Eggs Benedict
A classic, elegant breakfast featuring perfectly poached eggs and savory Canadian bacon atop a toasted English muffin, all smothered in rich, velvety hollandaise sauce.
Ingredients
- •4 English muffins, split
- •8 slices Canadian bacon
- •8 large eggs
- •1 tablespoon white vinegar (for poaching water)
- •3 large egg yolks
- •1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- •1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and hot
- •1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- •Salt and white pepper to taste
- •2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the hollandaise sauce by whisking egg yolks and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water until thickened.
- 2
Slowly drizzle the hot melted butter into the egg mixture while whisking constantly until the sauce is thick and emulsified; season with salt, pepper, and cayenne, then keep warm.
- 3
Fill a large saucepan with water and the vinegar, bringing it to a gentle simmer.
- 4
Crack each egg into a small ramekin, then carefully slide them into the simmering water; poach for 3-4 minutes until the whites are set but yolks remain runny.
- 5
While eggs poach, toast the English muffins and pan-fry the Canadian bacon slices until lightly browned.
- 6
Assemble by placing two muffin halves on each plate, topping each with a slice of bacon and a poached egg.
- 7
Generously spoon the warm hollandaise sauce over the eggs and garnish with fresh chives.
💡 Chef tips
- If your hollandaise sauce becomes too thick, whisk in a teaspoon of warm water to loosen it back to a pourable consistency.
- To poach eggs ahead of time, drop them into an ice water bath immediately after cooking, then reheat them in warm water for 60 seconds before serving.
- Use the freshest eggs possible for poaching, as the whites will hold their shape much better than older eggs.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish should feature a bright, lemony, buttery sauce coating a tender poached egg that releases a warm, golden yolk when cut, perfectly balanced by the salty bacon and crisp muffin.