The original Eggs Benedict is a toasted English muffin, topped with a crispy edge ham or bacon and topped with a poached egg and the completely decadent Hollandaise sauce. Now this is all well and good, but I wanted something more. I wanted the silky smooth and subtle smokey flavor of smoked salmon instead.
This turns the fantastic thing that is a Benedict into a Royale. And since this was lunch, a few other things got changed around to accommodate for it like fresh Portuguese bread buns lightly toasted instead of the muffin and a saute of crispy edged mushrooms, browned onions and sweet peppers. But the thing that stayed true was the poached egg that when punctured, oozes yolk on top of the layers and the creamy lemon of Hollandaise that brought it all together.
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Decadent Mornings – Eggs Royale Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Eggs Royale is a luxurious twist on the classic Eggs Benedict, featuring smoked salmon, sautéed vegetables, and poached eggs on toasted Portuguese bread buns, all topped with creamy Hollandaise sauce.
Ingredients
- 6 mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- pinch of salt
- olive oil
- 2 Portuguese bread buns, cut in half and lightly toasted
- 6 oz (170g) smoked salmon
For the poached eggs
- 4 eggs
- water
- 1/2 tbsp (7 ml) vinegar
- pinch of salt
For the Hollandaise sauce
- 5 1/2 oz (156g) unsalted butter
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) cold water
- 1 lemon, juiced
- salt
- black/pink/white/green peppercorn mix, freshly ground
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in saute pan over medium high heat. Add mushrooms and garlic to the pan and allow the edges of the mushrooms to brown, stirring occasionally. Add in the bell pepper and onion and stir together until onions have browned and peppers have softened. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Assemble the eggs royale by placing the bread on a plate with the toasted cut side up. Top with mushroom/onion/pepper mixture, smoked salmon and then poached egg. Cover with Hollandaise sauce and season with salt, freshly ground pepper and cilantro or parsley for garnish.
For the Hollandaise Sauce
- Heat butter in a small sauce pan over low heat, allowing it to melt completely. Continue to let the butter simmer until no more foam seems to be forming at the top. Skim the foam from the top of the butter and set the pan aside. (You can strain it through a mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth to remove any foam that was missed, but you don’t have to.)
- Bring a small pot of water, to a boil on the stove. Do not fill it completely, as it shouldn’t touch the bottom of the bowl when it’s placed on top.
- Reduce heat to low and allow water to simmer.
- In a glass or stainless steel, heat proof mixing bowl, whisk together the yolks and the cold water for 1-2 minutes or until frothy. Place the bowl on the pot of simmering water and whisk continuously for 2-3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Remove the bowl from the pot and gradually, about a couple tsp at a time, pour in the warm butter, again whisking continuously.
- After all the butter has been added, whisk in the lemon juice and season with salt and ground pepper. Continue to whisk until thickened.
- When done, the sauce should be thick but smooth. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add more lemon juice or room temperature water a tsp at time and whisk until well incorporated
For the poached egg
- Bring a few inches of water in a pot to a simmer. Add in vinegar and a pinch of salt.
- Break egg into a small bowl and reduce heat of water to low. Once water has reduced to a very hot temperature, but not simmering, stir it with a spoon in one direction to create a whirlpool. Drop the egg into the water and allow it to cook for a 2-3 minutes, or until slightly firm on the outside and still soft on the inside. Use a slotted spoon to remove the egg from the pot and place it on a paper towel to allow it to drain of excess water.
Notes
- For a more traditional touch, you can use English muffins instead of Portuguese bread buns.
- The smoked salmon adds a subtle smokey flavor that complements the creamy Hollandaise sauce.
- Store any leftover Hollandaise sauce in the refrigerator and use within a day.
- If you prefer, you can substitute the smoked salmon with ham or bacon.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 28
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 220
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Eggs Royale and Eggs Benedict?
The difference is the protein. Eggs Royale uses smoked salmon in place of the ham or Canadian bacon in a classic Benedict. The smoked salmon adds a subtly smoky depth that pairs beautifully with the lemon in the Hollandaise. Everything else — poached egg, toasted bread base, Hollandaise — stays the same. 
My Hollandaise keeps breaking — what am I doing wrong?
The most common cause is adding the butter too fast. Pour the clarified butter in very slowly — just a couple of teaspoons at a time — while whisking constantly. The emulsion needs time to form. Also make sure the bowl is off the heat before you start adding butter; residual heat from the double boiler is enough to finish the sauce.
How do I poach eggs perfectly without them spreading out all over the water?
Add 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar to the simmering water — the acid helps the whites coagulate quickly around the yolk. Reduce the heat until the water is just below a simmer (no bubbles breaking the surface), stir in one direction to create a gentle whirlpool, then drop the egg into the center. Cook 2-3 minutes for a runny yolk.
Can I make the Hollandaise ahead of time?
Hollandaise doesn't hold well — it's best made fresh and served immediately. If you need to hold it for a short time (up to 30 minutes), keep it warm over a bowl of very warm (not hot) water and stir occasionally. Refrigerated Hollandaise tends to break when reheated.
Tried the eggs royale this morning with my wife, fantastic.
This has “birthday breakfast” written all over it!
What a pleasant modern twist to a classic dish. Naughty BUT Nice.