Classic Eggs Benny Recipes

CLASSIC EGGS BENNY

Steps:

• Combine yolks and wine in a heatproof bowl; set over a pot of simmering water. Rapidly whisk until the yolks are very light, thickened and feel warm, not hot (do not overcook or yolks will scramble). Remove from the heat and very, very slowly dribble and whisk in the butter. Season with pepper, Tabasco, Worcestershire and lemon juice. Cover this hollandaise sauce and set aside until needed. Fill a wide pot 2/3 full with water. Add the vinegar and bring to a simmer. Preheat your broiler. Set the muffin halves, cut-side up, on a baking sheet. Broil until lightly toasted. Set a bacon slice on each muffin. Turn the oven 200°F. Keep muffins warm in the oven while the eggs cook. When simmering, swirl the water and then crack eggs into it. Poach eggs to the desired doneness (about 3 minutes for soft poached). Set 2 half muffins on each of 4 plates. Lift eggs out of the water, drain well, and set one on each muffin. Top with sauce and serve. Recipe Options: To make salmon and spinach benedicts, replace bacon on each muffin with 2 smoked salmon slices and 1/4 cup wilted, well-drained spinach. To make seafood cake benedicts, replace each muffin and bacon slice with a heated shrimp and crab cake (sold in our Seafood Department). To make California-style benedicts, replace bacon on each muffin with a tomato slice and 3 slices of ripe avocado.

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.

EGGS BENNY

Steps:

• Sauce (while sauce is cooking, prepare/heat the other ingredients):.
• In a sauce pot, over medium heat, melt the butter and stir in all the flour, blending well.
• Mix the milk and cream, slowly add to the sauce pot, whisking to totally blend (time to poach those eggs!).
• Add the lemon juice and cayenne pepper.
• Add the grated cheese, blending well. (more cheese can be added for a 'cheesier' flavor if desired. Keep in mind that the cheese will further thicken the sauce.).
• Do not allow the mixture to boil or even come close. Lower the temperature as necessary.
• Cook to thicken sauce to desired consistency. Sauce will further thicken as it sits.
• Heat the ham slices (fry lightly, steam or nuke).
• Add the chopped shallot to the spinach & mix well, heating through.
• Place 1/2 English muffin on each plate, topping it 1st with a ham slice, then 1/4 c spinach mixture, topping that with a poached egg and finally with sauce, then sprinkle with fresh ground pepper.
• Serve hot!
• Keeping a well warmed oven will give you a place to keep things hot 'til you are ready to serve.

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 WITH BLENDER HOLLANDAISE

Steps:

• Make the hollandaise:
• Cook butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted and foamy. Pour into a spouted measuring cup leaving milk solids in bottom of pot; discard milk solids.
• Blend egg yolks, lemon juice, and 1 tsp. water in a blender until smooth. Remove small inset lid from top and, with the motor running, slowly pour in butter in a thin stream. Add salt and blend until creamy. Taste and add more salt or lemon juice, if needed. Transfer to a glass bowl, measuring cup, or small pot. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface so a skin doesn't form, then place close to stovetop to keep warm up to 1 hour. If hollandaise seems too thick when you're ready to serve, whisk in warm water 1 tsp. at a time.
• Assemble the eggs Benedict:
• Heat a large pot of salted water over high until tiny bubbles appear on the bottom (water temperature should be about 180°F). Reduce heat to very low to maintain the temperature.
• Meanwhile, using a toaster, toaster oven, or oven set at 400°F, toast English muffins until golden brown. Slather muffins with butter and divide among plates.
• Heat a dry large skillet over medium-high and cook bacon until browned and warmed through, 2-3 minutes per side. Top each muffin half with bacon.
• Adjust heat so water temperature is about 180°F. For perfectly shaped poached eggs with minimal wispy egg white strands, set a medium-sized fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl. Crack 1 egg into a small bowl, then gently transfer to strainer. Gently swirl for a few seconds to allow any stray whites to drain, then scrape bottom of strainer on lip of bowl to remove any excess.
• With egg still in strainer, carefully lower into hot water until egg is completely submerged. Gently shake and swirl strainer, shaping egg with a slotted spoon. When edges of egg white start to turn opaque (about 30 seconds), carefully release egg from strainer with slotted spoon into water.
• Cook egg, flipping occasionally with slotted spoon, until white is opaque and firm and yolk is plump and jiggles slightly to the touch, 3-3 1/2 minutes more. While first egg is cooking, repeat steps to cook remaining eggs, but keep an eye on which went in first. Use a timer to avoid overcooking.
• When egg is ready, carefully remove from hot water with slotted spoon. To serve immediately, place a paper towel under spoon and shake spoon gently to remove excess water. Transfer egg to an oiled plate or rimmed baking sheet, or place 1 egg on top of each piece of bacon.
• Spoon a few tablespoons of hollandaise over eggs. Top with chives and a light dusting of paprika, if desired. Serve immediately.
• Do Ahead
• To poach eggs in advance, immediately transfer poached eggs to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Transfer to a resealable container filled with cold water (eggs should be fully submerged) and chill up to 3 days. To serve, place eggs in a bowl of hot tap water until they feel warm to the touch, about 2 minutes.
• Hollandaise can made 2 days ahead; press plastic wrap directly on surface and chill. To serve, fill a saucepan with a few inches of water and set a heatproof bowl on top (bottom of bowl should not touch water). Bring water to a simmer over medium-low heat and transfer hollandaise to bowl. Gently reheat sauce, whisking occasionally, until warm. If it's too thick, whisk in hot tap water 1 tsp. at a time.