A delicious umami twist on the famous British breakfast classic known as eggs with soldiers
Not just a favourite amongst children for breakfast, boiled eggs and soldiers, also known as ‘dippy eggs’ are a delicious way to start your day and very easy to make. Soldiers refer to the buttered toasted bread which has been cut into strips 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
Now, this is simple. The first rule is your egg should be at room temperature. There is no need to ever keep an egg in the fridge and doing so will only stop you from eating the perfect soft-boiled egg.
Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Gently place your room-temperature egg into the boiling water and boil for exactly 6 minutes. No less, no longer. 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 to the classic flavour – butter is mixed with finely grated parmesan, spread onto 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 whilst sesame seeds provide a satisfying crunch.
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Soft Boiled Egg with Parmesan Crusted Soldiers
A twist on the classic British breakfast ‘Boiled Egg with Soldiers’ which normally uses buttered white bread. In this recipe finely grated parmesan is whipped into the butter for an extra decadent umami flavour along with sesame seeds for extra crunch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stove Top Cooking
- Cuisine: Modern Fusion
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons room temperature butter
- 3 heaped tablespoons finely grated parmesan
- 1 medium egg
- 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, heat a frying pan to medium-high temperature. Next, 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. 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.
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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
