Earlier in the week, my hubs and I lamented over England’s loss to Croatia in the World Cup semi-final. Instead of drowning our sorrows in the decidedly unhealthy chip butty (sandwich stuffed with fries), we opted for a healthy-ish British comfort food — boiled eggs and soldiers.
The important part is getting the boiled eggs just right so that you end up with gooey, runny yolk perfect for dipping soldiers (sliced toasts). As I typically boil 6 eggs (2 per person), the boiling time of large brown eggs clocks in at 6 minutes. If the eggs are left too long in the boiling water, they go hard. It’s best to be precise in timing your boiled eggs to get dippy yolk.
In scouring recipes online, I’ve seen a range of 5-7 minutes for boiling time depending on the number and size of eggs. Trial and error may be a factor in getting the eggs the way you want them.
A British term that refers to a piece of toast cut into thin strips reminiscent of the formation of soldiers on parade. The toast is sliced in this manner so that it can be dipped into the opening of a soft boiled egg that has had the top of its shell removed.
Alternative to boiling eggs in a saucepan
One of the genius inventions that has helped us perfect the boiled egg is an Amazon best seller called the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, which is currently available for $19.99 ($29.99 list price).
Really Short History
Always curious about the origins of food, I inquired about the history of boiled eggs and soldiers, only to find that it has a short story. The mentions of “eggs with soldiers” only dates back to the flower power loving ’60s.
The dish may have become dishy during a series of 1965 TV commercials promoting eggs, starring British comedian Tony Hancock. Nicolas Freeling’s novel The Dresden Green published in 1966 mentioned “toast soldiers” used for dipping in soup.
While the history of boiled eggs and soldiers is short and somewhat ambiguous, the dish is fit for a Queen.
How to Make Boiled Egg and Soldiers
FAQ
Where did the term egg and soldier come from?
What do Americans call egg and soldiers?
Where did the term dippy eggs come from?
Is egg and soldiers a British thing?
Why are boiled eggs with soldiers called soldiers?
Our research into the history of this seems to point it’s this advert that turned boiled eggs with soldiers into a national dish. Because the toast strips are so straight, they’ve got the name “soldiers” like they’re outside Buckingham Palace, or some such. How Do You Make Boiled Eggs With Soldiers?
How to determine if boiled eggs are safe to eat?
Before actually cooking. Eggs that are fresh should sink horizontally into the water; those that are still good, but not so fresh, can be slanted at the bottom of the glass; spoiled and rotten eggs should float in the water.
What is soft boiled eggs with soldiers?
Soft boiled eggs with soldiers, also known as “dipping eggs and soldiers” is a British classic breakfast for children and adults alike. Eggs and soldiers is a name given to soft-boiled eggs, served in an egg cup, with strips of buttered toast for dunking in the yolk.
What are eggs & soldiers?
Eggs and soldiers is simply a name given to a soft-boiled egg in an egg cup, served with sticks of buttered toast. Dippy eggs, so called because one dips toast into them, originated in the UK and is still popular today as a children’s breakfast, but adults love them, too! Everyone asks me about the egg cup, but I bought it in England.