Il Cucinologo
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Eggs Benedict

17/11/2023

Eggs Benedict are a rich and delicious brunch dish. Let’s go with the Italian variant of this classic dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 fresh eggs
  • 2 slices of pancetta or Italian prosciutto as an alternative to bacon
  • 2 slices of Tuscan bread or, if you prefer, English muffins
  • Butter to taste
  • Hollandaise sauce (for the sauce you will need 2 egg yolks, 100 g of butter, the juice of half a lemon, salt and pepper to taste)
  • A handful of fresh spinach (addition of Italian touch)
  • White vinegar (for cooking the eggs)
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation

  1. Let’s start with the hollandaise sauce: in a saucepan, gently melt the butter and keep it warm. In another saucepan over a bain-marie, whisk the yolks with the lemon juice, then slowly incorporate the melted butter continuing to whisk until you obtain a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

  2. For the poached eggs, bring a pot of water to a boil and add a bit of white vinegar. Crack an egg into a cup and gently slide it into the boiling water. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, then remove it using a slotted spoon and set it aside. Repeat the operation with the second egg.

  3. Meanwhile, heat a pan and cook the pancetta or prosciutto until it becomes crispy. Set aside on paper towels.

  4. Toast the slices of Tuscan bread until golden and crispy. For a softer touch, you can spread a bit of butter on the still hot bread.

  5. In a pan with a drizzle of oil, quickly sauté the spinach with a pinch of salt for a few minutes.

  6. Now assemble the dish: on the toasted bread place first the spinach, then the pancetta or prosciutto, and finally the poached egg. Cover with a generous spoonful of hollandaise sauce.

  7. Season with a pinch of black pepper and, if desired, a light dusting of paprika.

Trivia

Eggs Benedict are a dish of American origin, often linked to the city of New York. The story goes that they were created for a customer looking for a cure for a post-binge headache. The dish then became a classic brunch, especially in the United States.

The version I gave you adds an Italian touch with the use of ingredients like Tuscan bread and prosciutto.