes, and peppers. It's often served inside arepas, a Venezuelan egg McMuffin of sorts.

If you don't want to make arepas, serve with corn or poppyseed muffins, English muffins or multigrain or whole-wheat toast. A side of bacon or sausage, just like with any egg dish, makes a nice addition for a weekend breakfast or brunch.

Perico means parakeet in English. Some believe the name for this dish derives from its colorful presentation of the red in the tomatoes, the green in the pepper and the yellow of the eggs. Perico is made most often at home, and every family has its own version it likes best, similar to omelets in the U.S.

Ingredients

  • 4 to 6 large eggs

  • 3 tablespoons cream

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

  • 1 medium tomato, finely chopped

  • 1 green pepper, finely chopped, optional

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Whisk the eggs together with the cream. Set aside.

  2. Melt the butter with the oil in a large nonstick skillet.

  3. Add the chopped onions to the pan and sauté over medium heat until they are translucent.

  4. Add the tomatoes and green pepper and cook over medium heat until soft, 8 to 10 minutes.

  5. Pour the egg and cream mixture into the skillet and cook gently, stirring them lightly and flipping them as they cook.

  6. Cook the eggs to the desired doneness and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  7. Serve warm with arepas or other bread choices.

Recipe Variations

  • This recipe is the traditional mix of eggs, tomatoes, onions and green peppers cooked in butter. You can change up this mix in many ways.
  • Some Venezuelans prefer scallions or red onion to yellow or white onions, and it can be made with egg whites only if you want to watch your egg intake. 
  • If it's brunch, Venezuelans often rinse it down with a beer. Bloody marys or mimosas always make brunch an occasion.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
162 Calories
14g Fat
3g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 162
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 205mg 68%
Sodium 128mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 4mg 18%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 158mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)