Egg salad is an authentic American salad that is made up of high protein hard boiled eggs and various seasoning agents. This cold preparation with mayonnaise and other flavoring can also be used as a filling for making sandwiches. This popular sandwich filler is also known as egg mayonnaise, in which hard-boiled egg is chopped and finely mixed with smooth mayonnaise sauce. The preparation of this dish is very similar to other cold prepared salads like chicken salad, tuna salad, prawn salad, macaroni salad and potato salad.

Origin Of Egg Salad

Originally, the egg salad recipe was given by the Britishers. The regular green vegetable salad mixed with regular boiled egg was the first ever invented by Britishers to enjoy a high protein heavy meal. The recipe has evolved with times with the inclusion of various flavoring agents and other ingredients. Apart from Britain, this is a very common dish in places like America, Asian regions and Australia. In regions like North America and parts of Asia, this is often served as an evening or morning snack.

Ingredients Used and Egg Salad Recipe Overview

Ingredients

Egg salad is a very subjective dish and can be made with various ingredients. Generally, the egg salad recipe suggests use of simple ingredients such as eggs and mayonnaise. Both egg yolks and egg white are used for this cold preparation. Apart from the basic ingredients, some other things required for making this low carbohydrate salad are Dijon-style mustard, dried dill weed, paprika, minced red onion, salt and pepper. Other than these, ingredients like celery and crisp green vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles and capers. Pickle relish and cucumber slices can also be used for making this healthy salad. There is a wide range of seasonings that can be used while making some salad. Some of the commonly used seasonings are horseradish, chutney, wasabi, garlic, capers, salsa, cheese, mushrooms, hot sauce, sour cream, spinach, caviar, dried seafood, smoked salmon and sardines. All these seasonings are widely appreciated for their unique flavors and perfect to make a flavorful dish.

Method of Preparation

Egg salad is essentially made of hard boiling eggs. The eggs are usually placed in a saucepan, which is filled with water. This pan is placed on the stove at medium flame to boil. Then, the eggs are allowed to stand still on hot water for about 10 to 12 minutes. All the boiled eggs are then removed from the pan and allowed to cool. Those eggs are simply peeled and chopped to have small pieces for the salad. These finely chopped eggs are then positioned in a big sized mixing bowl to make the mixing process less messy. Almost all salad recipes need the finely chopped dill pickles or even dill relish. In case sodium is a needed, dried dill weed can also be used as an effective substitute. Most people prefer the dill relish to be finely diced. However, others like to eat larger sized pickle cubes in the salad. Later, the small pieces of egg are combined with other ingredients such as mayonnaise, mustard, dill, paprika, onion and salt and pepper. The mixture is mashed properly with wooden fork to enhance the flavor further.

Serving Egg Salad

Traditionally, the egg salad is served either with crisp salad lettuce leaves and bread toast. It is most commonly served at buffet or covered dish dinners parties as a side dish. Other than this, this dish is also preferred as a cold salad at barbecues and picnics. Moreover, many people prefer to have different portions of the salad heated on toast points or crackers. The salad can also be spread evenly between two bread slices with some onions to make an interesting salad sandwich.

Health and Nutritional Facts

Egg salad is known for a large number of health benefits as it is rich in various nutrients. Some of the health benefits of the salad are mentioned below:

1. Eggs are rich in protein and so is their salad. This makes the salad extra nutritious and proves to be a healthy meal option.

2. Since the salad is low on carbohydrate, it can be easily included in the diet of a person following strict low fat diet instructions.

3. The fat content of this salad can be easily restricted by using non-fatty or non-oily flavorings and salad dressings.

4. It has very low cholesterol level and thus, safe for all heart patients.