How to Make Eggs Benedict
A versatile dish for breakfast or brunch, eggs benedict is a dish traditionally consisting of English muffins, poached eggs, Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce. However, there are many variations of this meal, from crab cake benedict to eggs sardou to a vegetarian eggs florentine. If you have the right tools, like a KitchenAid® cooktop and blender, you will be able to make this classic egg dish and many of its variations. Read more to learn how to make your own eggs benedict.
What Is Eggs Benedict?
The traditional eggs benedict was created in New York City and has since been popularized around the world. Key ingredients in eggs benedict are poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, but variations of this rich dish substitute everything from the English muffin to the Canadian bacon. Whether you’re eating a classic version, or one of its many variations, homemade eggs benedict is a great way to elevate your breakfast.
Eggs Benedict Recipe
Though the end result appears complex, eggs benedict is easy to make when broken into manageable steps. You will start by creating the hollandaise sauce. While that is simmering, you will poach your eggs and cook your bacon or other ingredients you’ve chosen to complement your dish. After toasting your English muffins, all that's left is to plate your meal. Learn the basics of eggs benedict so you can begin creating your own unique versions of this brunch centerpiece.
Ingredients
English muffins
Canadian bacon
Eggs
White vinegar
Unsalted butter
Lemon juice
Kosher salt
Tools
Saucepan
Skillet
Slotted spoon
Small mixing bowl
Yields
4 servings
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
- 10 minutes
Total Time
- 25 minutes
STEP 1: MAKE HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
Begin by melting butter on medium-low heat on your KitchenAid® cooktop. Next, place egg yolks, lemon juice and salt into a KitchenAid® blender. Blend until smooth, then pour in warm melted butter. Increase speed, blending until the sauce is thickened and warmed. To keep warm, transfer the sauce to a pan and continue to gently simmer the sauce on the cooktop. The sauce can easily be broken if heated too quickly, so make sure to utilize your KitchenAid® cooktop’s low BTU burners for this step.
STEP 2: POACH EGGS
Perfectly poaching an egg can be a simple process. Fill a saucepan on your cooktop burner with four inches of cold water, salt and vinegar. Bring the water to a boil, then immediately turn it down to the lowest simmer. Gently crack the eggs and pour them into the pot, cover the top and turn off the burner. In three minutes, remove the eggs from the water by maneuvering a slotted spoon under the eggs and lifting up.
STEP 3: FRY CANADIAN BACON
Take a skillet and drizzle a small amount of oil onto it. Place the skillet on another burner on your cooktop and drop your Canadian bacon inside. Fry until both sides are evenly browned. Note that, if you are making an eggs benedict variation, this step and its timing will vary.
STEP 4: TOAST ENGLISH MUFFINS
Insert English muffins into your toaster, making sure that the toaster is placed on a medium setting. When they are finished, put the English muffins on a dish for plating.
STEP 5: ASSEMBLE AND PLATE THE EGGS BENEDICT
Once the previous steps are complete, all that’s left is to assemble your eggs benedict. Place the Canadian bacon on top of your toasted English muffins, then layer your poached eggs on top of them. Finish by taking your hollandaise sauce and drizzling it over your creation.
Explore KitchenAid® Blenders and Toasters
When creating fresh, elevated home recipes, the tools you use can make all the difference. Use a KitchenAid® blender to achieve the perfect blend of rich flavor and smooth flavors with the turn of a dial. And when you’re looking for a perfectly toasted English muffin, KitchenAid® toasters are designed with the breakfast maker in mind. Together, these countertop appliances can help you bring any variation of eggs benedict to life.
Eggs Benedicts Frequently Asked Questions
Despite its popularity, many home chefs have never cooked eggs benedict. Continue reading to find answers to some of the frequently-asked questions when cooking eggs benedict.
What are Popular Eggs Benedict Variations?
There are many popular variations of eggs benedict around the world that substitute ingredients but follow a similar structure. One example is eggs royale, in which the Canadian bacon is replaced with pink smoked salmon that complements the hollandaise sauce. Another is eggs neptune, which substitutes the Canadian bacon with a mound of fresh crab meat upon which the poached egg sits. Finally, there is eggs florentine, which adds a pop of color to the dish with the addition of spinach.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EGGS FLORENTINE AND EGGS BENEDICT?
The difference between eggs florentine and eggs benedict is a matter of swapping out the Canadian bacon for spinach, making the dish à la florentine. Although some eggs florentine recipes still call for hollandaise sauce, many more will forgo the hollandaise in favor of gruyère mornay.
Can You Substitute Hollandaise Sauce?
As noted with eggs florentine, it is possible to substitute hollandaise sauce in eggs benedict—often to create an entirely new dish. Some possible substitutions are gruyère mornay, béarnaise and even avocado. However, when eating a traditional eggs benedict, there is no replacing the rich and silky hollandaise sauce.
What is the Best Substitute for Canadian Bacon in Eggs Benedict?
If you do not have Canadian bacon on hand while making a traditional eggs benedict, the best substitute is regular ham, which provides the most similar flavor. Other exciting possibilities include bacon, prosciutto and lobster or crab.
What is the Best Substitute for an English Muffin in Eggs Benedict?
As the foundation of your eggs benedict, the possibilities are endless for what you can substitute for your English muffin. For an inventive approach to eggs benedict, try making potato pancakes or zucchini herb fritters the base of your dish. And if you would prefer another kind of bread for your eggs benedict, try making butter biscuits, corn cakes or even a thicker bread like sourdough or a ciabatta roll.
Shop KitchenAid® Cooktops
When you have the right equipment, the only things standing between you and great dishes are the right recipe and your imagination. KitchenAid® cooktops are built to broaden your culinary horizons with features on select models like the 20K BTU Ultra Power™ Dual-Flame Burner that reach the temperatures you need for a wide range of techniques while offering a simmer/melt burner for keeping hollandaise sauces warm. Designed with the maker in mind, KitchenAid® appliances are the perfect choice for creating your next meal.
