Crispy Fried Sourdough with Bacon, Egg & Cheddar Salad

Crispy pan-fried sourdough topped with a chunky, creamy egg salad loaded with mature Cheddar, smoky bacon and fresh spring onions, finished with paprika and black pepper.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Lower in the eggs and cook for 9 minutes. Transfer immediately to cold water, then peel once cool enough to handle. You want fully set whites and yolks that are cooked through but still rich rather than chalky.

Step 2

Cut the bacon into small pieces and place in a cold frying pan. Cook over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon but keep the rendered fat in the pan. That fat is going to make the bread much better.

Step 3

In a bowl mix: mayonnaise sour cream Dijon lemon juice or vinegar smoked paprika plenty of black pepper Taste before adding salt because the bacon and cheese are already salty.

Step 4

Roughly chop the boiled eggs rather than mashing them. Fold them into the dressing with: grated Cheddar about three-quarters of the bacon most of the spring onions Mix gently. The finished topping should be chunky and fairly thick, not wet like sandwich-shop egg mayonnaise. If it seems too stiff, add another teaspoon of mayo or sour cream.

Step 5

Return the bacon pan to medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the bacon fat. Fry the sourdough for around 2–3 minutes per side, pressing it gently against the pan, until deeply golden and crisp. You want the outside crunchy while the centre retains a little chew. For extra flavour, rub each hot slice very lightly with a cut garlic clove.

Step 6

Put the hot fried bread onto plates. Pile a generous amount of the egg, Cheddar and bacon salad onto each slice. Finish with: reserved crispy bacon spring onions black pepper tiny dusting of smoked paprika I’d also add just a few drops of hot sauce or a pinch of chilli flakes. It cuts through the egg, bacon and cheese without turning this into a spicy dish.