Red Wine Eggs Benedict Food

THE BEST EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Fill a large saucepan with 2 quarts water. Add the vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, toast the English muffins until golden brown. Spread with butter and place on one side of a baking sheet. Keep warm in the oven.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Canadian bacon and cook until heated through, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer the bacon to the other side of the baking sheet to keep warm.
• Melt the remaining butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the yolks, lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the cayenne to a blender. Blend for 1 minute. With the blender running, pour the melted butter very slowly through the open hole of the blender lid until smooth, thick and emulsified. Transfer the sauce back to the saucepan and place in the oven to keep warm.
• Crack the whole eggs into small cups or glasses. If your simmering water has reduced too much, add a bit more water and bring back to a steady simmer. When the water is at a steady simmer, slip the eggs into the water in one quick motion, arranging them clockwise in the pan so you know which will be ready first.. Poach the eggs until the whites are firm but the yolks are still runny, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.
• Top each muffin half with a slice of Canadian bacon and a poached egg. Pour hollandaise sauce over each muffin. (If the sauce has thickened too much, whisk it with a tablespoon of water.) Sprinkle each serving with a little cayenne and serve immediately.

RED EYE BENEDICT

Steps:

• For the pork: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pull the pork loin out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• In a small bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, coffee, salt, paprika and cinnamon. Season the pork well with the mixture, rubbing it in on all sides.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and heat an additional 30 seconds. Add the pork and sear on all sides until deep golden brown, about 6 minutes. Remove the pork to a rimmed baking sheet, transfer to the oven and cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 40 minutes. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.
• For the benedict: Meanwhile, add the bacon to the skillet that the pork was cooked in and cook over medium heat until the bacon is crispy and the fat is rendered, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the flour until smooth and cook for a minute. Slowly add the coffee and chicken broth, whisking constantly so that no lumps form. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Whisk in the salt and 2 tablespoons of the butter to emulsify. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter and swirl to coat the bottom of the skillet. Break 2 eggs into the skillet and cook until the whites are just set, about 4 minutes. To assist in setting the whites, spoon some of the melted butter over the whites, avoiding the yolk so it stays runny. Remove to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and continue with the remaining butter and eggs.
• To assemble, place 1/4 cup arugula on each English muffin half. Thinly slice the pork and place 1 to 2 pieces on each muffin half. Spoon some of the gravy over the pork and top each muffin half with a fried egg. Serve warm.

EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Fill a large, wide pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add the vinegar and reduce the heat until the water in the pan has no more bubbles.
• Very close to the surface of the water, crack the eggs and gently drop each egg into the water. Cook the eggs for 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the pan and place in a bowl of cold water. Reserve the eggs in the cold water and reserve the poaching liquid to reheat the eggs. Obviously, if you are poaching the eggs a day ahead you can reheat the eggs in new water!
• Coat a large saute pan lightly with olive oil and bring to a medium heat. Add the slices of Canadian bacon and cook them on both sides until they are hot but not brown.
• Toast the English muffins. Place 1 slice Canadian bacon on each English muffin.
• Warm up the egg poaching liquid (or a pan of new water if you poached ahead) and place the eggs in the water for 1 minute or until the eggs are warm but not cooking any further. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the warm water, blot on a clean paper or tea towel and place 1 egg on each English muffin. Top with the Hollandaise Sauce.
• Toss the mesclun with lemon juice, big fat finishing oil and salt. Garnish each plate with the dressed greens.
• Wine Pairing Suggestion: Prosecco
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. While the butter is melting, skim off the froth that accumulates on the surface. Simmer the butter for 15 to 20 minutes and gently ladle off the clear butterfat into a measuring cup or small pitcher with a spout. Be sure to leave the milk solids in the bottom of the pan. This is called clarified butter.
• In a small saute pan, combine the vinegar and peppercorns and cook over a medium heat until almost all the vinegar has evaporated. Remove the pan from the heat and toss a couple ice cubes into the pan and let them sit until they have melted.
• In a medium metal bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they become frothy and fluffy. Strain the peppercorn liquid into the egg mixture.
• Put 1-inch water into a medium saucepan and bring it to a simmer. Place the metal bowl on top of the saucepan and gently cook the eggs, whisking frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Very slowly begin to add the clarified butter. Start with 2 to 3 drops and continue with a couple more drops after the butter has incorporated.
• Continue to add a few drops of butter at a time. If the eggs seem to be cooking too quickly, pull the bowl off the saucepan and lower the heat. If the eggs start to curdle, toss in an ice cube immediately to cool down the eggs. Continue to add the butter a little at a time until it is all incorporated. The sauce should be fluffy and foamy.
• Once the butter is all combined, add the lemon juice and season the sauce with cayenne and salt.
• Serve over the poached eggs.

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.