According to gastronomic lore, Eggs Benedict began at Delmonico's, a Manhattan restaurant, where frequent patrons the Benedicts complained that the brunch menu options were boring --- and Eggs Benedict was born. A bed of toasted English muffin halves topped with Canadian bacon, poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce is the classic recipe. The dish evolved to include variations for each ingredient. Crab replaces bacon; toast substitutes for muffins; adding asparagus and creamed spinach increase its nutritional value. Sauces variations are also allowed. As many sauciers say, a good sauce is like a good marriage; as long as the sauce fulfills its role as a harmonizer of a dish rather than a soloist, many cream-based varieties are welcome substitutions for Hollandaise.
Hollandaise Sauce
Step 1
Add water to a saucepan. Simmer on medium heat and place a large bowl inside the pan. Whisk together the butter and egg yolks until blended.
Step 2
Whisking constantly, add boiling water to the egg-and-butter mixture until the sauce thickens, approximately eight minutes.
Step 3
Remove the sauce from heat and add the lemon juice, paprika and salt to taste.
Mornay Sauce
Step 1
Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour, whisking constantly.
Step 2
Whisk together the roux and the milk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat until it simmers.
Step 3
Season the sauce with salt and nutmeg. Continue to simmer the sauce for approximately three minutes.
Step 4
Add the cheese slowly, whisking constantly, until smooth and blended. Remove it from heat.
Lambic Cream Sauce
Step 1
Allow the beer to stand opened at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 2
Melt the butter in a saucepan.
Step 3
Add the flour, whisking constantly for three minutes.
Step 4
Add the beer, whisking intermittently until the sauce simmers.
Step 5
Slowly add the cheese and whisk the sauce until blended. Remove the saucepan from heat. Mix in the mustard, salt and cream until smooth.
Assemble
Step 1
Place the toasted English muffins on plates.
Step 2
Place the fried Canadian bacon on top of the English muffins.
Step 3
Place the poached eggs on top of the Canadian bacon.
Step 4
Pour the sauce over the poached eggs and serve with a side of asparagus and the sparkling wine of your choice.
Things You'll Need
- 4 poached eggs
- 4 toasted English muffin halves
- 4 slices of fried Canadian bacon
- 2-quart saucepan with lid
- Whisk
- Hollandaise sauce:
- 6 tbsp. softened unsalted butter
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp. Hungarian paprika
- Salt
- Large bowl
- Mornay sauce:
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 2 tbsp. flour
- 1 1/2 cups warm milk
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 2 oz. Gruyere cheese
- Lambic cream sauce:
- 1 12-oz. raspberry Lambic beer
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1 tbsp. flour
- 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. cream
References
- "The New Food Lover's Companion"; Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst; 2007
- "Gourmet" magazine; First Lessons in Sauce-Making; Louis Diat; January 1958
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