How To Make Eggs Benedict | The Modern Proper (2024)

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May 8, 2024

Eggs Benedict, our favorite buttery, bacony, breakfast. The Hollandaise sauce is so good you’ll be waking up early to make it every day.

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How To Make Eggs Benedict | The Modern Proper (1)

Photography by Gayle McLeod

That’s One Eggs-ellent Benedict

There’s a million eggs benedict variations: Eggs Atlantic (fresh or smoked salmon), Eggs Chesapeake (crab cakes), and one of the more unique Bennies–the New Jersey Benedict (substitutes a Taylor pork roll!). So what is eggs Benedict if there’s so many variations? The cornerstone of the dish is the Hollandaise, a rich and creamy sauce made from eggs, butter, and lemon juice. Add eggs on top of English muffins, and meat or fish and cover it all with Hollandaise for the best breakfast in town. It’s also one of our favorite Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas, ever.

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Tips And Tricks For Perfect Eggs Benedict Every Time

Since half of the name of this dish is eggs, we think it’s important to get the eggs right. Our tips for how to poach eggs perfectly? Fill a large pot with 4-5 inches of water and add the vinegar. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. It’s best to work with one egg at a time, cracking the egg into a fine mesh strainer over your sink. Gently shake the strainer to get rid of any loose egg whites. Transfer the egg to a small bowl. Carefully tip the egg into the boiling water and cook until the whites are set, 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the poached egg to a paper-towel-lined plate. You’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly!

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How To Make Eggs Benedict | The Modern Proper (4)

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How To Make Hollandaise Sauce

What is Hollandaise sauce? It’s the eggs Benedict sauce! What might seem like an advanced cooking technique simply requires a steady hand because, luckily, you can make the best hollandaise sauce in the blender! Just start with egg yolks and fresh lemon juice in a blender, and pour melted butter in a steady stream with the blender running. The sauce will begin to thicken, and turn a beautiful pale yellow. Hollandaise can break, which means the butter and eggs will separate. The secret is all in the butter–make sure the butter is hot, but not too hot, add it slowly, and don’t add too much!

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How to Make Eggs Benedict

Once the Hollandaise sauce is made, you’ll crisp up the Canadian bacon, toast the English muffins, and poach a couple of eggs (we prefer our yolks still a bit runny, about three minutes). To make the best eggs Benedict at home, line everything up for easy assembly and you’ll be well on your way to being the best breakfast chef.

Tools You’ll Need

Cancel Your Brunch Reservations, We’ve Got a New Plan

Sometimes we just can’t be bothered to get out of our pajamas on the weekend. If that sounds like you, we’ve got your brunch-at-home plans covered. Here’s everything you’ll need to make a satisfying meal with all the hits:

  • Belgian Waffles or Baked French Toast (you can make ahead!) for everyone’s sweet tooth.

  • Spinach Mushroom Strata is a great reason to eat two egg dishes in one meal.

  • Cardamom Rolls with Almond Glaze are the new cinnamon rolls.

  • And to round things out for the perfect bacon, find our tips on How to Cook Bacon in the Oven.

  • Belgian Waffles Buttery, rich and perfectly golden-crisp, these restaurant-perfect Belgian waffles are what lazy brunch dreams are made of!
  • Spinach Mushroom Strata Melty Swiss cheese and buttery mushrooms sautéed with fresh thyme make this savory, earthy spinach strata recipe your new weekend brunch-at-home favorite.
  • Cardamom Rolls with Almond Glaze Generously and warmly spiced, this cardamom roll recipe yields fluffy, tender, rich cardamom buns that will brighten even the dullest of winter mornings.
  • How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Welcome to TMP life lessons 101. Let’s start with the #1 most important life lesson of all: how to cook bacon in the oven.

Eggs Benedict On Brunch Repeat

Did you whip up these easy eggs Benedict? We want to see your beautiful brunch photos, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Bon appétit!

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How To Make Eggs Benedict | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of Eggs Benedict? ›

The cornerstone of the dish is the Hollandaise, a rich and creamy sauce made from eggs, butter, and lemon juice. Add eggs on top of English muffins, and meat or fish and cover it all with Hollandaise for the best breakfast in town. It's also one of our favorite Mother's Day Brunch Ideas, ever.

