Shredded Egg Salad
Made by shredding hard-boiled eggs on a box grater. This shredded egg salad is light, fluffy, and bright. I must say, a nice alternative to chopped, heavily dressed versions of the classic.
I thought I’d update my shredded egg salad recipe today, it has been a while! The first time I made a grated egg preparation like this was in 2014 after discovering some exceptional eggs at the Farmers’ Market in San Francisco. I’ve been making variations over the years, and made a version of the grated egg avocado toast (the one that recently took TikTok by storm) for lunch yesterday. You grate eggs over the top of avocado toast. I added some extra flare - curry powder and the like. Such a great, easy lunch.
Why Shred or Grate Eggs?
My shredded egg journey started when I bought some really good eggs. I mean, there are special eggs, and there are special eggs. The kind of eggs some people might feel compelled to roll their eyes at. But I had to buy them. Bring them home with me so I could try them. And I wanted to do something straight-forward yet special with them. So as I drove back from the Saturday market - through North Beach, up the Fillmore hills, and down into Hayes Valley, I settled on egg salad.
Not earth-shattering, I know. That was sort of the point. But the twist? I was going to shred the hard-boiled eggs on a box grater into a fluffy pile. I'd toss it gingerly with my fingertips working in a bit of salt and pepper, add a few herbs and whatnot, and not much beyond that. Well, maybe the tiniest dollop of creme fraiche or thread of olive oil, enough to add a hint of cohesiveness, but not enough to weigh the salad down. I was after an egg salad that was fluffy, light, bright, and vibrant. Nothing wet, damp, or heavy about it. That is why you shred them, to keep things light.
More About The Eggs
If you’re curious about the inspiration eggs - here’s what happened. I was at the market when a lovely, petite lady rolled up next to me with her cart. You could tell she knew exactly what she was after, so I stepped back and watched the scene unfold. She pointed straight at a mega-cooler behind the table, and asked if "any" were available. At that point I wasn't entirely sure what she was asking for, but the way she inquired insinuated she didn't always succeed. Now I know.
That's where the eggs live -- when they're available. They are eggs from sprout-fed chickens. Think about that - sprout fed chickens. And they're perhaps the best eggs I've had (with the exception of the eggs I'd buy from the grandmotherly figure who would sell in the corner of the old Testaccio market in Rome). So, I wanted to do something special with them, but nothing too complicated. Nothing that was going to get in the way of the eggs themselves. And this is what I came up with. There might be times when a more standard approach to egg salad might be called for - smashing and chopping the eggs + a more enveloping dressing. But for now, I'm on the shredding bandwagon.
Shredded Egg Salad Variations
- Shredded Egg Salad Toast with Gruyere: This has been my long-time favorite version of this sandwich. Grate some gruyere cheese onto a slab of garlic-rubbed toast and put that under the broiler for a bit (until the cheese bubbles and melts). Top with the shredded egg salad (recipe below) and a sprinkling of chives.
- Shredded Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps: I love the shredded eggs in a wrap of some sort of tender butter lettuce along with a sprinkling of fried shallots, toasted almond slices, and a kiss of hot sauce.
- Grated Turmeric Egg Salad: You know where this is headed right? If you have some of these Pickled Turmeric Eggs on hand you can use them as a component. They aren’t as mild as standard hard-boiled eggs because of the vinegar, but they are a great accent.
- Shredded Curried Egg Salad: I can imagine a shredded egg version of this curried egg salad would be really amazing. I’d scale back the amount of yogurt called for a bit, but imagine the grated egg with toasted pecans, apple bits, and chives! Would be so good!
TikTok Grated Egg Avocado Toast
The version of the internet-famous TikTok Grated Egg Avocado Toast I made for lunch was just that plus some flare. I topped the grated egg with a few quick-pickled red onions, whisper thin slices of scallions, a nice squeeze of lemon, a pinch of curry powder, and a few sesame seeds. Good bread is key!
Have fun with this one, but if a more classic version is your speed, here’s where you can find my go-to egg salad sandwich.
More Egg Recipes
- Pickled Turmeric Eggs
- Skinny Omelette
- Deep Dish Quiche
- A Tasty Frittata
- Frittata Sandwich
- Sheet Pan Frittata
- Scrambled Eggs with Cream Cheese
- How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
- all egg recipes
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Shredded Egg Salad
This is more an idea to explore than a recipe, although knowing how to hard boil eggs flawlessly is an important component covered in the recipe here. See the variation ideas in the main post up above. Aside from the eggs and salt and pepper, use your imagination to come up with different add-ins and toppings. Enjoy!
