Elevate Your Deviled Eggs With A Sweet And Crunchy Twist

You have to admit that even though plain Jane deviled eggs are an overplayed dish at a party, picnics, or potlucks, they are still pretty irresistible. Even when placed on an appetizer table alongside expertly created canapés, dainty finger sandwiches, and colorful crostini, deviled eggs go faster than a New York minute. There are many different ways to soup up hard-boiled eggs, but the basic recipe requires just a little mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Prepared like so, they are divine — a savory, creamy bite with unmistakable eggy flavor and a mellow tang.

The great thing about deviled eggs is that there are so many ways to flavor them. People have doctored up the yolk filling with things like lobster meat, fish roe, smoked salmon, and truffles, and it all seems to work. Taking the flavor of deviled eggs to a different level, though, doesn't have to be as decadent as a truffle shaving or dollop of caviar. In fact, you probably already have what many people flavor these finger foods within your pantry or fridge. The crunchy, sweet condiment addition happens to be a southern specialty that has been popular for a long time, but for those who haven't tried it, it can be a game changer.

Despite the region's affinity for deviled eggs, the handheld delight was not invented in the southern United States. However, those down south are known for adding a spoonful of sweet pickle relish to the yolk filling. Standard deviled eggs check the taste boxes of salty, savory, creamy, and tangy, but adding the relish completes the flavor profile by giving the eggs just a bit of sweetness, not to mention some satisfying crunch. Sweet relish has some sourness of its own which will further balance out the rich creaminess of the egg yolk.

If you have eggs that have been properly hard-boiled, making deviled eggs is a snap. Once the boiled eggs are cool, peel them and cut them in half lengthwise, removing the yolks and placing them in a bowl. To the yolks, add mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, and whatever other ingredients your recipe calls for. After everything is mixed and creamy, fold in some sweet pickle relish. Spoon or pipe the yolk mixture into the holes of the egg whites, top with an accent ingredient like paprika, chopped bacon, or chives, and serve. If you're more of a sour pickle fan, you could certainly try using dill pickle relish instead. Judging by the versatility of deviled eggs, this substitution will work deliciously as well.