Eggs are a wonder of the food world. It would be impossible to list the immense number of ways they are used but every world cuisine uses them. Wherever you are, whatever country you are in, no matter how weird the local food may seem, if you want something familiar, you can always ask for an egg. Served basically as fried, scrambled, boiled or poached, the king of food versatility is also used in more recipes than you could probably ever imagine. Cakes won’t work without them, custards aren’t custards without eggs, many staples such as pasta, noodles and pastry need eggs and many people think lunchtime isn’t complete without an egg salad sandwich.

One of the simplest ways to enjoy the fruit of the chicken is as egg salad. Everyone should know how to make egg salad at least – it’s simple, quick and healthy.

Firstly, here is a very, very easy egg salad recipe to add to your culinary repertoire:

Ingredients

Hard boiled eggs

Mayonnaise

Scallions (spring onions), chopped green parts

Salt and pepper

Allow 1 egg per person and about 1 heaped tablespoon to 2 eggs

• Mash up the eggs with the mayonnaise and season to taste. Serve in sandwiches or with leaves or even as a dip.

There is no reason that an egg salad needs to be that simple. You can jazz things up.

Here’s a fancy egg salad recipe where one of the recognised food marriages of eggs and bacon is given a different treatment.

4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled

1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped

1 tablespoon capers, finely chopped

1 large shallot, finely chopped

1 slice of crispy bacon, finely chopped

1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise

Salt and pepper

• Chop the peeled eggs
• Put into a bowl with the parsley, shallots, capers and bacon
• Season with salt and pepper
• Add the mayonnaise
• Mix well
• Cover and chill in the fridge

This tasty egg salad recipe can be served with bread and crackers or it’s great with some crispy hearts of romaine lettuce. It also makes a great buffet dish if you stuff it into lengths of celery stalk.

It’s also an egg salad recipe that can be varied according to taste and imagination. Try with different herbs, change the crispy bacon to pancetta or even try some really tiny cubes of chorizo or spicy sausage.

And finally, here is a classic egg salad sandwich recipe guaranteed to make a tasty lunchbox.

Ingredients

• 6 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 2 finely diced celery stalks, include the leaves
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• Salt and pepper
• ¹/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Mix all ingredients, refrigerate until ready for serving. When ready, butter 2 pieces of wholemeal or grained bread and add the egg salad. Lettuce/salad leaves can be used or slices of tomato or cucumber.