Since as long as I can remember, I haven’t liked eggs. As a child, I would turn my nose up at the slightly sulfuric smell of hard-boiled snacks, and then pawn them off on playground friends. I have fond memories of preparing deviled eggs with my grandmother for holiday meals, but I was drawn to their pretty appearance and the family tradition, and never ate them. Even as my tastes began to develop in culinary school, I continued to dislike the taste of eggy hollandaise sauce and egg-rich cakes.
A few months ago, all that changed in the dining room of Tim Raue’s lovely La Soupe Populaire. His version of the classic German dish senfeier— eggs in mustard sauce—was silky, smooth, and delicious. Most surprising was the fact, that even though the egg was poached and featured the kind of just-cooked-yolk I can usually only barely stomach, the dish had me actually wanting more.
With nice weather, I want something light and refreshing, and a springy sandwich with hard-boiled eggs comes to mind. The braised fennel here takes on brightness from lemon and adds sweetness to the sandwich. And the cucumber and pickled onion give that freshness I craved. For bread, I’ve used small slices from a fresh loaf of sourdough, but a French baguette or ciabatta would also work well. 
Egg, Braised Fennel & Pickled Onion Sandwiches
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2
- Diet: Omnivore, Gluten-Free
Description
A sophisticated twist on a classic egg sandwich. Light, bright, and perfect for a quick lunch.
Ingredients
- 1 small red onion
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 large fennel bulb, ferns roughly chopped and bulb cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 lemon
- Salt
- 1 cups (177 ml) water
- 8 small slices of sourdough bread, or 2 small baguettes, sliced in half
- 2 tbsp French mustard
- 2 eggs, hard-boiled and sliced thin
- 1/4 cup cucumber, sliced thin
Instructions
- Combine the red onion and apple cider vinegar in a small container. Cover and set aside.
- In a medium sauté pan over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onion, sauté for several minutes, then add the garlic. When the onion starts to turn translucent, add the fennel. Cook for several minutes, and add several large pieces of the lemon zest. Season with salt, add the water, reduce to simmer, and cover. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until the fennel is tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Smear half the sourdough pieces, or one side of the baguettes, with the mustard. Top with the fennel, cucumber slices, egg slices, fennel fronds, and some finely grated lemon zest. Spray a little lemon juice on top, season with salt, and top with mustard-covered bread.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use homemade mayonnaise instead of French mustard.
- If fennel bulb is large, consider adding another clove of garlic for better flavor balance.
- To prevent soggy bread, assemble sandwiches just before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 150
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I braise fennel so it is tender enough for a sandwich?
Halve or quarter the fennel bulb and cook it cut-side down in a pan with a little butter and broth over medium-low heat, covered, for about 15 to 20 minutes. It should be soft throughout and lightly caramelized on the cut side.
How far ahead can I make the pickled onions?
Pickled onions can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator in their brine. They taste best after at least 2 hours of pickling, so same-day prep works fine if you start early.
What style of egg works best in this sandwich, fried or scrambled?
A fried egg with a runny or jammy yolk works well since it adds richness that balances the acidity of the pickled onions. A soft-scrambled egg is a good alternative if you prefer something that stays in the sandwich when you bite into it.
