Saturday Breakfast and Brunch Memories: Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket” (Egg in a Hole)
Saturday Breakfast and Brunch Memories:
Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket”
(Egg in a Hole)
Me! Christmas 1962, Shatin, Hong Kong
Saturday and Sunday mornings used to be a treat for me when I was little; when we lived in Shatin (Hong Kong), every weekend, if my dad wasn’t working, we would get up late and have breakfast together. Sitting at the dining room table with a magnificent view over Shatin valley with its flame trees and lush greenery, mum used to make us a taste of home……..toasted bacon sandwiches with Worcestershire sauce. Piles and piles of hot buttered toast were placed on a plate in the middle of the table, she would then “ferry” over hot, crispy fried bacon and I was allowed to “make” my own bacon butty – placing the slices of bacon between toast with a generous splash of Worcestershire sauce over the top, the sandwich was then eaten with pure enjoyment…….hot butter streaming down my fingers. Those humble sandwiches were (and still are) the best breakfast (or brunch) that I have ever eaten. I have no photos of me with a bacon butty “in hand”, but the photo above was taken from that era, and shows me on Christmas day in 1962 with a little round Doll’s House that my mum made out of a cake box, with cotton wool for a snowy roof no less! That photo really brings home to me just how spoilt we have all become – there was no expensive electronic toys or “X Box” games, just a Christmas stocking, lots of books and that magical home-made cake box Doll’s House, a treasured and much-loved toy that I had for many years.
Saturday Breakfast and Brunch Memories: Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket” (Egg in a Hole)
Those childhood memories of special family breakfasts have never left me, and even today, I think that breakfast has to be most favourite meal of the day, and toasted bacon sandwiches are up there with smoked salmon, a good cheese board, home-baked bread and wine. So, when I was looking for a special (but easy) breakfast recipe to make for a leisurely weekend treat recently, I was rather intrigued by a friend’s recipe for “egg in a hole” but notched up several levels and served Scandinavian style with smoked salmon, capers and crème fraiche. As usual, I adapted to recipe to what I had in the pantry and vegetable basket, and used shallots in place of onions and garnished it with fresh dill tips. Using thick slices of home-baked bread and some superb Scottish smoked salmon, this dish was truly a dish fit for a king, and we both enjoyed it with a big pot of tea and some fresh orange juice.
Frying the egg in a basket or egg in a hole WITH the holes!
So, for today’s’ recipe, I would like to share my version of Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket” (Egg in a Hole) – not a toasted bacon butty, and nary a splash of Worcestershire sauce in sight, but made in the same spirit of those weekend family breakfasts many years ago, and with a view of a verdant spring garden in SW France in place of Amah Rock and Shatin Valley. They say that it is better to travel than to arrive, and it seems I have been travelling all my life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way and my life has been enhanced and enriched by all the places I have lived and the people I have met……..Shatin has changed a lot since I was last there in the 80’s, and it is unrecognisable from the Shatin I knew and loved in the 60’s, but some things never change – family, good food and friends, so I’m raising my mug of tea this Saturday morning to my mum and dad, and for those delicious toasted bacon butties of my youth!
Old Shatin Left and Middle, 1960’s and New Shatin today
Have a wonderful weekend and may it be filled with all the breakfasts and brunches you can fit in and enjoy! See you next week, Karen
Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket” (Egg in a Hole)
Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket” (Egg in a Hole)
Print recipe
| Serves | 2 |
| Prep time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | 8 minutes |
| Total time | 13 minutes |
| Allergy | Fish, Wheat |
| Meal type | Bread, Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Starter |
| Misc | Gourmet, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentines day |
| Region | European |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 2 thick slices of rustic bread
- 25g butter
- 2 large free-range eggs
- 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
- 4 generous slices of smoked salmon (Scottish smoked salmon is best)
- 2 teaspoons of capers (drained)
- 1 pink shallot, peeled and finely diced
- white pepper
- fresh dill (to garnish)
Note
A luxurious breakfast, brunch or snack recipe for egg in a hole, or egg in a basket as I call it; this recipe notches up the taste by adding smoked salmon, capers, shallots, crème fraiche and dill for a Scandinavian inspired dish that is sure to please all the family. (This recipe was adapted from a friend's recipe for egg in a hole with smoked salmon)
Directions
| Step 1 | Using a biscuit/cookie cutter, cut a circle out of the middle of the two slices of bread. |
| Step 2 | Melt the butter in a large non-stick frying pan that is big enough to take both slices of bread and the "holes" from the middle of the bread. |
| Step 3 | Fry the bread for 2 to 3 minutes before turning it over and cracking open the eggs into the holes in the middle of the bread. Fry over a gentle heat for another 2 to 3 minutes - turning the bread and eggs over half way through, so the egg whites are set and the bread is golden brown. (Also fry the centre discs of bread at the same time, turning them over half way until they are golden brown.) |
| Step 4 | Place the "eggs in a basket" on warm plates and divide the smoked salmon, crème fraiche, capers and the chopped shallots over the top, before garnishing with dill and seasoning with pepper. Sit the fried "holes" on top to one side, as seen in the photo. |
| Step 5 | NB: In place of smoked salmon, crispy fried bacon can be added with grilled mushrooms and tomatoes - garnish with fresh parsley. |
Smoked Salmon “Egg in a Basket” (Egg in a Hole)
Painting at my desk in Hong Kong 1961- 1962
Smoked Salmon Egg in a Basket
More Hong Kong Memories:
An Old Flask and Childhood Memories: Cheese, Onion and Potato Pasties Recipe
Cheese, Onion and Potato Pasties Recipe
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Minced Beef and Mint Kheema
Memories of Hong Kong and Chinese New Year: Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps Recipe
Chinese Chicken Egg Roll Wraps (225 calories)
Vintage Ice Cream Parlours, Ice Cream Vans and Shatin Heights Hotel Ice Cream Soda! (5:2 Recipe)
Shatin Heights Hotel Ice Cream Soda
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Oh, look at you! How sweet! Lovely post Karen xox
Karen says
Thanks Lizzy! I was sweet once! LOL!
