Southern Eggs Benedict Recipes

CLASSIC EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Prepare Hollandaise sauce according to directions below. Set aside while poaching eggs.
• Stovetop Poaching Method: Fill saucepan with about 3 inches (8 cm) of water. Add a splash of vinegar. Heat until water simmers gently. Break cold egg into small dish or saucer. Holding dish just above simmering water, gently slip egg into water. Repeat for remaining eggs. Cook in barely simmering water until whites are set and yolks are cooked as desired, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove eggs with slotted spoon and drain well on paper towel.
• Microwave Poaching Method: Pour ⅓ cup (75 mL) water into small deep bowl. Bring to boil on High (100% power). Break eggs, one at a time, and slip into water. Pierce yolk membranes with fork. Cover with plastic wrap, leaving small steam vent. Cook until whites are set and yolk are cooked as desired, 40 to 60 seconds. Let stand, covered, for 1 minute. Remove eggs from bowl and drain well on paper towel.
• Top each English muffin half with slice of back bacon, a poached egg and 2 tbsp (30 mL) Hollandaise sauce.
• Hollandaise Sauce
• Stovetop Method: In top of double boiler, whisk together butter, egg yolks, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly until thickened, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Microwave Method: In 4-cup (1 L) glass measure, whisk together butter, egg yolks, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Gradually add melted butter into yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Microwave on Medium (50% power) until sauce thickens, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Whisk halfway through and at end of cooking to produce a smooth sauce. Serve warm.

COUNTRY STYLE EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the sausage gravy: In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon into crumbles until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook about 2 minutes over medium-low heat. Whisk in the milk and cook until the sauce begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the eggs: Cut each Biscuit in half and place the bottom halves on a baking sheet. Place a slice of American cheese on each bottom half, then bake just until the cheese is melted, 5 to 8 minutes. Top each with a hash brown patty, a generous spoonful of sausage gravy, one egg and the chives. Top each with the remaining biscuit half and serve warm.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the chilled, cubed butter. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour until it resembles a coarse meal. Stir in the baking powder, salt, sugar, and baking soda. Form a well in the center of the flour and pour in the buttermilk. Mix with a fork until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the dough begins to shape into a ball. (The dough will be slightly dry.)
• Dust a clean work surface with flour, then coat your palms and rub some flour on a rolling pin. Turn out the dough on the work surface. Knead the dough for 1 to 2 minutes, folding it over onto itself each time. Roll the dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Dip a 3-inch biscuit cutter or the rim of a 3-inch-wide glass in flour, then cut out the biscuits. Reshape the leftover dough into a ball, roll it out again, and cut out more biscuits. Repeat this process until the dough is gone.
• Place the biscuits on the baking sheet and bake until the tops are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. While the biscuits are still hot, brush some of the remaining butter on each biscuit.

SOUTHWESTERN EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Place potatoes and water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes or until tender; drain. In a large skillet, saute pepper and onion in oil until onion is tender. Add the potatoes, bacon, salt and pepper; saute 8-10 minutes longer or until potatoes are lightly browned., In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Stir in cheese and chilies; cook and stir until cheese is melted., Meanwhile, place 2-3 in. of water in a large skillet with high sides; add vinegar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer gently. Break cold eggs, one at a time, into a custard cup or saucer; holding the cup close to the surface of the water, slip each egg into water., Cook, uncovered, until whites are completely set and yolks are still soft, about 4 minutes. Divide potato mixture among four plates. Using a slotted spoon, lift eggs out of water and place on potato mixture. Top with sauce; sprinkle with tomatoes and cilantro if desired.

EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• To Make Hollandaise: Fill the bottom of a double boiler part-way with water. Make sure that water does not touch the top pan. Bring water to a gentle simmer. In the top of the double boiler, whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, white pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon water.
• Add the melted butter to egg yolk mixture 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time while whisking yolks constantly. If hollandaise begins to get too thick, add a teaspoon or two of hot water. Continue whisking until all butter is incorporated. Whisk in salt, then remove from heat. Place a lid on pan to keep sauce warm.
• Preheat oven on broiler setting. To Poach Eggs: Fill a large saucepan with 3 inches of water. Bring water to a gentle simmer, then add vinegar. Carefully break eggs into simmering water, and allow to cook for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Yolks should still be soft in center. Remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon and set on a warm plate
• While eggs are poaching, brown the bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and toast the English muffins on a baking sheet under the broiler.
• Spread toasted muffins with softened butter, and top each one with a slice of bacon, followed by one poached egg. Place 2 muffins on each plate and drizzle with hollandaise sauce. Sprinkle with chopped chives and serve immediately.

