American · Breakfast · All year
Eggs Benedict
4.8 · community
20m
Prep
20m
Cook
Advanced
Level
640
Energy
Poached eggs and ham on toasted muffins under real hollandaise — the brunch boss fight, and worth every whisk stroke.
Claimed by two rival New York establishments in the 1890s — either way, it was invented to cure a hangover, and it still works.
What you need
Ingredients
Servings
2
Before you start
Mise en place
Equipment
Wide saucepan
Whisk
Heatproof bowl
Slotted spoon
Prep checklist
Eggs — plus 2 yolks for the sauce
English Muffins — split
Butter — melted, warm
Lemon — juice
Apple Cider Vinegar — for the poaching water
Chives — to finish
4 steps
Method
1
Hollandaise first: whisk 2 yolks with a teaspoon of water over barely simmering water until thick and pale, then drizzle in warm melted butter, whisking constantly. Season with lemon and cayenne; keep warm.
Why this works
If it thickens too much, a teaspoon of warm water loosens it. If it breaks, whisk it into a fresh yolk.
2
Poach the eggs: bring 8 cm of water with the vinegar to a bare simmer. Crack each egg into a cup, slide it in, and poach 3 minutes for a runny yolk.
3 min — timer available in cooking mode
Why this works
A gentle simmer, not a boil — bubbles tear the whites apart.
3
Toast the muffins and warm the ham in a dry skillet.
3 min — timer available in cooking mode
4
Stack: muffin, ham, egg, a generous spoon of hollandaise, chives, and a dust of cayenne. Serve immediately.
From the pass
Chef's notes
Taste before serving and adjust salt and acid — the last 30 seconds of seasoning matter more than any single ingredient.
Afterwards
Keep, reheat & pair
Storage
Best fresh; components keep 2 days refrigerated.
Freezing
Most breakfast bakes freeze well for 2 months; assembled plates don't.
Reheating
A low oven (150°C, 8–10 minutes) revives baked things; a nonstick pan over medium-low beats the microwave for anything with a crisp edge.
Make ahead
Prep components the night before — batters rest happily overnight in the fridge, and toppings can be portioned into jars.
Wine pairing
Coffee or fresh juice — it's breakfast.
Beer pairing
It's breakfast — coffee. But a mimosa never hurt a weekend.
On the plate
Serve it with
Sides
Fresh fruit
Crispy bacon or breakfast sausage
Greek yogurt with honey
Garnish
A dusting of powdered sugar
Fresh berries
Chopped chives (for savory plates)
Taste map
Flavour profile
Sweet
3
Salty
2
Sour
1
Bitter
0
Umami
1
Heat
0
Per serving
Nutrition
640
kcal
27g
protein
30g
carbs
46g
fat
3g
fiber
520mg
sodium
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