We'll take pretty much any excuse to indulge in brunch food on a weekday. And, lucky for us, today is National Eggs Benedict Day, so there's no need to wait until Saturday to eat the best meal of the week. This year, we're celebrating with a new spin on hollandaise — we've subbed in one of our favorite ingredients, nonfat Greek yogurt, to lighten up the recipe. And, because we're only human, we balanced things out by turning the dish into a BLT.
There are a few moving parts to making Eggs Benedict at home. Here's the breakdown: First, you make the hollandaise, then you toast your muffins, make the bacon and heat up the tomatoes, and the final step is poaching your egg. It sounds scarier than it is, we promise! Plus, the reward is worth the effort.
So, go ahead, try your hand at making the eggy classic; it's really just an egg sandwich with a fancy name and homemade sauce, after all! Need help with the egg-poaching part? Here's how to make those pro-worthy poached eggs with no sweat.
BLT Eggs Benedict with Light Hollandaise Sauce
Makes 2 servings Ingredients
2 extra-large egg yolks plus 4 extra-large eggs
2 tsp white vinegar
2 whole-wheat English muffins
4 thin slices Canadian bacon
4 thick tomato slices
Arugula, as needed
1 tbsp chopped chives (optional)
Salt and pepper Hollandaise
1/4 cup no-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp water
1 tsp mustard
1 tbsp butter, melted
Salt and pepper Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place in oven. Fill a saucepan with a few inches of water (this bowl of boiling water will do double-duty as both a water bath and to poach the eggs in). 2. First, make the hollandaise sauce: In a heatproof medium bowl that can fit over the boiling water, add egg yolks, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, mayo, water, and mustard. Place bowl over the boiling water and constantly whisk the mixture until frothy and warm, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in melted butter, plus dashes of salt and pepper. Carefully remove the bowl from the boiling water (be careful, because it will be very hot). Cover with foil and keep on the stove to keep warm. 3. Now, things get easier: Add a little more water to the saucepan along with vinegar. Keep on high heat and let water come to a boil. 4. Split the English muffins and toast individually in the toaster. When toasted, place in the oven on the baking sheet to stay warm. 5. Warm a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the Canadian bacon and brown on each side, cooking about 1 minute per side. Transfer to the oven and place on the baking sheet to stay warm. Then, keeping the pan on the medium-high heat, add tomato slices, cooking until soft, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to the oven to keep warm. 5. Onto the poached eggs: When the water is boiling, it's time to poach the eggs (best to do them one at a time). Bring the boiling water down to a simmer. Crack an egg into a small ramekin or a bowl. Make a whirlpool with the hot water and then tilt the bowl into the hot water, so the egg slips in gently. Cover pan with lid and remove from heat. Let sit until egg whites are set, about 4 minutes. 6. While the eggs poach, start assembling the Eggs Benedict: On each plate, add the split English muffins. Top each one with a little arugula and then the reserved Canadian bacon and tomato slices. When the eggs are poached, use a slotted spoon to gently remove eggs from water onto a couple paper towels to blot excess water. Top each English muffin half with a poached egg and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk the hollandaise sauce — if you need it a little thinner, whisk in 1/2 tablespoon additional water. 7. Drizzle sauce over each egg and garnish with chives. Serve.
Makes 2 servings Ingredients
2 extra-large egg yolks plus 4 extra-large eggs
2 tsp white vinegar
2 whole-wheat English muffins
4 thin slices Canadian bacon
4 thick tomato slices
Arugula, as needed
1 tbsp chopped chives (optional)
Salt and pepper Hollandaise
1/4 cup no-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp water
1 tsp mustard
1 tbsp butter, melted
Salt and pepper Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place in oven. Fill a saucepan with a few inches of water (this bowl of boiling water will do double-duty as both a water bath and to poach the eggs in). 2. First, make the hollandaise sauce: In a heatproof medium bowl that can fit over the boiling water, add egg yolks, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, mayo, water, and mustard. Place bowl over the boiling water and constantly whisk the mixture until frothy and warm, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in melted butter, plus dashes of salt and pepper. Carefully remove the bowl from the boiling water (be careful, because it will be very hot). Cover with foil and keep on the stove to keep warm. 3. Now, things get easier: Add a little more water to the saucepan along with vinegar. Keep on high heat and let water come to a boil. 4. Split the English muffins and toast individually in the toaster. When toasted, place in the oven on the baking sheet to stay warm. 5. Warm a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the Canadian bacon and brown on each side, cooking about 1 minute per side. Transfer to the oven and place on the baking sheet to stay warm. Then, keeping the pan on the medium-high heat, add tomato slices, cooking until soft, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to the oven to keep warm. 5. Onto the poached eggs: When the water is boiling, it's time to poach the eggs (best to do them one at a time). Bring the boiling water down to a simmer. Crack an egg into a small ramekin or a bowl. Make a whirlpool with the hot water and then tilt the bowl into the hot water, so the egg slips in gently. Cover pan with lid and remove from heat. Let sit until egg whites are set, about 4 minutes. 6. While the eggs poach, start assembling the Eggs Benedict: On each plate, add the split English muffins. Top each one with a little arugula and then the reserved Canadian bacon and tomato slices. When the eggs are poached, use a slotted spoon to gently remove eggs from water onto a couple paper towels to blot excess water. Top each English muffin half with a poached egg and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk the hollandaise sauce — if you need it a little thinner, whisk in 1/2 tablespoon additional water. 7. Drizzle sauce over each egg and garnish with chives. Serve.