Use The Egg-In-A-Hole Technique To Spruce Up Your BLT

It is an established fact that the BLT is a near-perfect sandwich. The savory smokiness of the bacon. The crunch of the crisp lettuce. The tangy juice of the perfectly ripe tomato. Even a creamy spread of avocado can lend a wonderful complexity to this sandwich. But there is one ingredient that can take your BLT above and beyond: egg.

Naturally, eggs and bacon are a perfect match. So, adding one to a BLT should be a no-brainer. You could incorporate it by frying your egg and layering it into the sandwich, but another method is much more fun and effective. The egg-in-a-hole is a beloved technique with a bazillion different names and applications. While applying it to a BLT is nothing new, it nevertheless elevates the already stellar sandwich to new heights. 

What you get when you make an egg-in-a-hole BLT is nothing short of a flavor bomb. It's the great relationship between the gooey egg yolk that drips down over the bacon, bringing the ultimate umami mouthfeel that is immediately contrasted by the freshness of the tomato and lettuce. It is a beautiful thing, and making one should be on your list of sandwich priorities. 

The great thing about doing an egg-in-a-hole is that it incorporates the egg much better into the sandwich. Simply layered within, this notoriously slippery food group would likely just slide out of the sandwich. So, for sandwich construction purposes, this method makes for one that is far more sound. That said, there are a few different styles of bread to choose from when making an egg-in-a-hole BLT. You could use normal sandwich bread and carve out a spot in the middle where the egg will cook. You griddle one side while the egg white sets, then flip it over to seal the yolk. Easy peasy. 

You could also use a bagel. The great thing about a bagel is that your cavity is already carved out for you. The big difference is in the cooking. You don't flip the egg-in-a-hole on a bagel like regular sandwich bread. With a bagel, the egg will sit atop the bread, resting neatly in the cavity. You'll need to cover the skillet steam to envelop and cook the egg. You'll know it's done once the white is opaque and set, about 5 minutes on medium heat.

Then, you can assemble your sandwich however you'd like. Swap the tomatoes for peaches, use a bit of basil for added herb flavor, or simply smother it in mayonnaise. There is no wrong turn you could make in this regard.