Spring Vegetable Salad With Poached Egg and Crispy Bread Crumbs Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated Apr. 16, 2019
spring salad with crispy egg
Photographs: J. Kenji López-Alt. Video: Serious Eats Video.

Why It Works

  • Blanching spring vegetables sets their color and texture so the salad is extra-sweet and crisp.
  • Bread crumbs toasted in butter add texture to a runny poached egg.

The other day I had a salad of spring vegetables served with a soft boiled egg that had been breaded and deep fried until the outside was crispy golden brown but the interior was still soft and runny. It was delicious, but definitely not a dish designed for cooking at home.

This quick, cheaty version of the dish made with toasted breadcrumbs comes with all of that great texture and flavor, but without the hassle.

1:11

How to Poach Eggs

Recipe Facts

5

(1)

Active: 30 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serves: 4 servings

Rate & Comment

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fava beans in their pods or 4 ounces shucked fava beans (120g shucked beans)
  • 12 ounces English peas in their pods or 4 ounces shucked peas (120g shucked peas)
  • Kosher salt
  • 8 ounces asparagus, woody ends removed, stalks cut on a sharp bias at 1-inch intervals pieces (225g)
  • 6 ounces snap peas, strings removed, sliced on a sharp bias into 1/2-inch slices (170g)
  • 8 ounces broccolini, woody ends removed, cut on a sharp bias at 1-inch intervals pieces (170g)
  • 6 ounces stale hearty bread, crusts removed (170g)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (25g)
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot, divided (about 1 small; 30g)
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) juice and 2 teaspoons (5g) zest from 1 lemon
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (45ml)
  • 4 poached eggs

Directions

  1. If using fava beans and peas in their pods, shuck the beans and peas from their pods, keeping them separate. Discard the pods. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare an ice bath. Working with one vegetable at a time, blanch the favas, peas, asparagus, snap peas, and broccolini in the boiling water for 1 minute, transfer to the ice bath to cool, then transfer to a paper towel-lined tray and pat dry. Remove and discard the skins from each individual fava bean. Set vegetables aside.

  2. Tear bread into small pieces and transfer to the bowl of a food processor, mini-chopper, or blender. Pulse until reduced to fine bread crumbs.

  3. Heat butter in a small skillet over medium heat until melted, then add bread crumbs and cook, stirring and tossing frequently, until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Add half of shallots and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat, add half of parsley and half of chives, and toss to combine. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper.

    breadcrumb mixture

  4. In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, and remaining shallot, parsley, and chives. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly. Add blanched vegetables, toss to combine, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide vegetables between four serving plates or bowls, making a small indentation to place the egg.

    spring salad

  5. Transfer poached eggs to skillet with bread crumbs and turn them carefully to coat in crumbs. Place eggs on top of salad and spoon any remaining crumbs on top. Serve immediately.

    eggs and breadcrumbs

Special equipment

Food processor or blender

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