Author Notes
This is another Eggs Benedict stand in. You can't have too many of these in my opinion. This recipe replaces the fatty ham with the luscious full mouth taste of walnut oil. I used red spinach, which can be hard to find. But it's so much sweeter and nuttier that I use it whenever it's in season. Regular spinach would be fine. As would most any tender young flavorful green. My inspiration came from Chef John Ash, who does a much more complex version with fennel bulb, watercress and hazelnuts. I am sure his is crazy delicious. But I like to think that the red spinach has more than enough great taste to justify the simplicity I brought to my version. You can have this one the table in 15 minutes! —Sippity Sup (Greg Henry)
Ingredients
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4
large eggs
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4 tablespoons
walnut oil
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1 bunch
fresh, young red spinach (green spinach is an option too)
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2 tablespoons
fresh squeezed lemon juice
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4
thick slices rustic bread, toasted
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1/4 cup
parmesan cheese, grated
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lemon wedges for garnish
Directions
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Place the eggs in a small sauce pan and fill it with enough cool water to cover by about 1/2-inch. Bring the pan to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 minutes exactly. This will produce an egg with its white just set and its yolk, quite runny. The yolk and squeezed lemon is the sauce in this dish, so do not over cook the eggs. Gently peel them trying to keep the egg in tact. I like them warm for this dish, but you may store them in the refrigerator, covered up to one day.
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Add the walnut oil and a big pinch of salt and pepper to a large bowl. Clean and dry the spinach then remove all the thick stems and tear the leaves into big chunks. Add the spinach to the bowl and toss to get it well coated in the oil.
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Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat and saute the spinach until it begins to wilt, about 2 minutes. Toss in the lemon juice and adjust seasoning. Remove from the heat and cover the pan a few minutes while you begin to plate the dish.
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Place a toast on each of 4 plates. Top each one with 1/4 of the wilted spinach and one peeled, whole soft-boiled egg. Sprinkle each plate with some parmesan and additional salt and pepper. Place a few lemon wedges alongside for spritzing. Serve warm.
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