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    Home / Collections / Breakfast for Dinner Ideas / Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers

    Jan 20, 2015 · Last Updated: Oct 31, 2017

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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    Folks, I'm embracing the Britishness! Today it hits again because I'm sharing with you a classic British breakfast that I've fallen in love with eating. This is often called boiled eggs and soldiers, but I prefer the name dippy eggs because well, that's exactly what it is! A soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk for dipping thin pieces of bread (the soldiers) into. Dippy eggs!

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers

    Cultural influences just sneak up on you, and I guess now is about when I'll probably start calling my cellphone my mobile (remember that Friends episode when Monica's and Phoebe's friend, Amanda Buffamonteezi, returned from London?). Forgive me Americans, but I'm not doing it just to sound cool ;) Yesterday was the first time I realized that I was actually becoming a bit more British when I stumbled over the spelling for Savory Muffins. Is there supposed to be an extra 'u' to make it a savoury muffin? Everything here is just starting to become a bit more familiar.

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese SoldiersDippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese

    I did a bit of asking around why these are actually called eggs and soldiers. The best explanation I got was that the strips of bread are lined up like soldiers. There are some vague Humpty Dumpty explanations floating around too. Humpty Dumpty is supposed to be the dippy egg while "all the kings men" are the soldiers. An even stranger explanation I heard though, is that when you dip the strips of bread into the dippy egg, it looks like an upside down Beefeater (those iconic guards outside the Tower of London). What do you think?

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers

    This recipe is made with grilled cheese soldiers because cheese just makes it that much more yummy! To be honest, I don't think I'm fully integrated yet into the British culture because I love putting cheese on everything. And whenever I start piling on the cheese, they all start going off about how Americans put cheese on everything. Ha! I laugh at that because it strikes so true in my own life :) I don't know if it really is an American thing, or just a me-thing, but it is a d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s thing!

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers

    So here you go, a twist on the British classic dippy eggs and soldiers. Give it a try with grilled cheese and you won't regret! Plus, if you run out of the dippy egg, the grilled cheese soldiers are good on their own. There's a little less cheese than I would normally put in a grilled cheese sandwich, but that's intentional because otherwise the cheese overpowers the yolky goodness from the dippy egg.

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers For Family Easter Brunch

    Dippy Eggs and Grilled Cheese Soldiers

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Serves: 1
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Cook: 10 minutes mins
    Total: 15 minutes mins
    Eggs and soldiers is a classic British breakfast where you dip buttered bread slices into runny soft-boiled eggs. This version uses grilled cheese dippers!

    Ingredients

    • A little oil - to grease the pan
    • 1 knob salted butter
    • 2 slices of rustic bread - sliced no thicker than ½ inch (1 cm) each (I used a whole wheat sourdough)
    • 3 thin slices medium cheddar cheese (about 40 grams) - roughly broken up into large pieces
    • ¼ to ½ tomato - chopped
    • 2 large eggs

    Instructions

    To make the grilled cheese soldiers

    • Add some oil to a grill pan, and preheat the pan on medium-high heat (a frying pan works too).
    • Spread the butter on one side of each slice of bread, dividing the butter evenly between the two slices of bread.
    • Place the cheese and tomatoes on one of the slices of bread, with the buttered side face down. Top with the other slice of bread, with the buttered side face up.
    • Carefully transfer the sandwich onto the grill pan once it is hot. Let it cook for about 2 minutes, then gently press down with a spatula and cook for about another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
    • Flip the sandwich. Let it cook for about 2 minutes, then gently press down with a spatula and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown and the cheese is thoroughly melted.
    • Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board and allow to cool slightly until you can handle it.
    • Slice the sandwich into strips about ½ inch (1 cm) wide.

    To make the soft-boiled eggs

    • Bring the eggs to room temperature. To do this quickly, set the eggs in a warm bowl of water for about 10 minutes.
    • Bring a pot of water to boil, then turn the heat down so it is just boiling.
    • Slowly lower the eggs into the water with a slotted spoon.
    • Cook for 1 minute, then cover the pot and remove from heat. Let it sit for 4 minutes. Use a timer for this step so you don't overcook the egg.
    • Carefully remove the eggs using a slotted spoon and transfer to egg cups.

    To serve the Dippy Eggs and Soldiers

    • Lightly tap the top of the eggs with a spoon until it cracks. Spoon off the top ½ inch (1 cm) of the egg, so you can see the yolk.
    • Serve with the grilled cheese solders for dipping.

    Notes

    This recipe is for one serving, but you can easily scale up if needed.
    Course: Eggs
    Author: The Worktop
    Cal : 313kcal
    Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
    Love this?I would appreciate a star review! Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram using #theworktop and tagging me @theworktop.

     

    « Savory Muffins with Parmesan, Bacon and Spring Onions
    Orange Pecan Baked French Toast (Guest Post) »

    By Tina Jui
    Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes, Breakfast for Dinner Ideas, Breakfast Recipes with Eggs, Collections, Cooking Style, Easter Breakfast Recipes, Father's Day Brunch Recipes, Kid Friendly, Lifestyle, Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas, Quick and Easy Brunches, Seasonal, Stove Top, Toasts and Sandwiches, VegetarianTags: British, cheese

    About Tina Jui

    A breakfast lover and food blogger. Tina develops everyday breakfast recipes on The Worktop, and writes about all things related to breakfast and brunch. Read more about Tina Jui or drop an email to say hi.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa says

      December 08, 2020 at 9:37 pm

      My 10 yr old son is an aspiring Brit so I had to make this for him! Thank you for the recipe! It's perfect with grilled cheese soldiers!

      Reply
    2. Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

      February 28, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      Dippy eggs are one of my sons favourites, but to add toasted cheese sandwiches! GENIUS!!!!

      He is going to love this!

      Reply
    3. Maya @ Treats and Eats says

      January 29, 2015 at 2:12 am

      I love that episode of Friends! And I love putting cheese on everything so this sounds amazing. Yum!!

      Reply
      • Tina Jui says

        January 30, 2015 at 4:15 pm

        Yes... add on the cheese to everything! That's my philosophy too.

        Reply
    4. L. Chan says

      January 21, 2015 at 6:38 pm

      I want to eat this right now. I am definitely making these for breakfast this weekend.

      Reply
    5. JJ says

      January 21, 2015 at 10:30 am

      5 stars
      nice! will never say no to eggs and soldiers :)

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Tina and a lover of breakfast! The Worktop is where I share my everyday breakfast recipes. You can find lots of breakfasts and brunch ideas on my site. Many of the recipes are easy to make and healthy, but of course, you'll also find big brunch indulgences.

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    Hi, I'm Tina and a lover of breakfast! The Worktop is where I share my everyday breakfast recipes. You can find lots of breakfasts and brunch ideas on my site. Many of the recipes are easy to make and healthy, but of course, you'll also find big brunch indulgences.

    More about The Worktop →

    Popular Breakfast Recipes

    • Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole - Easy Recipe | The Worktop
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    • Overnight Chia Seed Pudding with Almond Milk | The Worktop #breakfast #GF #vegan
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