Wannabe 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.

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.

WANNABE EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Lightly fry egg on both sides, about 2-3 minutes each side, in a nonstick skillet. The yolk should be somewhat runny, or to your taste.
• Warm Canadian bacon in microwave about 5 seconds on each side.
• Toast the English muffin.
• Spread the cheese on the English muffin. Top with Canadian bacon and egg. Season with salt, if desired.

BLT EGGS BENEDICT WITH ROASTED POTATO HASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the potatoes, smashed garlic and 2 of the thyme sprigs into a pot of cold water. Season the water generously with kosher salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and lightly smash (I used a bench scraper). Transfer the potatoes into a bowl and toss with the red pepper flakes, a drizzle of olive oil and kosher salt to taste. Place onto a sheet tray in a single layer and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until crispy. Garnish with the grated Parmesan and chives.
• Toss the sliced tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil and kosher salt to taste in a large bowl. Lay the sliced tomatoes onto one half of a sheet tray lined with a rack. Lay 8 bacon strips onto the other half of the sheet tray. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tomatoes and continue cooking the bacon for 10 minutes more.
• Slice the remaining 4 bacon strips into lardons and place into a saute pan. Turn on the heat to medium-low and cook until the bacon is crispy and the fat has rendered, about 10 minutes. Strain the bacon fat through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and set aside.
• Fill a large, high-sided pan with water about halfway up. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer until there are almost no bubbles. Add 1/4 cup of the vinegar to the water. Crack the 4 eggs into the water and poach the eggs for about 3 minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and gently place the eggs into a bowl of room temperature water to hold until ready to serve.
• Preheat a large saute pan with a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the pullman rounds and toast on both sides until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine the clarified butter and the reserved bacon fat and set aside. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the shallots, bay leaf, black peppercorns, 2 tablespoons water, the remaining 2 tablespoons of vinegar and the remaining 2 thyme sprigs into a small saute pan and turn on the heat to medium. Cook for 5 minutes or until the liquid has mostly reduced. Turn off the heat, then add 3 to 4 ice cubes and swirl the pan to fully melt and cool down the mixture. Strain the mixture into a large, heat-resistant bowl.
• Add the egg yolks and lemon juice into the bowl and whisk until the yolks are pale yellow and foamy. Set the bowl over the pot of boiling water to create a double boiler, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Reduce the heat to low. Whisk the eggs vigorously until frothy and fluffy and it starts to thicken slightly. Very slowly, a drop at a time, add the clarified butter and bacon fat mixture while continuing to whisk. Continue to add gradually until the sauce is thickened but still flows-it should coat the back of a spoon. If the bowl gets too hot or the eggs look like they're in danger of scrambling, immediately pull off the bowl from the heat and add an ice cube to cool it down, then return to the heat. Season to taste with kosher salt. If the sauce gets too thick, you can add a little water to thin it out.
• To assemble, lay down a toasted piece of bread and top with two bacon slices, some iceberg lettuce, roasted tomato, a poached egg and a spoonful of the bacon fat hollandaise. Serve alongside the roasted potato hash.

EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Fill a large, wide pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add the vinegar and reduce the heat until the water in the pan has no more bubbles.
• Very close to the surface of the water, crack the eggs and gently drop each egg into the water. Cook the eggs for 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the pan and place in a bowl of cold water. Reserve the eggs in the cold water and reserve the poaching liquid to reheat the eggs. Obviously, if you are poaching the eggs a day ahead you can reheat the eggs in new water!
• Coat a large saute pan lightly with olive oil and bring to a medium heat. Add the slices of Canadian bacon and cook them on both sides until they are hot but not brown.
• Toast the English muffins. Place 1 slice Canadian bacon on each English muffin.
• Warm up the egg poaching liquid (or a pan of new water if you poached ahead) and place the eggs in the water for 1 minute or until the eggs are warm but not cooking any further. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the warm water, blot on a clean paper or tea towel and place 1 egg on each English muffin. Top with the Hollandaise Sauce.
• Toss the mesclun with lemon juice, big fat finishing oil and salt. Garnish each plate with the dressed greens.
• Wine Pairing Suggestion: Prosecco
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. While the butter is melting, skim off the froth that accumulates on the surface. Simmer the butter for 15 to 20 minutes and gently ladle off the clear butterfat into a measuring cup or small pitcher with a spout. Be sure to leave the milk solids in the bottom of the pan. This is called clarified butter.
• In a small saute pan, combine the vinegar and peppercorns and cook over a medium heat until almost all the vinegar has evaporated. Remove the pan from the heat and toss a couple ice cubes into the pan and let them sit until they have melted.
• In a medium metal bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they become frothy and fluffy. Strain the peppercorn liquid into the egg mixture.
• Put 1-inch water into a medium saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Place the metal bowl on top of the saucepan and gently cook the eggs, whisking frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Very slowly begin to add the clarified butter. Start with 2 to 3 drops and continue with a couple more drops after the butter has incorporated.
• Continue to add a few drops of butter at a time. If the eggs seem to be cooking too quickly, pull the bowl off the saucepan and lower the heat. If the eggs start to curdle, toss in an ice cube immediately to cool down the eggs. Continue to add the butter a little at a time until it is all incorporated. The sauce should be fluffy and foamy.
• Once the butter is all combined, add the lemon juice and season the sauce with cayenne and salt.
• Serve over the poached eggs.

EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with about 4 inches of water, add vinegar, and bring to a boil. Fill a shallow dish or pie plate with warm water. Reduce heat under saucepan to medium, so water is just barely simmering. Break 1 egg at a time into a small heat-proof bowl. Gently tip bowl into water; carefully slide egg into water. Repeat with remaining eggs.
• When eggs begin to become opaque, remove them from the saucepan with a slotted spoon in the order in which they were added. Transfer the eggs to the dish of warm water. This process should take about 3 minutes.
• Prepare the hollandaise sauce, and set aside, keeping it warm.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add Canadian bacon, and cook until well browned on both sides. Divide bacon among the English-muffin halves. For each serving, use a slotted spoon to remove one egg from warm water; set spoon and egg briefly on a clean cloth or paper towel to drain. Gently place the egg on a bacon-topped muffin, and spoon the reserved warm hollandaise sauce over the top.

EGGS BENEDICT WITH VIRGINIA HAM AND CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly oil an 8-inch square baking pan.
• Dust the bottom and sides with flour, tapping out the excess.
• FOR CORNBREAD: In a bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt.
• Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in the shortening until crumbly.
• Add the corn kernels, buttermilk and eggs and stir with a whisk until smooth.
• Transfer to the prepared pan.
• Bake until the top is a golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, let cool briefly, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Using a round cutter 3 1/2 inches in diameter, cut out 4 rounds.
• Slice each round in half horizontally.
• Set aside.
• Leave the oven set at 350 degrees F.
• FOR HOLLANDAISE SAUCE: In a stainless-steel bowl, combine the egg yolks, lemon juice, shallot, vinegar and salt.
• Place over (not touching) simmering water in a pan and whisk together continuously until the mixture is a pale lemon yellow and falls in thick ribbons when the whisk is lifted, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the water and cayenne.
• Then, while whisking continuously, slowly drizzle in the clarified butter until all of it has been used and a thick emulsion has formed.
• Cover and keep warm.
• FOR EGGS: Pour water into a large frying pan to a depth of 3 inches and bring to a boil.
• Adjust the heat so the water is just below the boiling point.
• Add the salt and vinegar.
• One at a time, crack the eggs into a small ramekin or tea cup and gently lower into the water.
• Work as quickly as possible so that all the eggs will cook in about the same amount of time.
• Cook until the whites are firm but the yolks are still soft, 3-4 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.
• Trim away any straggly strands of egg.
• Place 2 corn bread rounds, cut sides up, on each warmed individual plate.
• Top each round with an equal amount of the ham and a poached egg.
• Spoon the hollandaise over the top, garnish with the chives and serve immediately.