Southern Egg Salad—and the Myth of the Secret Sauce
They’re everywhere—those lovely little crustless, egg salad sandwiches, cut into dainty pieces, and so delicious. Not an engagement party, a shower, a ladies lunch, a church picnic, would be complete without these little treats. Often there’s an intriguing flavor profile that’s hard to place—a little sharp, a little sweet, a little tangy. When asked for egg salad recipes, the response? Oh, just a little of this and that! A mystery all those good cooks were in on? Or just a myth?
Finally, at an 80th birthday party on a hot July afternoon, after a whole glass of ice cold punch, a lovely lady celebrant told all! Yes, there was an egg salad recipe secret ingredient. Yes, everyone kept quiet about it because it was so hard to find. It came in a jar with a blue label, it had been around for over 100 years—Durkee Famous Sauce! If found, it was advised to buy 2 jars. Created in Buffalo, NY, in the 1850s— and now with a loyal following in the South, it’s one of the oldest continuously manufactured food products in the US. Tasting of at least two spicy mustards, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar and spices, the egg salad dressing recipe: to every ¼ cup mayo add 1 heaping tablespoon of Durkee Famous. Then add in relish or chives or dill—your usual recipe.
The egg salad Secret Sauce myth finally dispelled.
The Kitchen Hive
