Give Your Egg Sandwich An Italian Twist And Add Tomato Sauce

There are few dishes that are simpler and as satisfying as an egg sandwich. Depending on how you make it, an egg sandwich can transform from a quick breakfast to a satisfying dinner or a comforting midnight snack. It's a good idea to have a couple of variations of this classic up your sleeve so that no matter what you're in the mood for, there is an egg sandwich to match it.

One of the best riffs on it is adding tomato sauce into the mix which instantly puts this simple dish up there with other egg sandwich greats like the Japanese 7-Eleven's egg sandwiches. However, unlike the Japanese sando which uses Kewpie mayo and egg salad, this one combines a chunky tomato sauce with a fried egg.

While the easiest way is to use jarred sauce on your sandwich, you can also use the homemade kind. Because of the added flavor and moisture the sauce brings, it allows you to use a heartier bread for your sandwich, which in turn lets you load more delicious ingredients and condiments onto your creation. Complement it with a few more Italian twists and your egg sandwich will have you saying "Mamma Mia!" at every bite.

Both eggs and tomatoes are incredibly versatile ingredients separately and also taste delicious when combined. While raw tomatoes may not be everyone's cup of tea, the rich flavor of cooked tomatoes pairs particularly well with creamy eggs. In fact, you can even add tomato sauce to BLTs if you want to avoid raw tomato slices. And you only need to look as far as shakshuka — the delicious Mediterranean comfort dish of eggs poached in tomato sauce — for proof of how well the combination works.

Before ladling sauce onto the bread, make sure you drain excess water from it to avoid the bread going soggy. To complement the flavor complexity that tomato brings to your egg sandwich, sprinkle the sauce with parmesan cheese before topping it with an egg. The cheese's nuttiness helps round out the flavors. Another little trick is to rub the toasted bread with a raw garlic clove before adding the sauce, which adds just the right amount of pungency to your sandwich. However, we'd recommend trying this when making an egg sandwich for a meal other than breakfast (because who wants garlic breath in the morning?).

The egg is still the star of the show and can be cooked any way you like. Whip up a quick sunny side up or flip it for an over-easy egg. If you want to make things fancier, top your sandwich with a perfectly poached egg.

Once you've given your egg sandwich the tomato sauce treatment, you may find yourself slipping into a delicious rabbit hole of Italian flavors and that's a good thing. Depending on how much prep effort you want to make and how hearty of a meal you crave, there are several more Italian-inspired sandwich upgrades.

Jarred options are acceptable, especially if you use Giada De Laurentiis' trick for elevating store-bought sauce. However, gather the right tomatoes for a homemade sauce, add some flavor-boosting spices, and you will be blown away by how easily a delicious Italian concoction comes together. Put some on your sandwich and store the rest because you'll definitely be adding it to future egg sandwiches as well. You can also change up the bread and opt for Italian staples like focaccia or ciabatta for added texture and flavor.

Finally, while authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is as good a topping as any, why stop there? You can add smoked mozzarella or provolone cheese, as well as a layer of Italian ham below the egg. A handful of spicy arugula or a few dollops of pesto can also add a herby zing and balance out the flavors. There are numerous combinations you can try with these Italian twists, but the lesson here is to always keep some tomato sauce on hand in your kitchen.