Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Why is Japanese egg sandwich so good? ›

What makes this sandwich so unique is the type of bread used. It is not ordinary sliced white bread! Traditionally, Japanese milk bread is used which is a super soft melt-in-your-mouth white bread. The slices are also a bit thicker because of how fluffy they are compared to normal white bread.

White Bread: White bread is a classic choice for egg salad sandwiches because it has a mild flavor that allows the flavors of the eggs and other ingredients to shine. It is also soft and tender, making it a good option for those who prefer a softer texture.

Even the late Anthony Bourdain enjoyed what's better known as a Tamago Sando so much that he dubbed it “insanely delicious and incongruously addictive” in an episode of Parts Unknown. But aren't we talking about just a sandwich here? Boiled egg, mayonnaise, and some butter smashed between two pieces of white bread?

Hearing the reactions inspired me to create a recipe using Kewpie mayo that almost everyone* could enjoy: a grilled cheese sandwich.

Japanese eggs typically have an expiration date of two weeks. This means that they can safely be eaten raw for two weeks, and still eaten if thoroughly cooked after the two weeks. This is unlike other countries, which indicate an expiration date based on the assumption that the eggs are not eaten raw.

Apart from other health benefits, recent research studies on the effects of eggs on our health show that they can also support weight reduction. A boiled egg sandwich is a highly proteinaceous diet that assists in metabolism enhancement. Its thermic effects help your body digest and process all the nutrients faster.

Mayonnaise, hot sauce, mustard, cheese spread, chutney or even pesto will work great as a sandwich spread.

How to prevent egg salad sandwich from getting soggy. You can avoid soggy sandwiches by using lettuce leaves as a barrier between the bread and the egg salad, reducing the amount of mayo used to make the salad, or swapping the airy sandwich bread for a bread roll sandwich or a tortilla to make an egg salad wrap.

Even the late, great food critic Anthony Bourdain (RIP) was a fan and documented his love of the Lawson egg sandwich in the Okinawa edition of 'Parts Unknown'.

One fried egg, two slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a grilled brioche bun.

What is a Charlie Brown sandwich? ›

House-made peanut butter, Cheddar cheese and brisket. Topped with bacon. On a roll.

Add sugar and rice vinegar in a pinch to make Kewpie mayo with regular mayo. It will not be the same as it lacks the rich egg yolk flavors, but this is the closest substitution. For 1 cup of American mayonnaise (I use Best Foods/Hellmann's Mayonnaise), add 2 Tbsp rice vinegar and 1 Tbsp sugar.

It's not just foreign foods that typically have mayonnaise in them, like sandwiches or potato salads; even traditionally Japanese foods aren't spared. Mayonnaise is definitely a familiar ingredient to most people, but its use in Japanese cuisine is a little different than you might be used to.

MSG brings umami, that fabulous savory fifth taste, to the mayo party in a way that no other store-bought mayonnaise can touch. It is why you will see chefs like Stephanie Izard unapologetically squirting it over her dishes at her award-winning restaurants and on her cooking at home social media videos.

Japanese Eggs That Are Safe to Eat Raw

In other countries, eating eggs without cooking them is considered a bad idea, because of the risk of salmonella infection or other bacteria. In Japan, eggs are specially checked to make sure that they are safe to eat raw.

The Irresistible Appeal of the Tamago (Egg) Sandwich

The same survey revealed that the most popular sandwich filling in Japan is egg, with one in four respondents naming it as their favorite. The delicate balance of the fluffy bread and egg salad creates an irresistible combination that appeals to many.

It's slightly more sweet and less acidic than American mayo because it contains rice or cider vinegar rather than distilled white vinegar. Japanese mayo is also a bit richer due to the incorporation of egg yolks, unlike American mayo which uses whole eggs.