Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches

Name: Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 3 ⁄ 4 cup sugar; 4 egg yolks; 12 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted; Zest and juice of 3 lemons, preferably Meyer; 8 (1"-thick) slices brioche; Unsalted butter, melted, for brushing; 2 oz. soft goat cheese; 4 eggs; 1 tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 16 slices black forest ham; 4 oz. mâche

Serves
serves 4

TODD COLEMAN

Lemon curd and goat cheese lends this breakfast sandwich from chef Elizabeth Morehead at The Big Egg a pleasing tanginess. When we don't feel like making lemon curd from scratch, we pick up a jar of it at our local Whole Foods Market. This recipe first appeared in our June/July 2012 issue along with Dana Bowen's story Food of the People.

Ingredients

FOR THE LEMON CURD:

³⁄₄ cup sugar
4 egg yolks
12 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Zest and juice of 3 lemons, preferably Meyer

FOR THE SANDWICHES:

8 (1"-thick) slices brioche
Unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
2 oz. soft goat cheese
4 eggs
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 slices black forest ham
4 oz. mâche

ADVERTISEMENTAD

Instructions

Step 1

Make the curd: Whisk together sugar and yolks in a 2-qt. saucepan; add butter, zest, and juice, and whisk until smooth. Place over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until curd is the consistency of loose pudding, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour curd through a strainer into a bowl, and press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the curd; chill for 2 hours.

Step 2

To make each sandwich, heat a 10" nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush one side each of 2 slices brioche with butter, and place in skillet, buttered sides down, and toast, about 1 minute. Transfer slices to a plate, toasted sides down, and spread 1⁄2 oz. goat cheese over one slice and 2 1⁄2 tbsp. lemon curd over the other slice.

Step 3

Meanwhile, whisk 1 egg in a bowl, and add to skillet; sprinkle with 1⁄4 tsp. thyme and salt and pepper, and cook, flipping once, until just set, about 2 minutes. Fold up omelet and place on top of the goat cheese. Place 4 slices ham in skillet, and cook, flipping once, until heated through, about 35 seconds; place on top of omelette. Place 1 oz. mâche on top of ham, then top with the bread slice slathered with lemon curd. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 3 more sandwiches.

Make the curd: Whisk together sugar and yolks in a 2-qt. saucepan; add butter, zest, and juice, and whisk until smooth. Place over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until curd is the consistency of loose pudding, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour curd through a strainer into a bowl, and press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the curd; chill for 2 hours.
To make each sandwich, heat a 10" nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush one side each of 2 slices brioche with butter, and place in skillet, buttered sides down, and toast, about 1 minute. Transfer slices to a plate, toasted sides down, and spread 1⁄2 oz. goat cheese over one slice and 2 1⁄2 tbsp. lemon curd over the other slice.
Meanwhile, whisk 1 egg in a bowl, and add to skillet; sprinkle with 1⁄4 tsp. thyme and salt and pepper, and cook, flipping once, until just set, about 2 minutes. Fold up omelet and place on top of the goat cheese. Place 4 slices ham in skillet, and cook, flipping once, until heated through, about 35 seconds; place on top of omelette. Place 1 oz. mâche on top of ham, then top with the bread slice slathered with lemon curd. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 3 more sandwiches.