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 small head of radicchio, shredded
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 3 baby radishes, shaved thin
- to serve: little dollop of salted creme fraiche and/or a drizzle of olive oil.
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Place the eggs in a pot and cover with cold water by a 1/2-inch or so. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
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Now turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for ten minutes (a couple minutes longer than I normally do). Have a big bowl of ice water ready and when the eggs are done cooking place them in the ice bath for 7 - 10. Long enough to stop the cooking and chill the eggs.
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Crack and peel each egg, then use the big holes on a standard box grater to grate the eggs. Place in a bowl and use your fingers to gently toss the eggs with the salt and pepper. At this point you can add whatever you like to the salad - I tossed in shredded radicchio, fresh dill, shallots, and shaved baby radishes. Serve topped with tiny dollops of something creamy - like creme fraich or plain yogurt, and a drizzle of olive oil. Just a bit of each so you don't weigh it down.
Serves 3
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Egg Salad Sandwich
The perfect egg salad sandwich is all about the little tweaks and a smart ratio of eggs to other ingredients. This is my favorite. Served on garlic-rubbed toasted bread with chopped celery, onion, and whole-grain mustard.
Curried Egg Salad
A variation on my favorite egg salad recipe, this version uses plain yogurt in place of mayo and incorporates curry powder, chopped apples, toasted pecans, and minced chives.
Frittata Sandwich
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Sheet Pan Frittata
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Comments
If you steam eggs in a pressure cooker (I have an Instant Pot) for 7 minutes, and after a quick release plunge them into an Ice water bath till cold, they peel like a dream every time.
Great recipe and really a nice one. Will surely try this
Love this shredded egg salad. Very unique, tasty and light. Something for tomorrow lunch. Thanks for sharing.
It looks spectacular, I definitely need to make it <3
Hey Heidi –
Long time no speak, but “sprout-fed eggs” is a bit of a more “hip” way to say “fodder-fed”. Fodder is one of the cheapest, best, “whole” ways to feed livestock, including chicken. I’m guessing perhaps the stand you got these eggs from is a dairy or meat stand? If they raise fodder for their hooved animals, it makes great sense to feed to the poultry as well!
HS: Fatemeh! It has been too long! So nice to see your name here. SO…part of what excited me is that these eggs were actually from the sprout guy – he sells micro greens, and cuts pea shoots and wheat grass from the back of his truck. You know who I’m talking about? Across from Boulette’s. He has the good stuff. I think he’ll likely have more now that it is spring? Fingers crossed.
I’m guessing you’re talking about the Ferry Building market? I’m there every Saturday after yoga. Care to divulge which stand has this cooler? I promise I won’t tell the hipsters…
I’m definitely on this shredding bandwagon as well – it’s such a nicer presentation, and I like not using so much mayo or it gets too heavy. I just like everything spicy, so I see myself adding some paprika to this one!
I don’t know if anyone else has already suggested this, but you should try pushing the hardboiled eggs through a strainer. Obviously, not too fine a mesh, but something that’s relatively fine works pretty well. (Vague, I know, I’m sorry) My point is that as you crumble and push the egg through the strainer, you’ll get this beautiful, fluffy pile of hardboiled eggs.
I grew up, as a very small boy, having my hands pecked as they reached through the dark roosts within our farm’s henhouse, with my mother protectively at my side. I’ve always loved eggs, prepared almost any style. Sprout-fed hens sound intriguing, yet I’m curious as to what special character such a diet imparted upon the eggs. The salad looks lovely, I of course love your incorporation of Gruyère – what I would do for a taste of this combo!
This is so appealing to me right now ! My appetite is on the low side and I find eggs to be one of the few things that are easy and satisfying. I am going to try the sandwich with the gruyere , I think.
besos, C
What a lovely discovery at the farmer’s market–only at the market where people interact could this happen. I have always had an aversion to grocery stores…the intimacy disappears and everything is cold and sterile.
Heidi, Have you tried goose eggs for baking? I pasture raise heritage geese on a farm near the Capay Valley and deliver their eggs to SF. I find that goose eggs are fabulous for baking – they make a terrific quiche. Best, Cynthia
Oh, yum. So simple and brilliant. Your minimalist egg salad in SNE changed my perspective on the dish, now I am do curious to try this way.
Just curious, how much did the sprout fed eggs cost…would love to get the farmer at my market to try doing them!
Thanks,
Holly
Really good eggs are worth the eye roll.
