Shirred eggs can be seasoned and customized in various ways, including with toasted bread, hash browns, bacon and other ingredients. Their popularity might be increasing in part due to the spread of another baked egg dish, shakshuka, a Middle Eastern preparation of eggs in spicy tomato sauce.

Shirred eggs are in the Inception stage. They’re considered a premium dish that can be found on mostly fine dining menus and at ethnic independents.

Cascabel Taqueria in New York City puts its own spin on shirred eggs with its Huevos Al Horno Con Chorizo — baked eggs with plancha-grilled chorizo, fingerling potatoes, red onion and Oaxaca cheese. The brunch dish comes with warm tortillas on the side.