EGGS BENEDICT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Spray 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Whisk eggs, 2 cups milk, green onions, onion powder, and salt together in a large bowl until well mixed.
• Layer half the Canadian bacon in the prepared baking dish. Spread English muffins over meat and top with remaining Canadian bacon. Pour egg mixture over casserole. Cover baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Sprinkle casserole with paprika; cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven until eggs are nearly set, about 30 minutes; remove foil. Continue baking until eggs are completely set, about 15 more minutes.
• Whisk hollandaise sauce mix with 1 cup milk in a saucepan. Add margarine and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low, simmer, and stir until thickened, about 1 minute. Drizzle sauce over casserole to serve.

SOUTHERN EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• The day before, cook the grits according to package directions (usually 4 cups of water to 1 cup of grits) to taste. Allow to cool and then spread onto cookie sheet or something similar and spread out grits so they are about 1" thick. Refrigerate overnight. The idea is to make them stiff and dry them out.
• The Morning of, create the Remoulade by combining all ingredients (except grits, ham, eggs) in a bowl. Rinse and thaw shrimp before adding to Remoulade.
• Cut grits into 4 sections the size of a piece bread or an English Muffin (a large cookie cutter works perfect). Lightly flour the grits so they will brown and hold together.
• Pan fry the grit cakes in butter and oil until slightly brown.
• Cut the country ham in a similar fashion to the grits so when you put the ham on the grit "cake" it will have similar proportions.
• Poach each egg and plate with grit section on bottom followed by country ham then poached egg.
• Pour Remoulade over stack and sprinkle with paprika.

CLASSIC EGGS BENEDICT AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Sear the Canadian bacon in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for about 1 minute per side.
• Split and toast the English muffin.
• Poach the eggs as directed on page 75.
• Arrange the muffin halves on a plate. Top each half with the bacon and then the poached eggs. Pour hollandaise sauce over the top and serve immediately.
• Trim and wash (several times) one bunch of spinach. Steam the spinach, squeeze it dry in a clean kitchen towel, and coarsely chop it with a sharp knife into 1/4-inch pieces. Before serving, sauté the spinach in 1 tablespoon unsalted butter. Add a little diced onion or garlic, if you like. Season the spinach with salt and pepper and substitute the spinach for the Canadian bacon.
• Substitute thin slices of smoked salmon for the Canadian bacon. Don't cook the smoked salmon as this will ruin its creamy texture and make it more like cooked salmon. For an additional variation, try Smoked Salmon Florentine by adding spinach (see above). The bright orange salmon is beautiful with the green spinach, the white egg, and the pale yellow hollandaise. Make sure the hollandaise isn't steaming hot when you pour it over the salmon or it will cook the salmon.
• Slice a firm green tomato into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Soak the slices for 5 minutes in buttermilk. Dredge the slices in yellow or white cornmeal seasoned with salt and pepper. To fry the tomatoes, put 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a cast-iron skillet and allow the oil to get good and hot (375°F), but not smoking. Fry the tomatoes on both sides for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove them from the pan and pat dry with paper towels. To place the poached eggs on the tomatoes, make an indentation in the tomatoes with a spoon for the eggs to sit in or they may roll off to the side.
• Similar variations are to substitute the fried green tomatoes for the Canadian bacon, to serve the fried green tomatoes in addition to the Canadian bacon, or to serve Fried Green Tomatoes Benedict with slab bacon.
• For a nice southern touch, substitute Bubby's Variation on Mr. Beard's Cream Biscuits (page 54), sliced in half, for the English muffins. Or, instead of hollandaise sauce, try Sausage Gravy (page 186).
• First make the Béarnaise Sauce (page 287). For the tenderloin, cut 1/2-inch-thick slices of raw beef tenderloin and season well with salt and pepper (we use very good sea salt, which makes all the difference). Heat a cast-iron skillet to smoking hot and add a very small amount of vegetable oil. Very quickly sear the tenderloin pieces, keeping them very rare. For medium rare, sear for 45 to 60 seconds on each side. Use the seared tenderloin in place of Canadian bacon and top with the béarnaise sauce.
• Substitute one-half fillet smoked trout, warmed for 1 minute in a toaster oven or broiler, for the Canadian bacon. Top with Béarnaise Sauce (page 287) instead of hollandaise.