Will keep an eye out for you on Saturday mornings @ the SF farmers’ market. I have to tell you that I received the Miel Maritime Honey from Quitokeeto and it is beyond words! Made some cardamom french toast and a dollop of the seashore honey on the toast elevated it to heavenly status. This honey is like marshmallow and so smooth! Thanks for the treat.
Great eggs! The salad looks really delicious
Made this tonight but used arugula which is what I had at home. So delicious. A big hit. Thanks for the inspiration.
My mom used to make a similar salad: she would shred an equal amount of egg, cheese and mayo. She would mix cheese and a clove of mixed garlic together and then layer everything: egg layer, cheese layer, mayo layer. She would create 3 to 4 of these layer combos. Yum!
Love this! Made it for lunch today with what I had on hand. I used labnah, which I would have never even heard of had I not read your blog. Now I go to my local Middle Eastern store to buy it weekly! I really enjoyed the fluffiness of the eggs vs when they are chopped. Might try and use the potato ricer for this one as well. Thanks for all the fresh ideas!
We love a simple egg salad and this one sounds lovely. The serving dish is stunning! Saturday mornings at the SF farmers’ market is a favorite part of my weekly routine…I will have to keep an eye out for “that” cooler:)
HS: Say hi if you see me down there!
My hubby loved the look of this salad, so I’ll see if someone can make it for him as I’m allergic to eggs!
Who knew there was such a thing as sprout fed chickens and their special eggs? Hope they tasted great.
I don’t know where I heard the tip, but if you add a little baking soda to the water when you’re cooking the eggs, the shells come right off. I like to eat something called “egg in a glass” which is just a soft boiled egg that has been peeled and put in a fancy glass with a nice sprinkle of chives. With a piece of whole grain bread and fresh OJ it makes for a delightful and fancy breakfast.
Your description was so poetic I was torn between wanting to make eggs and pick up a pen.
I like the twist on egg salad!
I love the way you honoured the eggs with this simple, perfect salad.
We buy ours from the farmers market (mostly) and happy chickens make for happy eggs. This will be on our lunch menu soon. Thank you Heidi.
What a difference a little change in technique can make! I loathe hard-boiled eggs, so I cannot comment on this recipe. BUT, grated apples in my apple pie instead of sliced, shredded Brussel’s sprouts instead of halved…these techniques have changed my life (and my husband’s taste buds). I love your website because you give us great little tweeks for simple recipes that remind us to PLAY in the kitchen. Which is the best part.
I never thought to shred eggs! Cool idea!
Shredded eggs, bloody brilliant idea Heidi!
I love eggs but I have never found a egg salad that appeals to me, mostly because I am lactose-intolerant. This is a fabulous option and beautifully simple!
Oh I haven’t had an egg salad in years! I cannot wait to try out this recipe! This sounds so so good!!
Ooooh!
The egg salad sounds lovely BUT! I have the matching platter to your casserole! The very same grecian pattern, the very same blue, but a big wide round plate. I love it so.
Okay. Now that that’s out. I happen to be expecting a delivery of 5 dozen farm fresh eggs from my favorite farmer ANY minute, and am nearly bursting with thrill (it’s been a looooong winter). Despite my efforts to appreciate eggs, most are more or less the same, to my mouth. But these, oh THESE, are remarkable, not just deep marigold and firm taut yolks, and not just thick coherent whites, but absolutely packed with sweetness, and with a butteriness that is downright luxurious. So, yes. I get the eggs. Congratulations on your score!
xo,
M
Your chopping board looks very interesting. Is it wood and where did you get it?
Love your posts, especially this one.
Sounds excellent. Never thought of grating eggs. Don’t buy eggs either! Got a sweet little flock of hens that we allow to roam out property. We feed them “regular” chicken feed & scratch but they also hunt down whatever they want! Best eggs I’ve ever had!!! Yellowest yolks too. Only complaint… no matter how I try, can not boil them so they peel clean.
Egg salad is one of those simple foods that can be standard–or totally mindblowing. I am jealous of your obviously mindblowing rendition! I’ve never thought to use the box grater before–such a good idea.
It is often your simplicity that highlights just how brilliant you are. I’m 100% sold on this shredded idea. Thanks, Heidi.
Hi Heidi – can you share where in SF you got the eggs? Understand you may be reluctant to divulge, but I thought I’d try.
p.s. Your website has literally changed my life, and taught me to cook. My wife and I thank you.
Hi Amanda – Thank you! They were across from Boulette’s!
