Traditional Eggs Benedict Recipes

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.

HOW TO MAKE EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Bring the poaching water to a simmer: While the bacon is cooking, bring a large saucepan two-thirds-filled with water to a boil, then add the vinegar. Bring the water to a boil again, then lower the heat to a bare simmer.
• Toast the English muffins: As soon as all the eggs are in the poaching water, begin toasting your English muffins. If you can't get all the muffins toasted by the time the eggs are ready, gently remove the eggs from the poaching water and set in a bowl.

CLASSIC EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Make the hollandaise sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until no longer foamy (but not browned), 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the clear butter to a liquid measuring cup, leaving the milk solids on the bottom of the pan; discard the solids.
• Heat 1 inch of water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not simmering. Combine the egg yolks, 1 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoons lemon juice in a medium stainless-steel bowl. Set the bowl on the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking constantly, until the egg mixture is pale yellow and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Check periodically to make sure the water isn't boiling or the egg yolks might overcook.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan; slowly pour in the melted butter, a drop at a time at first, whisking constantly until thick. Whisk in the remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice, the cayenne and ¼ teaspoon salt. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in some warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to loosen. Return the bowl to the saucepan of water with the heat turned off to keep warm; whisk occasionally.
• Make the Eggs Benedict: Fill a large wide pot with 3 inches of water. Heat over medium-high heat until steaming with small bubbles; reduce the heat as needed to maintain a bare simmer. Stir in the vinegar. Crack 4 eggs into individual small bowls or ramekins. Carefully tip the eggs into the water, spacing them as far apart as possible. Cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, 3 to 3½ minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate lined with a kitchen towel. Gently blot the eggs dry and trim off any wispy pieces. Repeat with the remaining 4 eggs.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Canadian bacon and cook until lightly browned and warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Meanwhile, toast the English muffins and spread with butter.
• Top each English muffin half with a slice of Canadian bacon and a poached egg. Thin the hollandaise sauce with more warm water, if necessary, and season with salt. Spoon over the poached eggs and sprinkle with chopped chives.

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.

CLASSIC EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• In 1-quart saucepan, vigorously stir egg yolks and lemon juice with wire whisk. Add 1/4 cup of the butter. Heat over very low heat, stirring constantly with wire whisk, until butter is melted.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup butter. Continue stirring vigorously until butter is melted and sauce is thickened. (Be sure butter melts slowly so eggs have time to cook and thicken sauce without curdling.) If the sauce curdles (mixture begins to separate and melted butter starts to appear around the edge of the pan and on top of the sauce), add about 1 tablespoon boiling water and beat vigorously with wire whisk or egg beater until smooth. Keep warm.
• Split English muffins; toast. Spread each muffin half with some of the 3 tablespoons butter; keep warm.
• In 10-inch skillet, melt 1 teaspoon butter over medium heat. Cook bacon in butter until light brown on both sides; keep warm.
• Wipe out skillet to clean; fill with 2 to 3 inches water. Add vinegar to water. Heat to boiling; reduce to simmering. Break cold eggs, one at a time, into custard cup or saucer. Holding dish close to water's surface, carefully slip eggs into water. Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until whites and yolks are firm, not runny (water should be gently simmering and not boiling). Remove with slotted spoon.
• Place 1 slice bacon on each muffin half. Top with egg. Spoon warm sauce over eggs. Sprinkle with paprika.

EASY EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Crack eggs into a bowl. Fill a large pot with 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to medium. When water is barely simmering, tilt pan slightly to create a wave and add eggs all at once. After 30 seconds, gently release eggs from bottom of pan with a rubber spatula.
• Cook eggs until white is set and yolk is still soft, 3 to 3 1/2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, gently transfer eggs to a bowl filled with room temperature water.
• Heat butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add Canadian bacon in two batches and cook until crisp, flipping once, about 4 minutes per side.
• Preheat broiler. Arrange English-muffin halves craggy side up on a baking sheet. Broil until golden and toasted, 1 minute. Spread with butter and top with crisp bacon. Remove each egg with a slotted spoon and blot on a folded paper towel to remove excess water. Top muffin halves with poached egg. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon hollandaise over muffin. Top with watercress and a pinch of cayenne.

QUICK AND EASY EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, fry the Canadian bacon on each side until evenly browned.
• Fill a large saucepan with about 3 inches water, and bring to a simmer. Pour in the vinegar. Carefully break the 4 eggs into the water, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until whites are set but yolks are still soft. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter until bubbly in a small pan or in the microwave. Remove from heat before butter browns.
• In a blender or large food processor, blend the egg yolks, heavy cream, cayenne pepper, and salt until smooth. Add half of the hot butter in a thin steady stream, slow enough so that it blends in at least as fast as you are pouring it in. Blend in the lemon juice using the same method, then the remaining butter.
• Place open English muffins onto serving plates. Top with 1 slice Canadian bacon and 1 poached egg. Drizzle with the cream sauce, and serve at once.

SUPER EASY EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Prepare Hollandaise sauce and keep it warm on the back burner at low temperature while cooking the other ingredients. In a large pot, add vinegar and bring water to a boil.
• While the water gets boiling, place a griddle on medium heat. Add oil and 1 teaspoons clarified butter. Tilt the pan so the ingredients cover the entire bottom. When it gets hot, add English muffin halves pressing down slightly to adhere to the griddle; cook for 2 minutes or until golden. Flip and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer on plates and set aside.
• Add the remaining teaspoons of butter and cook back bacon for 2 to 2 ½ minutes or until golden. Flip and cook for another 2 to 2 ½ minutes. Place each slice on top of an English muffin half; set aside.
• Crack each egg in a ramekin or small bowl. When water is boiling, stir quickly to create a vortex (it prevents the white from spreading) and drop egg in the whirlpool; poach for 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove egg and place it on top of the Canadian back bacon. Spoon on the warm Hollandaise sauce and sprinkle with paprika. Makes 4 eggs benedict.

TRADITIONAL EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Poach egg.
• Lightly toast English muffin half.
• Top with ham slice, (tucking square corners under to conform to round muffin).
• Top ham with poached egg.
• Cover all with 3 tablespoons Hollandaise Sauce.(See recipe #25113)for (Quicky Hollandaise Sauce).
• Sprinkle with paprika (if desired).
• SERVE AT ONCE.