Why is my hollandaise sauce not thick enough? ›

How do you fix a runny hollandaise? Blenders tend to make runny hollandaise - it's usually because the butter was too cold and hasn't cooked the eggs enough to thicken them. To thicken a runny hollandaise, tip the mixture into a heatproof bowl set over simmering water and whisk over the heat until thickened.

Why is vinegar added to hollandaise sauce? ›

Lemon juice or vinegar helps keep the hollandaise from separating and also adds a touch of acidity for flavour. I much prefer white wine vinegar for its flavour. The eggs need to be cooked, so as you'll see, we'll be heating up the butter so it's bubbling (but not burnt).

What can I put on my Eggs Benedict instead of hollandaise? ›

5 Alternative Takes on Hollandaise Sauce for Your Eggs Benedict
  1. Use red wine. For a heartier sauce (that's especially good with steak and eggs), reduce dry red wine and port instead of white wine.
  2. Make a cheese sauce. ...
  3. Brown the butter with capers. ...
  4. Add morels. ...
  5. Use avocado.
Nov 15, 2022

Is the yolk runny in eggs Benedict? ›

The eggs should cook for 3-4 minutes so the egg white is fully cooked but the yolk remains runny. Use a slotted spoon to remove the eggs from the water and serve immediately. Bon appetit!

What is the difference between eggs royale and eggs Benedict? ›

The Difference Between Benedict, Florentine and Royale.

Eggs Benedict is with ham or pancetta. Eggs Florentine is with sauteed spinach. Eggs royale is with smoked salmon. All three breakfasts are created the same, starting with a toasted English muffin, poached eggs and topped with hollandaise sauce.

What is a common mistake with hollandaise sauce? ›

Hollandaise sauces are best cooked at temperatures around 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over this maximum puts this condiment at risk of splitting, which occurs when the creamy, smooth emulsion of the egg yolks, lemon juice, and melted butter breaks. The sauce will separate into pools of fat floating in liquid.

Can you add too much butter to hollandaise sauce? ›

Why Does Hollandaise Sauce Break? Over-heating or overcooking the egg yolks is one culprit. Next time, be sure to use a double boiler and heat the yolks gently to avoid overcooking them. The second cause is either adding too much butter or adding it too quickly.

What can go wrong when making hollandaise sauce? ›

Hollandaise can be very finicky and there are several reasons why this particular sauce can curdle or split. If the heat is too high, the egg yolks will curdle and the sauce will become grainy. When a sauce splits, this means that the fat has separated from the egg foam (the sauce has lost its emulsion).

What's the difference between Benedict sauce and hollandaise sauce? ›

It's what happens next that sets them apart: Hollandaise gets its acidity from lemon juice (sometimes vinegar) and is usually seasoned with salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper. Béarnaise, meanwhile, builds upon hollandaise with white wine vinegar, shallots, tarragon, and other fresh herbs.

How hot should butter be for hollandaise? ›

Make sure the butter is between 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit (55-60 degrees Celsius). While constantly whisking, add the butter to the sabayon in a steady stream. Add enough butter until you achieve a somewhat thick consistency.

What is the basic formula for hollandaise? ›

In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, cold water, salt and pepper. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Gradually whisk yolk mixture into butter. Continue whisking over low heat for 8 minutes, or until sauce is thickened.

How do you order Eggs Benedict not runny? ›

Over Hard: Over hard eggs are the same as over easy except that their middle is solid. If you dislike the runny texture of egg yolk, this is a perfect option.

Why not order Eggs Benedict? ›

Most times what you're getting is snotty looking—and tasting—poached eggs, with questionable ham, and room-temperature hollandaise sauce,” he says. There are also safety concerns about this dish, according to Michelin-trained chef, Eddie Brik.

What is special about eggs Benedict? ›

Eggs Benedict is one of the most popular American dishes for those seeking a hearty breakfast. It tastes rich, lemony buttery, and creamy (all thanks to the Hollandaise sauce it is topped with), and it is also quite easy to cook, making it an ideal dish for those who have busy mornings.

What is the story behind Eggs Benedict? ›

Supposedly, Delmonico's created the dish for Mr. and Mrs. LeGrand Benedict in the 1860s when they requested something new and not on the menu. One of Delmonico's former chefs also published a recipe named eggs à la Benedick in 1894.

What is Eggs Benedict sauce made of? ›

The ingredients for Hollandaise sauce are butter, egg yolks, lime juice, heavy cream, and salt and pepper.

Why does Eggs Benedict have so many calories? ›

The calories come in the high-fat Hollandaise sauce.

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