How Sohla El-Waylly Turns Traditional Breakfasts Into an Exciting All Day Affair

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—but it can also be the most repetitive. 

Maybe that’s because we’re always in a rush, or we’ve been told to resign to bacon, waffles, or a smoothie every day. You can throw those restrictions out of the window, though, with a new MasterClass class from acclaimed chef and recipe creator Sohla El-Waylly.

In a new 3-part series titled “Breakfast All Day,” El-Waylly shows off her innovative cooking techniques on how to use eggs, masa, and pancakes in new and exciting ways—with a "no rules apply" when it comes to the meal.

“In this series, I am diving into breakfast,” El-Waylly said in her class. “I’d argue it’s the most versatile meal of them all, and we’re exploring many different ways to indulge. But the fun doesn’t stop there: We’ll also get creative with ways to explore breakfast for lunch and for dinner.”

In her episode all about masa, El-Waylly brings on chef Jorge Gaviria, the author of the cookbook, Masa: Techniques, Recipes and Reflections on a Timeless Staple. Together, they take viewers through exactly how to create tamales de rajas con queso and champurrado, fresh tortilla chips, and guacamole. She explains simple pleasures, like a good tortilla with butter and salt, too. It makes a delicious breakfast—or lunch or dinner.

In her episode about pancakes, she teaches you what the bubbles mean, the power of butter, and brings on the Shopsin siblings (children of Kenny Shopsin, the founder of the iconic New York City diner) to make a signature chili cheeseburger pancake. For her egg-themed episode, she and her guest chef Yuji Haraguchi create a wide variety of egg dishes, like poached eggs, rolled eggs, and baked eggs. They make ichiju sansai, for instance: a traditional Japanese meal that consists of a bowl of steamed white rice, miso soup, fish, and vegetables—with eggs connecting it all.

“I’ve had a blast sharing a few of my favorite ways to enjoy eggs any time of the day,” El-Waylly said at the end of that episode. “I hope we’ve shown you how fun it can be to break out of your shell and try something different for breakfast.”

So if you find yourself experiencing a bit of a breakfast block (or lunch or dinner block, for that matter) try something outside of the box. And if you need some help, El-Waylly’s Masterclass class has the tools you need.