¼ cup loosely packed tarragon leaves, roughly chopped
4 large eggs
1 pound beefsteak tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch-thick slices
1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
1 large red onion, sliced into rounds
½ lemon
Olive oil, to drizzle
Flaky sea salt, to taste
Eight ¾-inch-thick slices Pullman loaf white bread
3 tablespoons butter, softened
½ pound leafy lettuce (such as Little Gem or Bibb), torn into small pieces
½ cup salad cream
Directions
Make the salad cream: Prepare an ice bath. Fill a medium pot at least halfway with water and bring it to boil over high heat. Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower the eggs into the water. Cook for exactly 10 minutes. Remove the eggs and transfer to the ice bath to cool for 1 minute. Peel the eggs, then halve them lengthwise and remove the yolks. Reserve the whites for another use.
In a food processor, combine the egg yolks, oil, cream, vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and water. Blend until very smooth. Add the tarragon and pulse a few times. Makes ½ cup.
Make the sandwich: Prepare an ice bath. Fill a medium pot at least halfway with water and bring it to boil over high heat. Using a slotted spoon, carefully lower the eggs into the water. Cook for exactly 7 minutes. Remove the eggs and transfer to the ice bath to cool for 1 minute. Peel the eggs, then thinly slice and set aside.
Lay the tomato, cucumber and onion slices on a cutting board. Squeeze the lemon over the vegetables, then add a good drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Toss to make sure all the pieces are seasoned.
Spread each slice of bread with butter. Layer the tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce, salad cream, and eggs on 4 slices of bread. Top with the remaining bread and serve right away.