Lemon Dill Egg Salad

We've got no shortage of eggs here at the farm, so I thought I'd share a quick recipe that you can make in no time with few ingredients. It will work especially well if you've got a carton in the back of the fridge that's been sitting there for a week - older eggs tend to have larger pockets of air on the inside and are easier to peel after they're boiled. 

The only trick is cooking the eggs just right. I like Heidi Swanson's method best: cover the eggs with cold water, bring the pot to a gentle boil, cover and turn off the heat, let them sit for seven minutes. Depending on how soft or hard you like your eggs, you might consider setting the timer for eight minutes or just six. But I like medium-boiled eggs and seven minutes is just the ticket. 

To peel the eggs, I find it's best to tap an egg on the counter and lightly roll it around under your palm to create a web of cracks all around. Then start at the top of the egg (that's where you usually find the air-pocket) and use your thumb to peel off the shell and membrane. 

 

Lemon Dill Egg Salad

  • 8 eggs
  • 3 Tablespoons mayonaise
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill, crushed
  • the juice and zest of one small lemon 
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • parsley to garnish 
  • crusty bread to serve 

Place the eggs in a small saucepan and cover them with an inch of cold water. Bring to a boil; as soon as the water boils, cover the pot and turn off the heat. Set a timer for seven minutes.

After seven minutes, drain the eggs and run them under cold water until cooled. To peel, tap them on the counter to crack the egg in a few places, then lightly roll it between your palm and the counter to loosen it up.

In a small bowl, mix the mayo with the lemon zest, juice, dill, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over halved eggs, mix with diced eggs, or drizzle over diced eggs on sliced bread.