Alton Brown Raises The Bar On A Classic Egg Dish With A Little Bacon

Alton Brown, renowned for his innovative culinary techniques, elevates the classic egg dish with a subtle yet impactful twist by incorporating bacon. Known for his scientific approach to cooking, Brown enhances the traditional recipe, ensuring each ingredient complements the other, while adding a touch of smoky richness. The dish begins with high-quality eggs, cooked to perfection to achieve a delicate balance between flavor and texture. Brown's method ensures the eggs remain creamy and tender, avoiding the common pitfalls of overcooking. The inclusion of bacon introduces a savory depth, its crispiness providing a delightful contrast to the soft eggs. Brown suggests using thick-cut bacon, which offers a more robust flavor and a satisfying bite. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of rendering the bacon fat properly, allowing it to infuse the eggs subtly. This not only enhances the taste but also adds a layer of complexity to the dish. By carefully adjusting cooking techniques and ingredient ratios, Brown transforms a simple breakfast staple into a gourmet experience. His innovative approach encourages home cooks to experiment with flavors, demonstrating that even the most familiar dishes can become extraordinary with a little creativity and attention to detail.
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Tips for making bacon-boosted egg salad better

In his past cooking demonstrations, Alton Brown has suggested using fresh hard-boiled eggs (as seen on YouTube), although the term "hard-boiled" is somewhat misleading. He actually steams the eggs rather than boiling them. He places the eggs in a steam basket that sits in about an inch of water. Once the water begins to bubble, he covers the basket and cooks the eggs for 12 minutes. Afterward, he transfers them to an ice bath—essentially a bowl filled with ice and water—for five minutes.

Once they have cooled, the eggs should be easy to crack and ready to be sliced, then enhanced with plenty of bacon fat and small bits of crispy pork. Starting with high-quality ingredients, such as fresh eggs, typically yields better results. For this recipe, it's essential to use the freshest eggs, as they contain more moisture and have a more delicate membrane, resulting in softer eggs that are easier to peel.

Regarding the bacon, Brown suggests using four slices for the six eggs in his recipe. He cooks the bacon in a frying pan for 10 minutes, and he does blot some of the grease with paper towels. However, since bacon fat is a key component of his egg salad, he saves some of the grease in the pan to mix into the egg mixture later.

Ways to enjoy egg salad with bacon

On his Instagram account, the renowned chef suggested enhancing a slice of toast with his bacon and egg salad. For an extra burst of flavor, generously spread the toast with the finest butter you can find. This egg salad recipe is a perfect choice for breakfast, as it combines eggs, bacon, and toast all in one delicious bite. However, its versatility doesn't stop there. It would also be fantastic in a breakfast burrito filled with crispy potatoes, melted cheese, and roasted vegetables.

Naturally, it doesn't have to be limited to breakfast. With the rich array of flavors in this egg salad, it's worth trying it in bacon-and-egg-infused potato or tuna salads. The taste of both dishes truly comes alive when the savory umami of bacon and eggs is added to the mix.

Ultimately, this is such a delightful way to enjoy egg salad that no one would fault you for skipping the toast. Indulging in your own version of the celebrity chef's bacon and egg salad over a bed of lettuce as part of a homemade deli platter while the ingredients are still warm is highly encouraged!

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