Eggs Benedict

Name: Eggs Benedict
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 lemon; 2 tbsp. butter or margarine; 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour; 1 c. milk; salt and pepper; 4 oz. ham; 1 tbsp. distilled white vinegar; 8 large eggs; 4 English muffins; 9 oz. baby spinach

Published: Mar 2, 2009

Yields:

Total Time:

45 mins

Cal/Serv:

435

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Velvety, egg-and-butter-rich hollandaise makes this brunch favorite irresistible, but unkind to both arteries and waistlines. We lightened its load with a lemony white sauce (cutting the per-serving saturated fat from 10 grams to three and the cholesterol by more than 100 milligrams) and bumped up the fiber with spinach and whole wheat muffins. Now that's a benediction you can happily serve (and eat) on a Sunday.

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Ingredients

1 lemon
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
salt and pepper
4 oz. ham
1 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
8 large eggs
4 English muffins
9 oz. baby spinach

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Fill teakettle with water; heat to boiling on high.
2. Step 2Meanwhile, prepare sauce: From lemon, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. In 1-quart saucepan, melt butter on low. Add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring. With wire whisk, gradually whisk in milk. Cook on medium, stirring, until sauce thickens and boils. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon peel and juice, a pinch salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Keep warm. Makes 1 cup.
3. Step 3Meanwhile, halve ham slices; in 12-inch skillet, cook on medium 5 minutes, turning once. Remove; keep warm. To same skillet, add vinegar and 1 1/2 inches boiling water; keep at gentle simmer.
4. Step 4Break 1 egg into cup; holding cup at water's surface, slip in egg. Repeat with 3 more eggs; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until whites are set. With slotted spoon, transfer eggs to paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining eggs.
5. Step 5While eggs are cooking, toast muffin halves in oven 10 minutes or until golden. Cook spinach as label directs.
6. Step 6To serve, top each muffin half with 1 piece ham, one-eighth spinach, 1 egg, and 2 tablespoons sauce.