Grain Buds · Tea break · Balanced
Cucumber & egg wholemeal sandwich
Crisp cucumber and soft chopped egg in wholemeal bread — a light, filling afternoon bite.
- 20 min
- Serves 2
- Boil
- Easy
NeutralClears heat & dampNourishes heart & spleen
Why it suits you: Balanced types simply follow the season. As Grain Buds turns hot and humid, cucumber clears heat and drains water, while egg and wholemeal bread add protein and fibre so you are not reaching for biscuits at 4 pm.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 10 min- 1Start the eggs in cold water; once boiling, cook over medium heat for 9 minutes, then cool in cold water and peel.
- 2Wash the cucumber, slice it thinly on the diagonal and pat dry with kitchen paper so the bread stays crisp.
- 3Mash the eggs with a fork and mix in the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- 4Lightly toast the bread. Layer lettuce, egg and cucumber on one slice, top with the other and cut in half.
Chef's tips
- Boil the eggs the night before. Assemble in the morning, wrap tightly in cling film and keep it in the office fridge until the afternoon.
- Too dry? Stir a spoonful of plain yoghurt into the egg.
The TCM view
Cucumber is sweet and cool, clears heat, drains water and eases thirst; egg is sweet and neutral and nourishes yin; wholemeal bread supports the heart and spleen and gives steady energy. Balanced and light, it clears heat without chilling the stomach — in line with the term's aim to clear heat, drain damp and settle digestion.
