Eggs Benedict

also called benedict · eggs benny · eggs benedictine · poached eggs benedict

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Eggs Benedict: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
2(split with a fork, never a knife)english muffinstoast the split muffins 2 minstack, sauce, and eat it standing up
4 slices(1/4-in thick)Canadian baconcrisp both faces 2 min
1 tsp(5 g)unsalted butter
4 largeeggspoach 3 min in barely moving water
2 qt(1.9 L)water
1 Tbs(15 mL)distilled white vinegar
1 cup(240 mL)hollandaise
1 Tbs(sliced)chives
1 pinchcayenne
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.11 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1toast the split muffins 2 min

2crisp both faces 2 min

3poach 3 min in barely moving water

4stack, sauce, and eat it standing up

goes in with what steps 1, 2 and 3 made

Cooking it

Start to finish is the longest chain through the table, so branches that overlap are counted once. That is why the waits add up to more than the clock — and it only holds if you get them going together.

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 3 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
4 minof the steps that give a time

One of the 4 steps never says how long it takes, so both numbers are floors. It adds up to more hands-on time than the whole dish takes because two branches run at once — which needs someone free to run both. The recipe itself says 20 min.

  1. crisp both faces 2 min

    2 minneeds youfrom the start

  2. toast the split muffins 2 min

    2 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. poach 3 min in barely moving water

    3 minwalk awayfrom the start

  4. stack, sauce, and eat it standing up

    not timed3 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them. Bars that line up are happening at the same time.

You'll need broiler · skillet

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Eggs Benedict
>> category: Eggs
>> tags: eggs, hollandaise, breakfast, poached, brunch
>> counters: Diner
>> aka: benedict, eggs benny, eggs benedictine, poached eggs benedict
>> pairs-with: hollandaise, english-muffins
>> servings: 2
>> time: 20 min
>> step.1: crisp both faces 2 min
>> step.2: toast the split muffins 2 min
>> step.3: poach 3 min in barely moving water
>> step.4: stack, sauce, and eat it standing up

Crisp @Canadian bacon{4%slices}(1/4-in thick) in @unsalted butter{1%tsp}(5 g) in a #skillet{} over medium heat ~fry{2%min}, until the edges brown and cup slightly.

Toast @english muffins{2}(split with a fork, never a knife) cut side up under a #broiler{} ~toast{2%min}, until the torn peaks colour.

Poach @eggs{4%large} in @water{2%qt}(1.9 L) with @distilled white vinegar{1%Tbs}(15 mL) ~poach{3%min}, in water held just below a shiver — a boil beats the whites into rags. Crack each egg into a cup first and slide it in low.

Stack @&(~2)crisped bacon{} on @&(~3)toasted muffins{}, lift @&(~1)poached eggs{} out with a slotted spoon and blot them on a towel, then flood the lot with @hollandaise{1%cup}(240 mL) and finish with @chives{1%Tbs}(sliced) and @cayenne{1%pinch}. The blot is not optional: poaching water under hollandaise breaks the sauce on the plate.