A Pinch Of One Simple Ingredient Makes Savory Breakfast Sandwiches Extra Flavorful

Sure, oatmeal and cereal are acceptable, quick breakfast choices, but very few things beat starting the day with a good breakfast sandwich. If you've ever faced the conundrum of trying to choose between going sweet with a fluffy, syrupy stack of French toast or going savory, perhaps with eggs and extra hash browns on the side, this hack is for you. For the perfect breakfast sandwich, add a pinch of sugar.

In the same way that adding a pinch of sea salt to your chocolate cake enhances the overall flavor of the bake, sweetness can make an otherwise flat dish feel more nuanced. This is because salty and sweet are two of the five primary flavors our taste buds can identify, along with bitter, sour, and umami. By combining them, we stimulate several of these receptors at once. Often, the key to taking a dish from bland to grand is learning to balance these five tastes.

One easy way to bring a touch of sweetness to a classic savory breakfast sandwich is through condiments. A dollop of homemade caramelized onion jam works wonders in a Gruyere-laden croissant sandwich layered with peppery arugula and ham. A dash of tangy sweet chili sauce adds a sultry kick and just the right amount of sugar to any melt.

If you want to sweeten up a breakfast sandwich ingredient, candied bacon is the way to go. A sprinkle of brown sugar on your rashers before they go into the oven will leave you with glossy, caramelized strips that are perfect for an egg sandwich. Plus, the sugar brings some welcome crunch. If you are feeling bold, give this sweet and spicy cowboy bacon recipe a try. The candied jalapeño and bacon mix may quickly become your next obsession.

For a more classic take, try a Monte Cristo sandwich, a riff on the French croque monsieur that poses a question: What happens when you replace the bread on a sandwich with French toast and then stuff it with jam, ham, and cheese? The answer is nothing short of spectacular. Traditionally sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, it's the epitome of what a sweet-and-savory sandwich should be: rich, indulgent, and complex. 

Want to take it even further? If you really love the idea of mixing sweet and salty, swap the bread for canned cinnamon rolls to create the ultimate treat. It works particularly well when stuffed with buttery scrambled eggs and salty bacon. The best breakfast sandwiches are all about balance, and sometimes that balance starts with an unexpected sweet component.