13 Spices That Will Elevate Your Egg Salad Sandwich

Who says eggs are just for breakfast? Savory quiches, rich shakshuka and biryani, and creamy frittatas are all incredible ways to enjoy eggs throughout the day. So, too, is something as simple and classic as a majestic egg salad. The dish is typically made with around six eggs that have been hard-boiled, peeled, and finely chopped. The chunks of egg are then mixed with ¼ cup of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.

Egg salad is great on its own but can also be used in sandwiches, as a filling for wraps or lettuce rolls, or even spread on crackers or toast. From its simple base, this delicious treat can also be customized and made crunchier, spicier, or even zestier with a variety of add-ins. You might stir some diced avocado or celery into your egg salad. Or, you could fold in chunks of ham or even luxurious smoked salmon. Capers and sun-dried tomatoes also make "eggcellent" egg salad additions.

And to really elevate your egg salad, don't forget the power of spices. You can stir ¼ to ½ teaspoon — or more — of dried spice into any egg salad as you make it, dramatically changing its flavor profile and texture in a matter of seconds. While an almost infinite number of spices pair well with eggs, here are a dozen of our favorite suggestions to help get you started. Say goodbye to that basic and rustic "beginner" egg salad, and hello to a scrumptious and magnificent egg-forward meal.

When it comes to adding flavor to egg salad, celery seed is another wonderful option. These tiny brown seeds are packed with celery's unique and distinctive flavor but in a more concentrated and slightly more palatable form. They don't have the bite or aftertaste you sometimes get from eating fresh celery. Plus, they're a phenomenal way to add a light and mild crunch to egg salad instead of the watery (and uber-crunchy) texture you get from even the finest diced fresh celery. Let's be honest: there's no way to add fresh celery to egg salad without creating a dramatically different dish — those crunchy chunks are simply inescapable. But celery seed gives you that celery flavor goodness without dramatically altering the texture of your egg and mayo mixture.

With your celery seed added to your egg salad, and the dish now slightly more zesty, bitter, and complex, use it as a fantastic addition to green salad. Spoon some over a bed of mixed greens and diced tomatoes, and then add salt and pepper to taste. Or, if you have company coming over or are hosting a dinner, try putting dollops of the egg salad on slices of zucchini and cucumber for a light and elegant appetizer that's sure to impress friends and family. And of course, it's also the essential ingredient for egg salad sammies. Pair it with a tangy, sour rye or molasses-infused pumpernickel, and let the rich, delicious flavors wash over you.

Turmeric and curry powder are close relatives that share a long culinary lineage. But while turmeric is an individual spice that comes from the root of one specific plant (the Curcuma longa), curry is a blend of a variety of different spices — turmeric plus other tasty favorites like coriander, cumin, red chili powder, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and more. Try a few curry varieties as you pick your go-to option. Recipes can vary widely, and one curry may taste nothing like another.

As a spice, the medley of ingredients in curry powder is used to add body, heat, and a touch of umami flavor to foods. You'll notice hints of sweetness and heat, along with deep, robust earthiness and savoriness as well. And those varied and unique flavors all shine bright when curry powder is added to any egg salad. You'll end up with a fusion of flavors that's warm and comforting on the tongue, that wraps your body in gentle heat as you eat, and that fills the house with the bold aroma of pepper and spice. In many ways, curry powder is more than just a spice. It's a journey. And it's something that can only make your egg salad —and all those egg salad sandwiches you make with it — better and even more delicious.

For something altogether different than paprika, look no further than saffron — another peerless spice that is perfect for elevating foods of all types, including egg salads. Made from the "stigmas" or the vibrant inner "strands" that poke out of the middle of the lilac-colored saffron crocus flower, saffron is one of the rarest and most expensive spices in the world. It's harvested by hand in a highly labor-intensive process, and each flower only produces a few stigmas, so it takes thousands of blooms to get even a pound of the spice.

