Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

To poach the eggs, follow the technique in the lesson on How to Poach Eggs. Note: For every liter/quart of water used to poach the eggs, add 2 tbsp white vinegar or white wine vinegar and 1 tsp of salt. Poaching can be done in advance. Refer to the attached drill-down.

Using the tines of a fork, carefully pull the English muffins apart into two. Place onto a baking tray and lightly butter. Finely slice the chives, gather the salmon and set aside. Preheat your oven to broil.

Before making the sabayon, melt the clarified butter and keep it between 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit (55-60 degrees Celsius). In a stainless-steel bowl, whisk the egg yolks and cold water together until they triple in volume. Transfer the bowl over a bain marie that contains barely simmering water. Cook the sabayon, about 1 to 3 minutes, until it doubles in volume and you reach the ribbon stage. Once cooked, remove the sabayon from the heat and whisk for about 20 seconds to prevent the eggs from overcooking. Discard the simmering water from the bain marie and place a damp cloth over the pot. Place the bowl with the sabayon over top. 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. You will not need all of the butter, but it is better to have more on hand than too little. Once done, add the lemon juice or gastride (see attached drill-down) to taste and adjust the consistency of the sauce, if needed. Season to taste with salt and cayenne pepper. Hold the hollandaise over the bain marie on the lowest setting.

Toast the English muffins by placing them under the broiler. Once toasted, place 1 to 2 slices of smoked salmon over each of the muffin halves, followed by a warmed, poached egg. Assemble 2 eggs on each plate (to serve 4) or 1 egg on each plate (to serve 8). Top with the hollandaise sauce. Sprinkle with chives, if desired, and serve immediately.