Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

Tamago sando, or egg salad sandwiches, are extremely popular in Japan – they even had a short run of tamago sando flavored potato chips! All of the combini (convenience stores) carry them, and as of late, there have been fancier tamago sando popping up too. But, if you want to keep it classic, just head towards the cooler in 7-11 or Lawson’s and pick up one of those ubiquitous soft and squishy triangles filled with a simple egg and kewpie filling.

The bread is cloud like, the filling the perfect balance of savory and salty, and together, the parts create a whole that is extremely nostalgic. People who know, just know, egg salad sandos are where it’s at. David Chang knows. Anthony Bourdain knew. Egg salad is a thing and it’s here to stay.

I always eat a tamago sando (or 8) when in Japan and this time, since we came home with a whole loaf of shokupan, I decided that we were gonna make our own. I went with a simple classic filling of medium-hard boiled eggs, kewpie mayo – absolutely essential – and a generous sprinkle of salt. Added in a couple of jammy eggs for a bit of visual contrast and boom, instant egg salad sandwich heaven. So nice to have a little taste of Japan, right here at home :)

PS – I based this guy off of Konbi’s famous egg salad sandwich. Still haven’t had one, but soon!

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (4)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (5)

Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe
makes 1 sandwich


  • 4 large eggs
  • salt, to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons kewpie mayo, or to taste
  • 2 slices fluffy white bread, crusts trimmed

Remove the eggs from the fridge as your bringing your water to a boil.

Prepare an ice bath with a large bowl of cold water and ice.

Bring a pot of water to rolling boil, then turn the heat down and gently add eggs in, with a slotted spoon. Turn the heat back up to medium high and maintain a simmer for 7 minutes. Remove 2 of the eggs, and leave the remaining 2 eggs in for another minute and a half.

Plunge the eggs into an ice bath to cool down. Peel the eggs: Gently tap the wide end of the egg on the countertop, then flip around and tap the pointed end. Gently roll the egg and peel, under running water, if it helps.

Cut the 7 minute eggs in half and set aside. Place the remaining two eggs in a bowl and use a fork to crush with the mayonnaise and a sprinkle of salt until a rough paste forms. Taste and adjust the kewpie mayo and salt.

Spread an even layer of egg salad on one slice of bread then arrange the cut eggs on the salad, nestling in gently. Top with the remaining slice of bread, then cut into three, being sure to cut perpendicular to the yolks, so when you turn the sandwich, you see the yolks.

9 Comments

  1. Emma says:

    May 29, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I didn’t realize just how much the kewpie mayo would transform my standard egg salad sandwich. It’s a little sweeter than other mayonnaise I’ve had, but in combination with the eggs, it’s absolutely scrumptious.

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 2, 2019 at 10:21 am

      hi emma,
      isn’t it amazing how different it tastes even though it is just mayo?! thanks so much for trying out the recipe :)

  2. Karen says:

    June 3, 2019 at 6:36 am

    I made it for lunch today. It was so cute and absolutely delicious

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 3, 2019 at 6:43 pm

      yay! so happy you made it and liked it :)

      Reply

  3. Lilium Beau says:

    June 19, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    I can’t wait to try this as soon as my kewpie mayo comes in from Amazon! I’m planning on serving these for an afternoon tea. I was wondering if there is a traditional side? Would like to offer something other than chips. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 20, 2019 at 10:25 am

      hi lilium,
      anything goes – they don’t usually have a traditional side! i like your idea of them for afternoon tea, just some other sandwiches maybe? or a salad?

      Reply

      1. Lilium Beau says:

        June 20, 2019 at 7:07 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Why is Japanese egg sandwich so good? ›

What makes this sandwich so unique is the type of bread used. It is not ordinary sliced white bread! Traditionally, Japanese milk bread is used which is a super soft melt-in-your-mouth white bread. The slices are also a bit thicker because of how fluffy they are compared to normal white bread.

Is an egg sandwich healthy? ›

Apart from other health benefits, recent research studies on the effects of eggs on our health show that they can also support weight reduction. A boiled egg sandwich is a highly proteinaceous diet that assists in metabolism enhancement. Its thermic effects help your body digest and process all the nutrients faster.

