mom’s egg salad
I thought about naming this recipe something like “Smoked Paprika Egg Salad,” or “Simple Egg Salad with Chives.” You know, something unique-ish and impersonal and potentially more SEO-friendly, blech.
But that wouldn’t do this recipe justice, because the truth is that it is my mom’s egg salad recipe. And I think that title alone speaks volumes.
Between my mother’s recipes, my grandmother’s recipes and even my great-grandmother’s recipes (which are currently a mishmash of half-German, half-English chicken scratch on a handful of torn-out notepad pages that my family members are trying to translate into a cookbook to share with everyone, which I so hope works out because I reallllly miss her Black Forest cherry cake), I could fill this blog with posts until the end of time, no joke. It’s funny, because I never thought I grew up in a particularly culinary family — and in the classical sense, I didn’t. But I most definitely grew up around good food: food that has created memories and has withstood the test of time.
Like my Oma’s aforementioned Black Forest cherry cake that she would make for holidays, and my grandfather would always steal a maraschino cherry off the top before she’d serve it so it always looked a little funny once it made it to the table for dessert. Or my grandma’s boiled beef, which I admit is the worst name in the world but it is truly some of the most tender and delicious meat I’ve ever eaten and probably ever will eat and it never goes to waste at our family dinners. Or my dad’s chili — which, as you already know, is so good it has the potential of creating a booming business.
And of course, there’s my mama’s egg salad. It’s so simple, and yet it’s one of my favorite things that she makes.
I’m not even sure I liked egg salad all my life. I really only remember eating it when I was older and was perhaps more appreciative of the fact that egg salad, while easy to assemble, takes a little more love and effort than does, say, a deli sandwich. In any case, I don’t have anything but fond memories of the stuff. It’s made with basic ingredients like mustard, mayo, salt, garlic powder and paprika (my fave spice EVER, in case you were curious), and it tastes awfully similar to my mom’s deviled eggs, which also never last long when they make an appearance at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Of course in true food blogger fashion, I swapped the paprika for smoked paprika, served it open-face on whole grain bread and topped it with chopped chives and ground pepper. But even with the added fanfare, it’s the basic part of the recipe that really shines through — a true indication, in my opinion, of a recipe that will keep up for years and years. And it’s especially an indication of a recipe worth sharing.
So, here you go friends — my mom’s egg salad. I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we do.
Mom’s Egg Salad
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 8 eggs
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- Dash garlic powder
- Dash salt
- Dash smoked (or regular) paprika
- Chopped chives and ground pepper, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Place eggs in a large saucepan; add just enough water to the pan so eggs are completely submerged. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, cover pan and remove from heat. Let eggs sit 12 minutes in pan, then drain and run under cool water.
- Peel eggs, then chop. Transfer chopped eggs to a large bowl.
- Stir in mayonnaise and mustard; taste, and add more mayo or mustard depending on your preference, if necessary. Add a dash of garlic powder, salt and paprika and stir to combine; taste and adjust seasonings to your preference. Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Serve on bread, toasted or untoasted, with chopped chives and ground pepper on top, if desired.
Yummy! Mom recipes are the best, aren’t they? Can’t wait to get my hands on that bread recipe too! 🙂
I could eat egg salad every day…maybe that’s weird, but I looooove it! Love this!
Me too!,,
Looks perfect, but really all “Mom’s” recipes always are. Nothing beat um!
I love that this is your moms recipe! And I am waaaaay overdue for an egg salad sandwich!
Marie — The best! And yes, I can’t wait to share the bread recipe, yay! 🙂
Katrina — Nope, not weird, I totally could too. 🙂
Tieghan — So true. Thanks, friend!
Ashley — I totally was, too, and now I think I might eating them for lunch every day for the next year to make up for lost time. 😉 Thanks, lady!
Erika — Thanks! It’s too good to keep a secret in the family. 😉
Lauren — Indeed. It’s like yummy food with a side of mom comfort. 🙂 Thanks lady!
I grew up on egg salad.. love that you’re sharing your Mom’s recipe.. so sweet.
Anna — Thanks, friend! So glad you agree 🙂
Belinda — Thanks, dear! Hope you’re well. xo
Amanda — Oh, thank you! It’s a work in progress, that’s for sure. 🙂
I’m glad you went with Mom’s Egg Salad!!! I haven’t had this type of salad in FOREVER and that is going to change soon.
Totally making this for lunch this week! I adore egg sandwiches, but when it’s a special recipe from mom, it makes the world a better place:)
I’d pick a post titled “mom’s egg salad” over that SEO-stuff any day. This is where it’s at!
I will take your mom’s egg salad over any SEO friendly recipe any day! Looks unbelievably creamy and flavorsome.
Great work on these photos! White on white can be so tricky, something I’m still trying to master. And I love passed down recipes. So comforting. xo
I have to admit that I detested egg salad when I was younger, but have really come to appreciate it as I’ve gotten older. I really like that your mom’s recipe is light on the mayo, as I’m not a huge fan of the stuff. I like to taste the eggs, not just the mayo. Now you’ve got me craving an egg salad sammy!
Oh my. You’ve just reminded me how long it’s been since I last had egg salad. Looks wonderful!
So simple, so delicious. And such a great story about your family traditions 🙂
I can’t even remember the last time I had egg salad – it’s been so long! That needs to change. And I love that you used smoked paprika – I am seriously obsessed with it! I think I like it too much : )
I think the recipe name you chose says it all! And…now I’m craving egg salad.
