Table of Contents
- A delicious umami twist on the famous British breakfast classic known as ‘Eggs with Soldiers’
- Where did eggs and soldiers come from?
- The perfect soft-boiled egg
- Crusty Parmesan Bread Soldiers
- Similar recipes on flaevor.com
- Recipe: Soft Boiled Egg with Parmesan Crusted Soldiers
- Want to know where to buy the best parmesan?
A delicious umami twist on the famous British breakfast classic known as ‘Eggs with Soldiers’
Not just a children’s favourite for breakfast, boiled eggs and soldiers or ‘dippy eggs’ are a delicious way to start the day and very easy to make. Soldiers are toasted bread cut into strips and buttered for dipping.
Where did eggs and soldiers come from?
The trend for dipping buttered bread sticks into a soft-boiled egg yolk is thought to have started in the 60s when eggs became more readily available throughout the UK. Since then it has become a British breakfast classic.
Reminiscent of a soldier on parade, the breadsticks dip themselves down into the egg in the same fashion a soldier dips himself down and removes his hat. In France, soldiers are called mouillettes and are served alongside eggs, soup and dips.
The perfect soft-boiled egg
The first rule is that your egg should be at room temperature. There is no need to ever keep an egg in the fridge, and doing so will only prevent you from eating the perfect soft boiled egg. If you put a cold egg in a pan of hot, boiling water, it will crack in an instant. So eggs should always be room temperature before boiling.
Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Gently place your room-temperature egg into the boiling water and boil for exactly 6 minutes. Remove immediately and run under cold water for 20 seconds. The yolk will be perfectly thick and runny and the egg white just cooked through.
Crusty Parmesan Bread Soldiers
A simple enhancement with great results – butter is mixed with finely grated Parmesan, spread on each side of a slice of bread, sprinkled with sesame seeds and pan-fried until crispy. A wonderful umami flavour develops from the toasted butter and parmesan, while the sesame seeds add a satisfying crunch.
Similar recipes on flaevor.com
- Parmesan Fried Egg Pesto Burger
- Buttery Parmesan and Sage Pearl Barley
- Gnocchi With Roasted Tomato and Parmesan Sauce
Recipe: Soft Boiled Egg with Parmesan Crusted Soldiers
Soft Boiled Egg with Parmesan Crusted Soldiers
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp room temperature butter
- 3 heaped tablespoons finely grated parmesan
- 1 medium egg at room temperature
- 1 slice white toast bread
- Sea salt flakes
- White and black sesame seeds
Instructions
- Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add egg gently to the boiling water and set the timer for exactly 6 minutes.
- Whilst the egg is boiling, In a small bowl, combine parmesan and butter and whip until smooth.
- Spread both sides of the bread thickly with parmesan butter. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds. Heat a non stick pan to medium heat and fry on each side until crispy and golden brown.
- Remove toast from the pan, sprinkle with a little salt and cut into strips for dipping.
- At 6 minutes remove the egg and run under cold water for 10 seconds.
- Place the egg into an egg cup and remove the top with a knife. Serve alongside parmesan soldiers and extra salt.
Notes
Want to know where to buy the best parmesan?
Check out Flaevors article on Parmesan Cheese and discover all you need to know about this delicious salty cheese
