Deep Fried Poached Eggs With Creamed Spinach And Serrano Ham Food

DEEP FRIED POACHED EGG OVER HEIRLOOM TOMATO

Steps:

• Prepare a bowl with ice and water. Line a sheet pan with paper towels.
• In a 5-quart pot, bring 6 cups water to a boil over moderately-high heat. After the water has reached a boil, turn off the heat. Crack each egg into a ramekin and quickly add to the water. Once you have added all the eggs, cover the pot and set aside for 3 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, very carefully lift the eggs out of the water and directly into the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Remove from the ice water and place on the prepared sheet pan.
• Spread the flour on a plate and put the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, stir the panko with salt and pepper.
• Carefully dust 1 poached egg in the flour, dusting off any excess. Transfer the poached egg to the beaten eggs, and then transfer with a slotted spoon to the panko. Coat with the panko and carefully place on a plate. Repeat with the remaining eggs.
• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over high heat until a candy thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Using a slotted spoon, place 1 panko-coated egg into the oil and fry until golden brown, 10 to 15 seconds. Transfer the fried egg to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining eggs.
• Season the tomato with salt and pepper. Place 1 tomato slice on each plate and top each slice with an egg.
• BYOC: Try this in early spring over some steamed asparagus. You can always add some fresh spinach to this for a crunch. Add the whole thing over a nice thick piece of crusty bread or English muffin for a fun brunch item.

EGGS WITH CREAM, SPINACH, AND COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Bring ham and cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, then remove from heat. Let steep, uncovered, about 10 minutes.
• Cook onion in 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and season lightly with salt and pepper, then cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add spinach, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook, turning with tongs, until spinach is wilted.
• Drain spinach in a colander, pressing to remove excess liquid, then coarsely chop. Divide spinach, then ham, among ramekins, spooning 1 tablespoon cream into each serving. Crack eggs into ramekins and season lightly with salt and pepper. Spoon 1 teaspoon cream over each egg. Cut remaining tablespoon butter into 8 small pieces and dot each egg with butter.
• Put ramekins in a shallow baking pan and bake, rotating pan halfway through baking, until whites are just set but yolks are still runny, 15 to 20 minutes, removing from oven as cooked.

DEEP-FRIED POACHED EGGS WITH CREAMED SPINACH AND SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Whisk together cream and 2 teaspoons flour in a small bowl until just combined.
• Cook shallot in butter in a 9- to 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until shallot is softened, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until excess liquid is evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir cream mixture, then add to spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, until cream is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir together bread crumbs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl. Spread remaining 1/2 cup flour on a plate and set aside for dredging.
• Gently blot any water from top of poached eggs with paper towels, then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• Carefully dredge 1 poached egg in flour, dusting off excess. Transfer to beaten egg, spooning to coat completely, then transfer with a slotted spoon to bread crumbs, letting excess egg drip off. Coat with crumbs and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining poached eggs, 1 at a time.
• Cut sliced ham crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan (about 1 1/2 inches deep) over high heat until deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. Fry ham in oil, stirring occasionally with a clean slotted spoon to separate strips, until crisp, 15 to 20 seconds. Transfer ham to paper towels to drain.
• Return frying oil to 375°F.
• Lower 2 eggs (1 at a time on slotted spoon) into hot oil and fry until golden brown, 15 to 20 seconds. Transfer fried eggs to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining 2 eggs.
• Reheat spinach over low heat, stirring constantly and adding more cream or water to loosen mixture if necessary, about 1 minute.
• Divide creamed spinach among 4 plates, then top with poached eggs and ham.

BAKED EGGS IN CREAMY SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
• Set a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat to shimmering, then add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until translucent, about 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the nutmeg and Parmesan and season with a pinch of salt and a twist of pepper.
• Make 4 shallow depressions in the spinach mixture and carefully crack an egg into each one. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the egg whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 8 minutes. Serve immediately.