Eggs Benedict
New York brunch classic: poached eggs and ham on English muffins with hollandaise
Eggs Benedict belongs to New York, where two Manhattan restaurants still argue over who served it first, and it remains the star of weekend brunch from diners to grand hotels. Toasted English muffins carry warm ham (pork), softly poached eggs and a blanket of buttery, lemony hollandaise. Chef's tip: use the freshest eggs you can get for poaching; their whites hold together instead of spreading into wisps.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the hollandaise
For the stack
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water (the bowl must not touch the water). Whisk 2 egg yolks, 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp lemon juice in it for 2–3 minutes until pale, thick and the whisk leaves a trail; the yolks should reach about 158°F. Take the bowl off the heat.
5 minStep 2: Add warm 4 oz unsalted butter a few drops at a time at first, whisking constantly, then in a thin stream, until thick and glossy. Season with 1 pinch salt and 1 pinch cayenne pepper. If it starts to split, whisk in a teaspoon of warm water. Keep it warm over the pan off the heat. Anyone pregnant, very young, elderly or with low immunity should use pasteurised eggs.
6 minStep 3: Bring a wide pan of water to a gentle simmer with 1 tbsp white vinegar. Crack each of 4 very fresh eggs into a small cup. Stir the water into a slow whirl and slide in 2 eggs. Poach for 3 minutes until the whites are fully set and the yolks still soft. Lift out with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper. Repeat.
8 minStep 4: Meanwhile toast 2 English muffins, spread with ⅓ oz butter, and warm 4 slices thick-sliced cooked ham in a dry frying pan for 1 minute per side.
3 minStep 5: Top each muffin half with ham and a poached egg, spoon over the hollandaise and scatter with 1 tsp chives. A common mistake is letting the hollandaise get too hot; above about 176°F it scrambles.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 780 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 60 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does eggs Benedict take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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