Friday 9 November 2012

The Ultimate Fried Egg Sandwich

It doesn't take much to set me off. So it should come as no surprise that I did one when I saw an article in The Guardian on how to cook the perfect fried egg. What particularly stoked my ire was the writer's cavalier dismissal of fried eggs with a crispy bottom. I still can't bloody believe Felicity Cloake likened crispy egg white to a hairball! But really, what is the point of frying an egg if you don't want a crispy egg white? If you're going to fry an egg slowly on a low heat, you might as well not bother; poach it instead.


So what's the best way to fry an egg? Well of course, it's the Asian way. I'm transporting myself to Vietnam where I enjoyed the ultimate fried egg sandwich. Think of a crispy fried egg with a runny yolk laced with chilli-infused soy sauce (although as Mimi points out below, Maggi seasoning is more likely to be used in Vietnam) inside a light airy crusty roll. If a famous brand of Danish lager did sandwiches...

To cook a crispy fried egg, heat a frying pan with a generous amount of groundnut oil until it's very, very hot. Crack an egg into the pan and watch it crisp up. Turn down the heat and spoon hot oil over the top, or alternatively flip it over very briefly before removing from the pan. Of course you can season with salt and pepper, but a few chopped chillies in soy sauce will give it that taste of the east. Unfortunately, light airy Vietnamese rolls aren't readily available in the UK, but crusty bread rolls are a decent substitute. And there you have it, a PROPER fried egg sarnie.

20 comments:

  1. Oh - Vietnamese banh mi op la - love it! Though usually I think you'd use Maggi seasoning rather than soy sauce?

    I've always been partial to Dave Lister's sandwich of choice - the triple fried egg, chili, chutney sandwich ...

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  2. I'm totally with you on the crispy bottom! That, paired with a soft oozing yolk, is the point, surely?

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  3. I totally agree. A bit of tabasco if you don't have fresh chillies.

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  4. crispy fried egg, soft poached egg. soft fried eggs are confused.

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  5. This scares me. Crispy eggs and chilli. They've never heard of this in Ireland...

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  6. Mimi - good point re: Maggi. I will edit accordingly.

    Kavey - absolutely! Otherwise don't fry!

    Foodycat - good shout; Sriacha chilli sauce would work well, too.

    Shu Han - agreed. I like poached eggs, so why bother with fried eggs with soft white?

    Miss South - fight the fear! Now I know you live close to Kaosarn in Brixton Village so you should try their kao-pad kra-paw (minced pork, chilli, Thai basil, crispy fried egg on top of rice).

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  7. Crispy egg white edges make me shiver. I think it's they way they feel against your teeth. BOO!

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  8. Strangely I prefer them non-crispy in a British sandwich (soft bread, and if with bacon etc) but crispy with Asian food. Thai Aroy Dee in Leeds does them brilliantly, look at these bad boys: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JuLUnMKTRzU/UCqoZfi0z-I/AAAAAAAABqA/TtQBpn2FeTk/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG I always get one to stir through my rice there (with Sriracha or fish sauce/chillies).

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  9. Oh yes, crispy bottoms all the way!! :)

    Cold/flu or hangover cure of choice - plain white rice, crispy-bottomed fried egg, soy and sriracha. Instant cure.

    Ah, I've been away too long - glad to be back to your blog and reading some new posts!

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  10. If it's not crispy base, it's not a PROPER fried egg! Guardian should really go back to their drawing board and start again.

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  11. A bit like Dave, I think it depends on what they're with...they need to be crispy if eaten on their own or just with bacon, as otherwise you barely know you're eating one, but think of the pleasing contrast you get from crunchy toast and soft(ish) white.

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  12. Lizzie - I still can't believe you're anti-crispy...

    Dave - you're not the only one whose preference is context-based! And yes, the Thais are amazing when it comes to fried eggs. I love it in that dish I recommended to Miss South.

    Vicky - thanks. Rice and fried eggs is such a great combo!

    J - that Guardian article was a shocker.

    Katie - haha! There's quite a few of you who are context-dependent when it comes to fried eggs.

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  13. Love the crispy edges on the fried egg which is pretty much the key I think.

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  14. Weirdly... I've never cooked an egg like this before... But I tried it last night. It is not only very tasty - it's much easier to actually cook it.

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  15. The crispy edges are the best bit about a fried egg! Served on toasted sourdough bread. Will have to try it with chilli-infused soy sauce next time.

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  16. Cara - absolutely. Otherwise, just poach!

    Frank - it's the best way!

    SpicyPear - welcome! Sourdough is a good shout for the bread!

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  17. I love crispy bottomed egg, glad there are so many fans out there!

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  18. Becs - yeh! Although I never realised that fried egg crispiness was such a divisive issue. I just thought that fried eggs without a crispy bottom were a mistake; I didn't realise some people actually prefer it that way.

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  19. Arrrrr brings back sweetest memories of my grandma. Used to finish a full bowl of rice with 1 good egg:)

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    Replies
    1. Wings~* - hell yes, crispy fried egg on rice is just the business!

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