You might think that it’s hard to prepare a breakfast that is quick to make, delicious, and portable, but it’s actually pretty simple. As is the case with other quick-to-prepare recipes, the key is to do as much of the prep work in advance as possible. When I was growing up, English muffin sandwiches were a common staple on our way to early morning swim practice or a meet. My mom make them while we were filling our swim bags with suits, towels, and goggles. Typically when cooking the egg, she broke the yolk and then cooked it over hard until it wasn’t runny, adding salt and pepper to taste. After toasting two halves of an English muffin, she placed a slice of ham, a couple pieces of bacon, or a sausage patty on the bottom half, then the egg, followed by a slice of American cheese, and top it off with the remaining half of the muffin. As we were heading out the door she’d hand each of us our sandwich, wrapped neatly in foil. However, I didn’t realize how much I missed these savory little sandwiches until I started living with my roommate in graduate school. When all of the ingredients are there, she will invariably have an English muffin sandwich every morning. Inspired by her morning tradition, I started dreaming up new takes on this simple morning meal. After testing yet another recipe from The Sriracha Cookbook, I knew I have the the savory staple for my take on a classic breakfast.
Maple-Sriracha Sausage Patty
These patties are the perfect amalgamation of sweet and spicy. These little guys are perfect as a side for an elaborate brunch or a quick egg sandwich to go. This recipe makes about 24 patties. Freeze those that you don’t plan to use right away by stacking the patties, separating each with pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap. You can stack about 6 patties, and then wrap that in more plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Patties can then be taken out as you need them, and thawed or even cooked the night before.
- 4 pounds ground pork
- 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 6 tablespoons Sriracha
- 6 green onions, white and green parts, sliced on the diagonal
- 3 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 3 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. Form sausage patties that are about 2 inches in diameter and a 1/4 inch thick. Once patties have been made, refrigerate for about 30 minutes so that the flavors may marry. Heat a cast iron skillet (or a regular non-stick frying pan), and cook the patties, browning both sides evenly.
English Muffin Egg Sandwich with Maple-Sriracha Sausage Patty, Pesto, and Cheese
Once you have the ingredients for this sandwich prepped and ready in your fridge, it will take no more than 8 minutes to make your morning breakfast.
- 1 English muffin
- 1 egg
- 1 slice American cheese
- 1 maple-Sriracha sausage patty, cooked
- 1/2 tablespoon pesto
- Salt and pepper
Start by heating a small frying pan over medium-high heat. While the pan gets hot, split your English muffin into two halves and toast in a conventional toaster until your desired level of toasting is achieved. Lightly grease your pan with a little bit of butter. When the pan is hot enough, crack the egg into one half and place a sausage patty on the other side. (Sausage patty can also be heated in the microwave.) Using your spatula, break the yolk and lightly mix the yolk and white; this isn’t meant to be a scramble. The egg will have the tendency to try to spread out, so use your spatula to ensure that it maintains about the same diameter of your English muffin. Salt and pepper to taste, and when the bottom is cooked, flip it over to cook the other side. This shouldn’t take more than a couple minutes. While cooking your egg, check your sausage patty and flip it over to warm the other side. By now your English muffins will be toasted. Pull them out place, the sausage on top of one of the halves, followed by the egg. Lay a piece of American cheese on top of the egg. Spread the pesto on the other half of the English muffin and top the sandwich. You are now ready to start your day!
