A bialy is a cross between an English muffin and a bagel with a light and crunchy top and chewy bottom. Typically filled with a small amount of sautéed onions and lightly dusted with a few poppy seeds, the bialy is then baked until lightly browned on the top. You can of course make bialys at home, but, you can you also find them in the frozen section or in the bakery of your local grocery store.

People typically think of a croissant, hard roll or bagel to make the perfect egg sandwich. I’m going to add bialy to that list too! If you’ve never had a bialy before, you should search for the closest bakery/grocery store near to where you live that makes this delicious little roll. You can of course schmear your bialy with cream cheese or butter (traditional), but in this case, I’m using it to create the perfect fried egg sandwich. It’s layered with fresh avocado, shallots, and melted cheddar cheese and it’s all topped with a creamy sauce. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 bialys (can be found at your local bakery/grocery store)
• 4 eggs
• 1 tbsp. butter/margarine/olive oil
• 8 tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese (approx. 2 tbsp. per sandwich)
• 1 avocado
• 1 shallot (chopped)

Sauce:

• 3 tbsp. sour cream
• 3 tbsp. mayonnaise
• 2 tsp. lime juice
• a pinch each of: ground red pepper, ginger, dried cilantro, chili powder, all spice

Method of Preparation

If using frozen bialys, thaw, slice in half and toast until golden brown. If using fresh bialys, slice in half and toast until golden brown. While the bialys are toasting, add 1 tbsp. of butter OR margarine OR olive oil (whichever you prefer) to a large frying pan. Let heat through (about 1 minute). Crack each egg (one at a time) into a bowl and gently slide the eggs into the frying pan. Cook over LOW heat until the whites are set and the yellow is starting to set (about 2-3 minutes). Carefully flip the eggs over one at a time and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. At about 1 minute left, sprinkle 2 tbsp. each of cheddar cheese on top of each egg to let cheese melt. Cooking times of the eggs will vary depending on the temperature. If you prefer your yolk to be cooked all the way through, cook an additional 2 minutes checking on the yolk to see that it is cooked through. To assemble the sandwich, place the fried egg on the bottom half of the bialy. Top with the fresh avocado, shallots, and the sauce.