But all that work is worth it. Saffron brings lovely floral and honey-like notes to any food it touches, including egg salad. Stirring even a tiny amount of spice into egg salad as you make it can turn a potential "good" dish into something extraordinary. Saffron brings hints of sweetness but also bitterness along with that floral profile, balancing eggs and making their flavor brighter and even more enticing. Think of an egg salad with the warm glow of honey and just the slightest hint of floral depth — definitely a winner and something everybody should try at least once.

Cumin is an unusual spice. It pops up in all types of different recipes, from roast chicken to tacos and fajitas — even hearty old-school chili con carne. But despite its prevalence in so many varied meals that are all over the culinary map, it can be hard to explain precisely what cumin brings to food. Some have described it as a "warm spice blanket" that wraps food in comfort. Others swear by the earthy, slightly citrusy, slightly nutty flavor it imparts. However you describe it, there's no debating the valuable impact cumin can have on the flavor of any dish, egg salad included.

Stirring 1 to 2 teaspoons of cumin into egg salad is an outstanding way to bring depth and hints of pepper, smoke, and mild bitterness to egg salad. Despite its bland, "boring" brown appearance, cumin is a relative of parsley — the seeds of the plant are harvested and ground into a fine powder — so thinking about that relationship (and the overall versatility of parsley) can help to cue you into all the varied ways the spice can be used.

Try egg salad made with cumin as a filling for pita pockets, wraps, or sandwiches made with light, crunchy bread like toasted multigrain or even ciabatta or sourdough. It's also perfect in a tortilla shell for a breakfast egg salad taco. Or, spoon some of the salad into a halved avocado or a hollowed-out tomato for a colorful and flavorful side that's ideal for any meal.

Few herbs smell as wondrous as fresh basil. Its amazing, citrus-kissed scent can fill a room like nothing else. Dried basil brings that same sunny, leafy green, Mediterranean bouquet to egg salad. Whether you opt for freshly diced basil leaves from your windowsill or dried basil from the spice rack, basil is yet another sublime way to elevate any bowl of egg salad into an out-of-this-world sandwich filling.

Start with 1 or 2 teaspoons of the herb mixed into your egg and mayo mixture as you assemble your egg salad. Give the mixture a taste, and then add more if you'd like. Basil brings an almost mint-like freshness to food. It invigorates its flavor, cleansing the palate while also supplying warmth and brightness. It makes your eggs more fragrant and enticing, enhancing the overall sensory experience you get from eating the egg salad.

Basil pairs well with all sorts of other garden flavors, so consider stirring diced cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or avocado into your egg salad as well. Bacon bites, pine nuts, and feta cheese are also all splendid potential additions. Once your egg salad is ready, spread it over herb-infused focaccia or use it as filling in an earthy spinach wrap to complement those rich, fresh flavors even more.

Like turmeric, dried ginger is another popular spice with a long and storied history in Southeast Asia. Along with that shared geography, the two have other similarities as well. They're both made from plant roots that are dried and then ground down into a fine powder. And they both also pack some heat and a bit of a bite. Ginger, in particular, is famous for its ability to bring a warm and mildly spicy kick to foods of all types, including egg salads.

When combined with eggs and mayo, dried ginger gives the egg salad a subtle heat that intensifies the longer you eat the dish. You might notice unfolding waves of tang and a mild pepperiness resonating throughout the egg salad. Ginger also makes your egg salad livelier and more invigorating. It can make a salad that others might consider "meh" into something you can't wait for a second helping of.

To compliment that ginger flavor even further, consider adding a splash of soy sauce to your egg salad or stir in some sesame seeds or chili flakes. The salad itself can serve as a beautiful addition to a sandwich made with your favorite crusty bread. But it also would be fabulous spooned over cold, cooked sesame noodles or as the main ingredient in a hearty quinoa salad. Ginger egg salad is also a natural choice for Asian-style lettuce wraps or even as the filling for a light and refreshing homemade spring roll.