Huge fan of your momma’s egg salad recipe!! It looks so tasty! And on top of that open-face bread?? Hoooooly moly! Can’t wait to get the bread recipe from your upcoming ebook and make every sando ever!!
You always make me smile and cry at the same time. How do you do that? 😉
Meagan — Thanks! Hope you love it! 🙂
Amanda — Oh, same — too much mayo is not for me. This has a good mayo: mustard ratio, though, which I love. Hope you get an egg salad sammie in your life soon! 😉
Sasha — Thanks so much!
DessertForTwo — Thanks, lady. 🙂
Ashley — It’s my FAVORITE spice — like it too much? Impossible. 😉
Julie — It has that effect on people (read: me) ;).
Julia — Hip hip for all the sandos! 😉
Mom — It’s a family trait. 😉 xoxo
Mom’s always have the best recipes. I call up mine in Africa for directions all the time when I make our traditional dishes but it never just tastes right. I love egg salad and it’s always perfect on toast. Simple easy fulfilling lunch always.
Family recipes are the best. Your grandfather sounds like a wise man, stealing the cherry. This egg salad looks wonderful. I love that you used smoked paprika. Pinned!
Zainab — They totally do have the best recipes. 🙂 Thanks, friend!
Jennie — Ha! He was very wise. 😉 Thanks so much for pinning, friend!
I’m so hungry looking at this. Egg salad is one of my FAVORITES! Recipes from moms are the best 🙂
Family recipes are the best! Now I want egg salad for lunch! 🙂 Oh, and can’t wait to see your e-book so I can get the recipe for the bread!
This is my favorite kind of food — you’ve really reminded me how beautiful and satisfying humble egg salad can be. I love the photos!
Julie — Mom recipes are TOTALLY the best. 🙂 Thanks!
Jessica — I want it for lunch, too (it’s already gone, thanks husband ;)). Thanks, friend — the ebook is coming soon! 🙂
Egg salad sandwiches always make me happy…. yours looks and sounds fantastic!
Sue — Sometimes that humble food is the best food. 🙂 Thanks!
Pam — Thanks so much!
An egg salad sandwich is at the top of my favorite sandwiches list. Something about the tangy mustard, mayo and creamy egg yolks just makes me happy. Your mom’s version looks like perfection. 🙂
This looks so incredibly scrumptious! Such great pictures 🙂 You have now created in me a void that can only be filled with egg salad. Can’t wait to fill it with this stuff!
Nicole — Yes, all of those things make me happy, too. 🙂
Cassandra — Thank you!
i have made egg salad countless times. This looks so good, I am craving some egg salad right now!
This sounds DELIGHTFUL! Maybe I’ll make some tonight!
I’ve been thinking of you lately. Hope everything is going well. 15 ABOVE zero today! Makes Spring seem a bit more possible!
Everybody loves egg salad, especially when it comes from Mom.
This is perfection. Love the simple family recipes! Want to chill with you and your mom and this sammich.
ATasteofMadness — Thanks so much! It’ll be made a lot more often in our house now, too, for sure.
Tiff — Thanks, dear! And yes, it was in the 20s here yesterday and I was almost warm in my coat, haha. 🙂 Spring is coming!
Gerlinde — Truth. 🙂
Stephie — I think that should be arranged. Momma Swope should come, too. 🙂
Looks great! I hope you figure out your grandmothers black forest cake and share it on your blog. It’s one of my favorite cakes!
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I feel like I had a lot of mildly traumatic egg salad experiences when I was younger..ones with a very high mayo:egg ratio. Blech. But I think your mom’s version could make up for all of those in just one bite!
Laura — Oh, I definitely will. 🙂
Joanne — Oh yes, I had the same experiences, which is why I basically eat this egg salad and only this egg salad. I like to eat my egg salad with mayo, not my mayo sandwich with eggs. 😉
Lovely. Those family recipes are treasures, whether they’re fancy or not. I hope you guys are able to figure out what your great grandma wrote down on those recipe cards. She probably had it more in her mind than written down. Good luck!
Love the name you chose, mom’s recipes are always the best 🙂 I love egg salad and I’ll bet it tastes incredible on that whole grain bread – can’t wait to see the recipe for that:)
In true food blogger fashion, I think smoked paprika is good on pretty much anything 🙂 But, I do think it’s really something special on eggs!
We love egg salad in our house! I’ve never put garlic powder in mine – definitely trying this recipe next time!
Sounds divine. I love egg salad. As a European, may I just check if the yellow mustard is the mild type like French’s or a more pungent English type?
Noeni — It’s the French’s bright-yellow variety, but other types of mustards would work well, too!
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How long will it keep in the ‘fridge?
My mom would pack egg salad sandwiches for me often when I was a kid. I need to make this soon!
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This has been my go-to recipe for years! It’s delicious, simple, and a hit with the whole family, including my kids (12,8, and 3). My three year old daughter makes it with me by cutting the eggs and mixing the ingredients.
★★★★★
Stephanie, Thank you so much! That means so much to me (and my mom will be so happy to know this, too :)). Love that your little one helps you out, too!
Potato salad on bread? Interesting. I have never eaten it like that before. It’s usually served as a side dish with chicken and rice. 🙂
My friend put dill pickle juice in a potato salad I made the other day. Gave it a nice kick.
Thanks for the recipe.