Deviled eggs are a classic American appetizer that requires you to start with a perfect hard-cooked egg. At their simplest, deviled eggs are hard-cooked eggs with the yolks removed, flavored, and packed back in. But they offer so many more opportunities if you consider that the neutral egg is a perfect backdrop for a variety of flavor experiences.

Hard-cooked eggs lend themselves to flavors, both simple and exotic. Giving your deviled eggs some added pizzazz is relatively simple. Try any or all of the following add-ins. An assortment of deviled eggs on a tray looks most inviting.

• Add herbs such as minced fresh tarragon, dill, or chives to the egg yolk.
• Give your eggs a sprinkling of curry powder rather than the parsley and paprika topping.
• Instead of mayonnaise, use sour cream, yogurt, or creme fraiche.
• Use mild softened goat cheese, such as Montrachet, in place of the mayonnaise.
• Instead of mustard, add some salsa and top with chopped cilantro.
• Use chutney instead of the mustard and add a tablespoon of currants or chopped nuts.
• Add minced, sun-dried tomatoes to the basic version.
• Add minced black olives, such as kalamata, to the original filling recipe.
• Add a sprinkling of crispy crumbled bacon to the filling.