How to Make Eggs Benedict
There are a few steps to making Eggs Benedict. Beyond toasting the English muffins and crisping up the Canadian bacon (usually precooked and smoked), eggs must be poached and Hollandaise sauce must be made. Hollandaise sauce is an emulsion of egg yolks, melted butter, and lemon juice (much like making mayonnaise from scratch) and here, a shortcut blender method is used. Some handy tips to keep in mind:
A wide shallow pan with straight sides is preferred for poaching the eggs thanks to the larger cooking area. However, a pot or saucepan will yield just as great results.Crack each egg individually into a small bowl(s) as you go before dipping the egg into the cooking water. This keeps the egg whole once it hits the hot water and also avoids any of the egg shells making their way into the water.A touch of vinegar in the cooking water helps to set and solidify the egg white to avoid any stringy bits. Because it’s just a small amount of vinegar, it doesn’t affect the taste of the eggs.Keep the cooking water at a very gentle simmer for even cooking.Using a blender to make the hollandaise sauce is not traditional, but it’s foolproof, plus it will save you time and energy.Bonus points: Strain each egg using a fine mesh strainer before adding it to the cooking water. This yields the neatest results, as the loose part of the egg white separates and drains and does not create any sneaky egg white tails after poaching. This is optional and just for looks.
Eggs Benedict Recipe
Below is a list of ingredients you need to make Eggs Benedict for two at home, as well as step-by-step cooking instructions to follow.
1 tablespoon vinegar4 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks, divided1 stick (½ cup) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided4 slices Canadian bacon1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice½ teaspoon kosher saltPinch of cayenne, plus more for serving2 English muffins, split and toastedFreshly ground black pepper and chopped fresh chives, for serving
Eggs Benedict Upgrades
Make Eggs Benedict the traditional way, then make them again with these elevated and delicious takes on the classic. RELATED: 11 Cheesy Potato Recipes That Go With Everything
