Dainty Egg and Chive Tea Sandwiches for Tea-Time

French Tart's Note:

I am compiling a sandwiches cookbook, or sarnies as we call them in the UK, and here is my first recipe! Sandwiches come in many guises, from simple and elegant to hearty and robust; in my cookbook I aim to have them ALL in there! Sandwiches tick all the boxes for so many meals and events: the obvious high teatime table, cricket teas, picnics, packed lunches and quick snacks. These sandwiches are dainty and elegant and would be ideal for the teatime table. The use of fresh chives gives them a bit of a lift and you must try to use the salad cream as well as the mayonnaise; salad cream has a pronounced vinegary flavour which cuts through the richness of the mayonnaise and eggs.

• Total Time: 11 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 6 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0 Rounds ...

• 4 medium free range eggs
• 1 tablespoon salad cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
• 8 slices thin sliced brown bread
• butter , softened, for spreading
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Place the eggs in a small pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 6 minutes. Drain and run the eggs under cold water until cool.
2. Peel and then coarsely grate or crumble the eggs into a bowl. Mix with the salad cream, mayonnaise and chives and season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cut off the bread crusts with a serrated knife - put them to one side for home-made breadcrumbs.
4. Butter the bread and divide the egg mixture between 4 bread slices. Top with the remaining bread. Stack 2 sandwiches together and cut into 3 fingers, then serve.
5. Cook's tips: Pierce the rounded end of each egg with a pin before cooking to help stop the shell from cracking.
6. Cooling the eggs under cold water stops them from cooking further and prevents a dark ring forming around the yolk.
7. For easy peeling, peel the eggs under cold running water over a colander to collect all the bits of shell. The water stops the shell from sticking to your fingers and the egg.

Reviews

[Caroline Cooks]

I need 10 stars for this one!! Love the chives in this delicious recipe. Really gives it a nice taste. I made a day ahead to meld the flavors!! Used pumpernickel bread, sliced as thin as possible. Made for the Scottish leg of the GB Forum's Tour of the Isles.

[Sharon123]

I halved the recipe and used fresh chives from the garden. I placed on dark pumpernickel bread for a delicious sandwich. Thanks Karen! Thank you for hosting Everyday is a Holiday!

[kittycatmom]

My 4yr old niece and I had a lunch date over the weekend. So along with 2 of her favorite teddy bears, we had a lovely tea party! Delicious sandwiches FT! I love the addition of salad cream - not usual fair in American egg salad, but we both really enjoyed it! Made for *Everyday is a Holiday Tag - Thank you to FT*