Perfect Egg Salad ... with a secret health and flavor boost!

Eggs and pickles. Such a match made in heaven. And in this recipe, pickles (and pickle juice!) add a good dose of healthy bacteria, to boost energy, immunity and improve digestion.You can use any kind of pickle juice to make an egg salad taste delicious. But if you use pickles prepared the old-fashioned way (fermented instead of processed with vinegar), you get live healthy cultures that can help to balance your gut.

What Kind of Pickles To Buy

Usually we buy Bubbie's brand which can be found in the refrigerated section of many grocery stores. The pickles are crunchy, a bit spicy (but not too spicy for my kids who are usually sensitive)I don't like pouring the culture-rich pickle juice down the sink when we're done with the jar. What a waste! So I'm always trying to come up with ways to use it.Sometimes I'll just have a spoonful here or there. Or I'll put some in my soup once it's cooled a bit (not to destroy the cultures). Deviled eggs and salmon & chicken salads are a great way to use it up too!These pickles are a bit pricey, but for what they offer I think it is more than worth the slight shuffling of our grocery budget.I love finding new ways to slip probiotics into our diet. (Read 6 No-Work Ways We Get Our Probiotics In Every Day for more tips!)

Studies show that kids with probiotics in their diets get sick less

Have you heard about the recent study in China, where 326 children were given probiotics in their milk (with a control group that was given plain milk)? The kids who received the probiotics were significantly less sick throughout the school year, with fewer fevers, coughs and other cold/flu symptoms. (source) I was skeptical because the company funding the study was a supplement manufacturer. But when I started digging around in medical journals, I found similar results cited, such as a study done on a group of babies in 14 different child care centers. The infants (4-10 months) with probiotics in their formula were significantly less sick throughout the year. (source) Besides, I see how my kids thrive on probiotic-rich foods, so I make it a part of their daily diet.

recipe:
perfect egg salad

Pickle juice adds flavor to this simple egg salad recipe - and a boost of nutrition if the right kind of pickles are used!

Author: Natalia Gill

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

6 boiled eggs, peeled and finely chopped
1 tablespoon mayo
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
3 tablespoons pickles, finely chopped (preferrably fermented pickles with live cultures like Bubbies brand)
pickle juice (start with 2 tablespoons)
salt & pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Stir together all ingredients except for salt and pepper. Adjust flavorings if needed to reach desired taste and consistency. Add a little salt and pepper if you'd like.