Perfect Eggs Benedict Food

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:

• For the hollandaise: Vigorously whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together in a stainless steel bowl and until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume.
• Place the bowl over a saucepan containing barely simmering water (or use a double boiler), the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Continue to whisk rapidly. Be careful not to let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble.
• Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume. Remove from heat, whisk in cayenne and salt.
• Cover top tightly with foil and place in a warm spot until ready to use. If the sauce gets too thick, whisk in a few drops of warm water before serving.
• For the poached eggs: Fill a medium high-sided pot with 3 inches of water. Add vinegar, season with salt and bring to a simmer. (Look for just a few bubbles; it should never boil.) Gently crack an egg into a ramekin and then slowly slide it into the center of the pot, letting the water swirl around it and allowing the white to envelop the yolk. Repeat with 3 more eggs.
• Cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 4 minutes. Once the eggs are perfectly poached, remove from the water using a slotted spoon and let drain on a plate lined with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and season the top with salt and pepper. Set eggs aside.
• For assembly: Preheat the broiler. Put the muffins in a single layer, cut-side up on a baking sheet, place under the broiler and broil until golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes depending on how powerful your broiler is. Turn the muffins over, and broil for 1 minute longer.
• Turn the muffins back over so that the cut-side is facing up again. Remove and butter the top of each. Top each muffin with a slice of the bacon, return under the broiler and broil until the bacon is lightly golden brown and just warmed through, 1 to 3 minutes, depending on how powerful the broiler is.
• Top each muffin half with an egg, pour about 1/4 cup of the sauce over each, sprinkle with a bit of sea salt and pepper and garnish with chives and herbs.

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.

GORDON'S EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Bring a deep saucepan of water to the boil (at least 2 litres) and add 3 tbsp white wine vinegar. Break the eggs into four separate coffee cups or ramekins. Split the muffins, toast them and warm some plates.
• Swirl the vinegared water briskly to form a vortex and slide in an egg. It will curl round and set to a neat round shape. Cook for 2-3 mins, then remove with a slotted spoon.
• Repeat with the other eggs, one at a time, re-swirling the water as you slide in the eggs. Spread some sauce on each muffin, scrunch a slice of ham on top, then top with an egg. Spoon over the remaining hollandaise and serve at once.

PERFECT EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Poach egg until whites firm but yolk soft.
• Lightly toast english muffins until slightly golden brown.
• Place ham slices on top of english muffin halves, with corners tucked in to conform to shape of english muffin.
• Top the ham with the poached eggs, yolk side down.
• Cover each half with 3 tablespoons of the Hollandaise sauce, and spread to cover the whole egg.
• Sprinkle top with paprika (if desired).
• SERVE AT ONCE.

CLASSIC EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Make the hollandaise sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until no longer foamy (but not browned), 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the clear butter to a liquid measuring cup, leaving the milk solids on the bottom of the pan; discard the solids.
• Heat 1 inch of water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not simmering. Combine the egg yolks, 1 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoons lemon juice in a medium stainless-steel bowl. Set the bowl on the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking constantly, until the egg mixture is pale yellow and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Check periodically to make sure the water isn't boiling or the egg yolks might overcook.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan; slowly pour in the melted butter, a drop at a time at first, whisking constantly until thick. Whisk in the remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice, the cayenne and ¼ teaspoon salt. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in some warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to loosen. Return the bowl to the saucepan of water with the heat turned off to keep warm; whisk occasionally.
• Make the Eggs Benedict: Fill a large wide pot with 3 inches of water. Heat over medium-high heat until steaming with small bubbles; reduce the heat as needed to maintain a bare simmer. Stir in the vinegar. Crack 4 eggs into individual small bowls or ramekins. Carefully tip the eggs into the water, spacing them as far apart as possible. Cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, 3 to 3½ minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate lined with a kitchen towel. Gently blot the eggs dry and trim off any wispy pieces. Repeat with the remaining 4 eggs.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Canadian bacon and cook until lightly browned and warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Meanwhile, toast the English muffins and spread with butter.
• Top each English muffin half with a slice of Canadian bacon and a poached egg. Thin the hollandaise sauce with more warm water, if necessary, and season with salt. Spoon over the poached eggs and sprinkle with chopped chives.