Eggs Benedict
Poached eggs and ham on a toasted muffin under a blanket of hollandaise. The sauce is the whole game, and the blender method makes it nearly foolproof.
Method
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Melt the butter until hot and foaming — it needs to be around 90°C to cook the yolks as it goes in.
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Blend the egg yolks, lemon juice, vinegar, salt and cayenne on high for 20 seconds until pale.
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With the blender running, pour the hot butter in a very thin, steady stream through the lid opening. It should take 45 to 60 seconds and the sauce will thicken visibly.
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Taste and adjust with lemon and salt, then transfer to a bowl and keep somewhere warm, not hot — a thermos works well.
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Bring a wide pan of water to a bare simmer, about 85°C, and add the vinegar. Never let it boil.
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Crack each egg into a fine sieve first, letting the loose watery white drain away — this is the secret to neat poached eggs.
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Slide the eggs into the water, one at a time, and poach for 3 minutes for a runny yolk. Lift out with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper.
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Toast and butter the muffin halves and warm the ham in a dry pan for a minute a side.
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Build each muffin with ham, a poached egg and a generous spoonful of hollandaise. Finish with chives and a pinch of cayenne.
Chef’s Tips
- Sieving the eggs before poaching is the single trick that separates neat from ragged.
- If the hollandaise splits, blend a fresh yolk with a teaspoon of hot water and drizzle the broken sauce into it.
- Poach the eggs up to a day ahead and hold them in cold water; reheat for 45 seconds in hot water to serve.
Pairing Suggestions
- A glass of Champagne, or a Bloody Mary
- Serve with roasted tomatoes and wilted spinach
- Follow with fresh fruit
Storage & Reheating
Hollandaise does not store well — it separates when chilled and cannot be safely reheated. Make it fresh.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.