Have you ever thought of a day without tomatoes in your kitchen? At least for me that is difficult where tomatoes are always stocked up in bulk. I can never skip tomatoes and the combination of Eggs over tomatoes is super satisfying for me.

Some recipes are for keeps even if you forget about it; someday someone will remind you about it. This is one such recipe that I had been making since I was in school. I used to glance at my mother’s handwritten recipe collection and slowly started doing the same during my school days. I used to pen down simple recipes published in newspapers and magazines. This recipe was published in the “TOI” newspaper and I found it interesting and noted it down. I tried making it and since then it was frequenting the breakfast table once in a week. It was a simple sauce recipe that was a big hit at home. I had almost forgotten about it when one morning my mother called me and like everyday conversation, I asked her, “What was for breakfast?” She said, ‘your old Tomato sauce, fried eggs and bread’. That hit me, it’s been a while I’ve made it and decided to go for it without any delay.

This is a simple sauce that I used to make for breakfast with bread and eggs. Quick and easy, this sauce goes very well with almost anything even for pasta and pizza too. I will say it is a perfect condiment or a savory spread to enhance flavor of any type of sandwich. It is made with ingredients that are easily available in an Indian home kitchen. The fried egg is sandwiched between two slices of grilled bread with this sauce and some sautéed onions and capsicums. The recipe memory took me back to my school days and that reminded me of Lays India’s Magic Masala chips which was the favorite flavor for me when snacking and now it has turned out to be my daughter’s favorite. These are perfectly delicious chips to go along with the quick fried egg sandwiches. You can try your own variations for filling by adding grated cheese, or choice of any veggies like carrots, cucumber to make it healthier. You can also try with your choice of bread like a burger bun, English muffin or with simple white bread. It is an ideal sandwich in the morning, for a snack or for a quick meal anytime. Here I chose the burger bun for bulk serve.  This sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for almost two days in an airtight container. This quantity of sauce and onion capsicum filling serves four.

Ingredients:-

For the sauce

1. Tomatoes – 5-7 nos.
2. Onion chopped – 1 no. (medium sized).
3. Green chillies – 2-3 nos.
4. Cloves – 3 nos.
5. Bay leaves – 2 nos.
6. Carom seeds – 1 teaspoon. (Ajwain).
7. Star anise- 1 no (small)
8. Turmeric – half teaspoon.
9. Ginger- garlic paste – 1 teaspoon.
10. Sugar – 2 teaspoons.
11. Salt to taste.
12. Vegetable oil – 2 Tablespoon.
13. Burger Bun
14. Butter to spread

For the filling:-

1. Onions – 2 nos.
2. Capsicum – 2nos.
3. Olive oil- 1 teaspoon plus extra for fried egg.
4. Chilli powder – 1/4 teaspoon.
5. Salt – pepper to taste.
6. Half lemon- squeezed.
7. An Egg for each sandwich.

Method:-

1. Steam or Boil tomatoes in little water till the skin begins to crack. Cut the flame and remove the tomatoes from the water onto a plate. (The skin will easily peel off the tomato at this stage). Cool and gently peel off the skin of the tomatoes, puree them in a blender and keep aside.
2. Ground carom seeds and star anise with a mortar and pestle and keep aside.
3. Take a sauce pan, add oil and lightly sauté the onions and chillies. Add the carom and star anise to it. Mix and add turmeric, bay leaves and cloves.
4. Sauté till brown and add ginger-garlic paste and sugar.
5. Add the prepared puree of tomatoes to the onion and spices. Simmer and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and let it boil slowly for 15- 20 min or till the water content is slowly evaporated and reaches a thick saucy consistency.
6. Slice onions and capsicums into long strips. Heat a pan and add oil, add onions and capsicums. Stir well till wilted. Add little chilli powder and season with salt-pepper. Squeeze juice of half lemon onto it and mix well. Keep aside.
7. Cut and spread butter onto a burger bun. Grill, cut side down, and transfer to a plate.
8. Serve by placing the onion- capsicum sauté mix on the bun, top with little prepared tomato sauce and finally top with the fried egg (sunny side down or fry them on both sides to avoid any mess). Cover with the other half of the bread and serve with potato chips.

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