I love eggs but I have never found a egg salad that appeals to me, mostly because I am lactose-intolerant. This is a fabulous option and beautifully simple!
Lovely, Heidi, as always. Your creativity, simplicity, and wholesome recipes inspire me. xx
I LOVE eggs! This looks beautifully simple and delicious. If you have good eggs they don’t need much fussing about. Thanks Heidi.
It’s so refreshing to see how you continue to pare down and refine your approach to food, and let the ingredients shine — love how this egg salad captures the Italian spirit!
Love the story. And shredded eggs, who would have thought! You have me sold.
Would love to know which market you sourced your “Special Eggs”.
Great simple recipe!
How can you make something so simple sounds SO DIVINE?
Thanks Adena!
This recipe and the story behind it are both lovely! Sprout-fed chickens? So special indeed. Can’t wait to make this salad soon.
I never thought to use the box grater to chop up eggs! Brilliant! Off late, I’ve been experimenting with the grater for veggies and all that. I’ll definitely use this method the next time I make egg salad.
Such a neat idea! I love the sound of this!
I love the addition of herbs, shallots and dill here. My family make a simple egg salad seasoned with, S+P, red wine vinegar and olive oil. This post has inspired me to combine the two versions.
You can use a potato ricer for hard boiled eggs and they come out much lighter and fluffier than if you shred them and they are much less of a mess!
Oh my.. Never heard of sprout fed chicken eggs but a friend makes shredded eggs salads and now I can’t wait to try myself. May be with a nice saurekraut that I have right now.
This is such a unique idea to me! I love eggs and what a great way to feature it. Besides, it looks absolutely stunning!
Sounds delicious and so simple! Think I’ll try this out for lunch this week! Thanks for the recipe.
This sounds incredibly delicious. Did you have any trouble peeling the very fresh eggs?
Never had eggs prepped like this. Am going to try this soon. I echo Amanda when she says you changed her life when she learned cooking from you. My sister, who is mother earth healing cook, is amazed at my new found passion and accomplishments in the kitchen. ……I get it now……thanks to you!
Margie in Texas- Since you have chickens, you may benefit from knowing that fresh hardboiled eggs are nearly impossible to peel. I save a dozen or so for a couple of weeks and hardboil them and they peel easier.
I don’t refrigerate my eggs either. They last for weeks outside of the fridge if the temps are cool. Once summer hits and my kitchen warms up, I refrigerate them. Either way let some of your eggs age a little in or out of the fridge and they will be easier to peel.
This sounds incredibly delicious. Did you have any trouble peeling the very fresh eggs?
Substituting a little paprika for the dill and blending a bit of dijon mustard with the olive oil would make for a tasty deconstructed-deviled-eggs spin, too.
Sounds lovely!
Here’s my version of egg salad – I don’t have amounts – just add according to your tastes:
slightly soft hard cooked eggs coarsely chopped so there’s still lots of texture
salt
coarsely ground pepper
grated horseradish (I use A LOT)
olive oil
I have been thinking about egg salad a lot lately. Thnx for sharing this unique & tasty version!
Brilliant use of creme fraiche! So worth it, especially if your not a bottled mayo fan. Thanks.
Love that you’re sharing the box grater egg salad trick! My family has been doing that ever since I can remember – for egg salad, for when you put hard boiled eggs into green salads, etc. i thought we were the only ones! Thanks for the validation & your recipe
Do you have any comments on how long to age fresh eggs so they peel easily when hard boiled? And which method of hard boiling do you prefer?
HS: The short answer is a few days, but I rarely wait…it does make the task of peeling easier though.
i’ve never heard of the idea to shred eggs, but this recipe is beautiful and looks delicious. i can’t wait to try this out!
I’m going to make this tomorrow! Plus, I will champion for all of the egg salads you can think of.
best,
Oh I love egg salad, and this looks right up my street! Simple, but delicious. I love the idea of grating the eggs. I’ll be trying that soon.
YES!!! I am sure this is why my Aunt Gail makes the best egg salad – a very, very, very fine egg (I think she uses shredded onion too).
Another recipe we use for not so awesome eggs is ..grate some harboiled eggs on a grater, add in some grated cheddar and gruyere and what ever herbs you really like , for example dill,parsley,coriander,oregano etc , some salt and pepper and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Now bind them together in the shape of a finger or a cutlet , coat with bread crumbs or panko crumbs and pan fry them on a non stick with a little oil till crisp. They are DIVINE with any asian dipping sauce!
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