Classic Eggs Benedict features soft, poached eggs over warm Canadian bacon, toasted English muffin, and topped with a smooth and buttery Hollandaise sauce. I will teach you the classic Eggs Benedict recipe and share all my tips to make the perfect poached eggs and homemade Hollandaise sauce.
Important TIP:To make Hollandaise sauce, you would have to whisk very vigorously and constantly for several minutes. Use a immersion blender with a whisk attachment to make it easy on yourself!
Hollandaise sauce:
Melt butter either in a microwave or in a sauce pot on the stove.
Heat up water in the double boiler over medium heat (make sure that the water in the bottom pot doesn't touch the top pot). If you don't have a double boiler, use a glass or metal mixing bowl to set on top of another pot.Don't put the top part on yet or you will cook your eggs.
Whisk eggs with lemon juice in the top pot of double boiler but not over the hot water. Whisk vigorously until the yolks start to lighten in color (this is where that immersion blender with a whisk attachment comes is super handy!)
Place the top pot onto the bottom pot that is on the stove and start slowly drizzling in butter while whisking constantly and vigorously! (Again, thank yourself for using the immersion blender.)Make sure not to drizzle too fast and take breaks for a couple of seconds if needed.
Continue whisking as the sauce lightens, thickens and about doubles in size.
Take off heat and stir in salt and cayenne pepper. Transfer into the serving dish and cover with saran wrap while preparing Eggs Benedict.
Eggs Benedict:
Crack the eggs and divide them into individual ramekins of small bowls. (This will make it easier to add them to water.)
You can set a pan to preheat over medium heat to toast English muffins and sear Canadian bacon at the same time to save time and extra equipment.
Fill up a pot with at least 3 inches of water. (Note that the pot should be wide enough to give each egg some cooking space.)
Bring water to gentle boil over medium heat (not a hard boil) and add a tablespoon of vinegar.
Stir the water a few times and then carefully add eggs one at a time. Cook eggs for 3-3 1/2 minutes and take them out with a slopped spoon. (Be careful not to break the egg because the yolks are still soft and runny.)
While the eggs are cooking, you can put together the bread and meat. Place two English muffins onto each place and add a slice of Canadian bacon to each English muffin.
Place a poached egg on top of each English muffin and generously drizzle Hollandaise sauce on top. Garnish with dill weed, parsley, or chives if you wish.
Video
Notes
Storing Hollandaise Sauce: Store this homemade sauce in an air-tight glass food storage container. Hollandaise sauce will be good in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To reheat: I do not recommend using the microwave, because you run a high risk of it overheating quickly. Instead, reheat the sauce slowly in a bottom heavy sauce pot over medium-low heat. Make sure to stir it slowly while it’s reheating.