Egg salad served at restaurants is usually made with a simple base plus a few ingredients for flavor and texture.
Common ingredients include:
- Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- Mayonnaise
- Yellow or Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper
Many restaurants also add one or more of these:
- Finely diced celery (for crunch)
- Minced onion or green onion
- Sweet pickle relish or chopped dill pickles
- Fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or chives
- A pinch of paprika or cayenne
- A little lemon juice or vinegar for brightness
Some restaurants customize it by adding ingredients like:
- Bacon
- Avocado
- Curry powder
- Fresh tarragon
- Capers
A classic deli-style egg salad recipe is:
- 6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely diced celery
- 1 teaspoon finely minced onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill or chives
Mix gently and chill for 30 minutes before serving. It’s commonly served on sandwich bread, toast, croissants, lettuce wraps, or over a bed of greens.