Tracy Nixon says
Lovely! Shared via G+ thank you!
Karen says
Thanks Tracy!
Dom says
Oh my god Karen, we watched V for Vendetta last night and the hero makes ‘egg in the hole’ in the film and we were just saying how lovely it looks. It’s a sign that I must make it. Your story is so lovely and the salmon and eggy bread is divine!!
Karen says
How weird is that Dom! I LOVE that film too and I DO remember he makes her that for breakfast, spooky!
London Unattached Lifestyle and Travel says
Now you know they make something just like this at the Troubadour. I have a feeling it’s called ‘Lady Muck’ – we can check on Monday!
Karen says
JUST checked the menu, and there is a Lady Muck as you say, with eggs and smoked salmon on a muffin!
MB says
Karen, it seems we are thinking the same way this month… I was just reminiscing about my childhood yesterday as well (but with empanadas 🙂 I adore this post – especially the photo, and once again am so glad I found your blog…
Karen says
THANKS so much Manion, the pleasure is also mine too, and as you will know by now, I have been over to see you at Brown Sugar and Bourbon!
What Kate Baked says
I completely agree about breakfast being the best meal of the day. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an early bird, that I love the “promise” of mornings and what the day will bring or because a lazy, leisurely brunch is just the best!
Karen says
I am an early bird too Kate and always look forward to the day ahead!
Elmarie says
What a great read! My very first cookbook for children had the egg in the hole recipe and that was the very first thing I made. It was an illustrated step by step book and I spent hours over thise pictures. Thank you for this!
Karen says
Oh I BET that was a lovely book – do you still have it Elmarie?
Choclette says
Oh such a cutie Karen – love those old photos and you are so right. I had a really happy childhood, but virtually no toys, just a few books, a pack of playing cards and lots of space outside to make mud pies and build dens. Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day too – or at least it is when we’re away or I’ve got a bit of time in the morning. We used to have a friend here who loved breakfast and was always inviting us over for porridge and homemade toast and marmalade. Very sadly, they moved away 🙁
Karen says
I often think that we have too much now Choclette and we are NO happier for it! I loved my books and still do, they meant more than any toys.
Louisa Foti says
Super-cute pics of you Karen, and you were blonde! It’s lovely how food can be so evocative isn’t it and it’s usually the simpler things we remember so well. I’m guessing bacon in Hong Kong must have been a really special treat back then. Love your recipe for smoked salmon egg in a basket, eggs and smoked salmon together are without fail my favourite breakie!
Karen says
Yes, I was blonde until I was about 5 or 6 and then I went in to have a hair cut and came out brunette! All my baby blonde was cut off!
Deena Kakaya says
You still have the same smile Karen, that is so charming. I haven’t had egg in s hole or cream soda in so long, I love these ideas and your post is so lovely xx
Karen says
Thanks Deena! 🙂 Here’s smiling at you again now! 🙂 🙂
Sylvia says
I’m going to try it tomorrow for breakfast, looks perfect to me! Completely agree with you about not having expensive toys! I never had those electronic crapies like xbox or wii and I was a very happy child, running around the garden with friends from early morning till the last cartoon played in telly around 7pm 😉 What a times!
Karen says
Snap! We have too much nowadays Sylvia and it’s not a good thing I think……Karen
Tracy Nixon says
Shared via Facebook x
Karen says
Thanks Tracy! 🙂
Tina @ The Spicy Pear says
What a lovely picture of you. Egg in a hole is such a novel way of making breakfast, will definitely try it with the smoked salmon.
Karen says
Thanks Tina! Not good photos as age has got to them, but very nostalgic!
The Kitchenmaid says
So cute! My family lived in Hong Kong in the late 60s/early 70s (before I turned up!) and they all look back on it as a halcyon period. Gorgeous eggs too!
Karen says
They were the Halcyon days of HK Lucy and I miss them a lot!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
What a lovely post 🙂
Smoked salmon and eggs are a great breakfast combination too.
Karen says
Thanks Dannii! I love smoked salmon and eggs as a combo too!
Tracy Nixon says
Shared on Facebook today!
Karen says
Thanks Tracy!
Chloe King says
Lovely post Karen. I’m so pleased to find another Worcestershire sauce fan, I can’t eat a cooked breakfast without it but my friends always order ketchup instead, very strange 🙂
This recipe looks delicious also, beautifully photographed as usual! xx
Karen says
Thanks Chloe! I am a HUGE Worcestershire sauce fan and especially on bacon butties and I cannot understand the tomato ketchup brigade either!
laurasmess says
You were so cute. I love old photographs… I was showing my husabnd some of my own baby pictures the other day. It really does make you wonder where the time went! Love the look of this ‘eggy bread’ recipe too, I’ve made this at home once but your version looks entirely more refined! Love the caper and shallot topping. I imagine it would go brilliantly with that delicious smoked salmon and the runny egg! x
michele says
Looks so tasty I’ll have try it
Helen says
Oooh these look divine! My little girl is a big fan of ‘flower toast’ aka egg in the basket, and LOVES smoked salmon. What a great idea to combine the two. I can see a special weekend brunch appearing before my very eyes 🙂
Thanks! H x.
Alisa F. says
That is the most delicious-looking egg in a basket I’ve ever seen! What type of bread did you use for the one in the photos? The texture looks nice and dense.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Alisa
Thanks! I used homemade white bread that was cut quite thickly!
Karen