Why is egg salad so good? ›

It's not fancy, there are no special ingredients, but it's well balanced, with a bright, fresh flavor, and a texture that spans from rich and creamy to crunchy and fresh. Any good egg salad starts with perfectly boiled eggs with a just-cooked-but-not-chalky yolk and tender whites.

Where does the name Tamago Sando come from? ›

Tamago Sando (卵サンド) literally means "egg sandwich" in Japanese, and it refers to the Japanese version of the egg salad sandwich. Although both sandwiches and egg salad are Western inventions, it's evolved into something uniquely Japanese.

What is the difference between Japanese egg sandwich and American egg sandwich? ›

Japanese egg sandwiches are a lot simpler in comparison to American ones. It skips all the extras like butter, ham, onion, bacon, dijon mustard, and so on, opting for just eggs and mayo. The kind of mayo you use is also important! Japanese egg sandwiches will always use kewpie mayo.

What's the difference between Kewpie mayo and regular mayo? ›

Kewpie is made with egg yolks so it's richer.

For starters, Kewpie mayonnaise — which is made with egg yolks and not whole eggs — has a richer, more velvety texture than regular store-bought mayo. It is not surprising, since they use a high proportion of yolks, which give it an egg-forward flavor.

Are egg salad sandwiches healthy to eat every day? ›

Egg salad is a classic sandwich stuffer, but with gobs of mayo mixed in, it can be high in unhealthy fats, sodium and calories. An average deli egg salad sandwich can have more than 550 calories, 30 grams of fat and 600 milligrams of sodium.

Is egg sandwich bad for cholesterol? ›

New research shows that eggs may not be as bad for cholesterol as previously thought. Researchers found that eating up to 12 eggs a week did not raise cholesterol levels.

Is it good to eat egg salad at night? ›

Moreover, eggs can produce melatonin hormone which give you a good night's sleep. The vitamin D in eggs can improve the strength of bones and stimulates the brain cells. Good cholesterol gets stored in the body when eggs are consumed in the evening. Having eggs in the evening is excellent for weight loss too.

What makes egg salad go bad? ›

Creamy ingredients (mayo, yogurt): These are often the first ingredient to go bad. Always use the sniff test as a quick preliminary check. If you see any signs of separation or watery edges, it's time to discard the salad.

Why does my egg salad taste bland? ›

Stir through and adjust by adding more mayonnaise if you like your egg salad creamier. Why does my egg salad taste bland? The simple reason may be that it's not seasoned enough. Add a little more salt and pepper to taste.

What does Sando mean in Japan? ›

a sandwich; used especially of a Japanese-style sandwich.

What does tamago mean in Japanese? ›

The word “Tamago” actually means “egg” in Japanese, or “Tamagoyaki,” a Japanese omelet dish. It is a basic staple in Japan.

Why do people call sandwiches Sando? ›

What exactly is a katsu sando? “Katsu” is shorthand for “katsuretsu,” which means “cutlet” in Japanese, and “sando” is just the adorable nickname Japanese people gave the word “sandwich.” Essentially, it is Japan's answer to the bologna sandwich.

Why do Japanese eggs taste so good? ›

With eggs that are farmed with strict standards and marked for taste, it's no wonder that eggs here are delicious, nutritious and a popular addition to many meals. Expiration date meaning Each producer of eggs lists the expiration date for flavor, not for when they must be eaten.

Why are Japanese eggs better than American eggs? ›

The most distinctive characteristic is the use of “raw” eggs. Compared to other countries, eggs in Japan are considered to be much less contaminated by salmonella, one of the causes of food poisoning, and therefore raw eggs can be eaten without worry.

Why does Japanese mayo taste so good? ›

It's slightly more sweet and less acidic than American mayo because it contains rice or cider vinegar rather than distilled white vinegar. Japanese mayo is also a bit richer due to the incorporation of egg yolks, unlike American mayo which uses whole eggs.

Why does Japan have the best eggs? ›

No eggs in the world are rated so high in quality as Japanese eggs. In Japan, there is strict hygiene management to prevent the spread of viruses, such as measures to prevent wild birds and small creatures from entering the hen coop, and thorough sanitization of staff as they enter and leave.

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