Recipe: Eggs Benedict

This composition is a combination of several recipes. The Hollandaise Sauce is based on a recipe from the March 2011 Cook's Illustrated and the method for poached eggs is from the May 2007 Cook's Illustrated as demonstrated in a 2013 on-line video. Read the story behind this dish in Sunday, Dinner for Two.  Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients 

Hollandaise Sauce
6 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 large egg yolks

¼ cup boiling water

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper

table salt

Poached Eggs

1 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons distilled vinegar
4 large eggs
table salt and black pepper

Eggs Benedict
2 English muffins, split in half
4 slices Canadian bacon

Instructions

1. In advance, soften 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter at room temperature.
2. Create a double boiler: Place a heat proof bowl in a sauce pan of just barely simmering water, making sure the bowl does not contact the hot water.
3. Bring a kettle of water to boil.
4. Crack 2 eggs each into 2 tea or coffee cups and set aside.
5. For the poached eggs, fill a large skillet with water to within ½-inch of the top, add salt and vinegar, and heat on medium to almost boiling.
6. In the double boiler, whisk the butter and egg yolks together until smooth.
7. Whisk in ¼ cup boiling water and continue whisking until the sauce thickens and reaches 160°, 7 to 10 minutes.
8. Remove the double boiler from the heat, stir in lemon juice and cayenne, and season to taste with table salt. Leave the bowl with the Hollandaise sitting over the hot water to keep the sauce warm.
9. Toast the four English muffin halves and warm the Canadian bacon in the microwave oven.
10. Bring the water in the skillet to a boil then remove it from the heat.
11. Lower the lips of the cups with the eggs gently into the hot water and tip them so the eggs slide into the hot water.
12. Cover the skillet and poach the eggs for 4 minutes.
13. With a slotted spoon, gently remove the eggs to a paper towel to drain. Season with table salt and black pepper.
14. On each of the toasted English muffin halves, add the warm Canadian bacon, carefully add a poached egg,  cover with Hollandaise, and serve.

Assemble the ingredients, including butter, egg yolks, and lemon juice for the Hollandaise.
The measuring cup stands ready for the boiling water.

Eggs ready for poaching.

Poaching water warming in a large skillet.

In a double boiler whisk together butter and egg yolks.

Add boiling water and continue whisking until the sauce is thick and smooth, remove from heat and add lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and salt.

Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, gently slide in the eggs, then cover.

After 4 minutes remove the poached eggs to paper towels to drain and season with alt and pepper.

Assemble the meal with toasted English muffins, warmed Canadian bacon, poached eggs, dress with Hollandaise, and serve.