Where were these glorious sandwiches when I was growing up? Apparently, I was born into the wrong Irish family.
My paternal grandmother was a proud Irish-Canadian woman, so naturally I have questions. Like: why was fed cucumber sandwiches made with Miracle Whip when this spectacular sandwich exists, and it’s part of my own cultural heritage? What a rip-off.
Of course, I jest. Kind of.
The Egg Salad I Never Knew
I became captivated by Irish Egg Salad the minute I stumbled across it online. Then I went down the rabbit hole. (It’s fair to say I watch more food content than your average bear, amiright?! But still.) I must have watched 40 recipes, because apparently everyone has their own version — which, frankly, is exactly how a good sandwich should be.
This is a proper egg salad spread: everything is chopped and held together with mayonnaise, making it creamy, savoury and completely scoopable between two slices of soft white bread.
Wait. Irish Ham? Oh, Hell Ya.
And then there is the ham. Have you ever had Irish ham? Imagine my surprise when I found it at my local, tiny, North Vancouver Island grocer. Mind blowing.
What makes it different? Irish ham is wet-cured in a liquid brine and uniquely smoked over smoldering peat moss or juniper wood instead of being dry-cured. That brings a gentle earthy smokiness, while sharp Irish cheddar (yes, I went Kerrigold), dill pickles and tomato give the whole thing that salty, tangy, cheesy combination.
Honestly? It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a sandwich.
The Irish Funeral Sandwich
Egg salad sandwiches have a long association with gatherings and occasions in Ireland, including wakes and funerals, where simple sandwiches are part of the food offered to family and friends.
Food doesn’t fix grief, but feeding people is one of the oldest ways we have of caring for them. A sandwich is humble, practical and comforting. It can be made in quantity, passed around easily and eaten whenever someone remembers that they haven’t eaten all day.
I’m behind any sandwich that helps you move through loss.
Why There Are So Many Versions
After watching what felt like an entire internet’s worth of Irish egg salad recipes, one thing becomes very clear: there is no single universal formula.
Some versions are very simple. Just egg, ham and tomato. Others add ham, cheese, pickles, tomato or lettuce. The proportions vary, too.
That’s part of the charm. This is the kind of recipe that gets passed down and adapted to what’s available and quietly becomes someone’s version of the family favourite.
For God’s sake, If this is your Nan’s famous sandwich I want to hear from you. Please. Tell me her secrets. Tell me your secrets. Tell me if I got it right, and what I got wrong if I missed the mark.
Mine contains ham, cheddar and pickles — because that’s what the part Irish-Canadian child in me wanted. Badly.
Why I Love It
Egg salad is one of those foods where everybody seems to have an opinion. Chunky eggs. Smooth eggs. Lots of mayo. Barely any mayo. Mustard. No mustard. Pickles. No pickles.
Irish egg salad takes a wonderfully unstuctured approach: chop everything, mix it together and make a sandwich.
The combination of smoky ham, sharp cheddar and dill pickles is particularly good. The tomato adds freshness, while chopped butter lettuce gives the sandwich a little crunch without getting in the way of the creamy filling.
And the bread matters. This is not the moment for a crusty artisan loaf that requires two hands and a structural engineer. Irish Egg Salad wants soft white bread, lightly buttered, because the filling is the star.
Seriously glorious.
Print
Irish Egg Salad Sandwich
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
Description
Irish Egg Salad Sandwich made with eggs, Irish ham, sharp cheddar, dill pickles, tomato and mayonnaise on soft buttered white bread. Creamy, savoury and comforting. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a sandwich.
Ingredients
Irish Egg Salad
- 6 large eggs
- 4 ounces Irish ham, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely chopped or grated
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup seeded, finely chopped tomato
- 1/2 cup finely chopped butter lettuce
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise, plus more if needed
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Sandwiches
- Soft white sandwich bread
- Softened butter
Instructions
Cook and Chop the Eggs
- Hard-cook the eggs using your preferred method. For easy-to-peel eggs, I recommend steaming them for 12–13 minutes, followed by an ice bath.
- Peel and cool the eggs completely.
- Chop the eggs. I like chunky, but small enough to make a cohesive spread.
Make the Filling
- Chop your Irish ham, cheddar, onion, de-seeded tomato, butter lettuce and dill pickles and add them to a large bowl.
- Add the mayonnaise and gently mix until everything is evenly coated and the mixture holds together as a spread. Don’t be shy with your mayo. This is your sandwich glue.
- Season with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
- Taste and adjust the mayonnaise or seasoning as needed.
Build the Sandwich
- Spread softened butter over one side of each slice of soft white bread.
- Add a generous layer of Irish Egg Salad.
- Top with another slice of bread.
- Cut into halves or quarters and serve.
Notes
For the classic soft-sandwich experience, don’t over-complicate it. This is humble food.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Boiling, Chopping
- Cuisine: Irish
