Aug 31 2026
RestaurantsKeys CafeBenny's Recipe

Benny's Recipe

Inspired by Keys Cafe
Time35m
Serves2

Basted eggs on an English muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce. Served with fruit or hashbrowns

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Base & Eggs

Method

Hollandaise Sauce

  1. 1

    Clarify and melt butter

    Gently melt the 100 g unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat until fully melted. If you want a more stable hollandaise, skim off the milk solids (clarify) and keep warm but not hot.

  2. 2

    Whisk yolks

    Place 3 egg yolks in a heatproof bowl. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a pinch (about 1/4 tsp) salt. Whisk vigorously until the mixture becomes slightly thickened and pale.

  3. 3

    Warm gently (double boiler)

    Set the bowl over a simmering water bath (bowl should not touch the water). Continue whisking constantly and cook until the yolks reach a temperature around 60–65°C (140–150°F) and feel slightly thickened — about 3–4 minutes. Do not overheat or they will scramble.

  4. 4

    Emulsify butter into yolks

    Remove bowl from heat. Very slowly pour the warm melted clarified butter in a thin, steady stream while whisking constantly to emulsify. Start drop by drop, then increase to a thin stream as the sauce thickens. If sauce becomes too thick, whisk in 1 teaspoon hot water to loosen.

  5. 5

    Season and hold

    Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (adjust to taste). Keep the hollandaise warm by placing the bowl in a warm spot or over very low warm water, stirring occasionally. Do not let it get hotter than warm or it may split.

Base & Eggs

  1. 6

    Toast muffins

    Split the 2 English muffins and spread a little of the 2 tbs butter on the cut faces. Toast in a skillet or toaster until golden and crisp. Place toasted muffins on a plate and keep warm.

  2. 7

    Prepare poaching/basting water

    In a wide shallow sauté pan or skillet, bring about 4–5 cm of water to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon white vinegar. Lower heat so the surface is barely simmering with small bubbles.

  3. 8

    Baste/poach eggs (basted eggs)

    Crack each of the 4 large eggs into a small bowl. Gently slide eggs into the simmering water, spacing them apart. Using a spoon, continuously baste the egg whites with the warm water for about 2–3 minutes until whites are mostly set but yolks remain runny. For slightly firmer whites, continue 30–60 seconds more. Alternatively, poach for 3–4 minutes. If desired, finish by briefly dunking with 60 ml cold water to stop cooking and help remove foam.

  4. 9

    Drain eggs

    Using a slotted spoon, lift each egg from the water and briefly blot on paper towels to remove excess water. Taste a small piece of white to ensure doneness; adjust next batch timing if needed.

  5. 10

    Assemble

    Place two toasted English muffin halves on each plate. Top each muffin half with a basted egg (two eggs per serving if serving size is 2 eggs per person). Spoon 2–3 tablespoons of warm hollandaise over each egg, letting it drip over the sides.

Sides & Garnish

  1. 11

    Hashbrowns (if chosen)

    Heat 2 tbs neutral oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 200 g shredded hashbrowns, pressing into a compact layer. Season with 1 tsp salt. Cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes until golden and crisp on the bottom, then flip in sections and cook an additional 3–4 minutes until crisp and cooked through. Keep warm in a low oven (100–120°C) while finishing eggs.

  2. 12

    Fruit (if chosen)

    If serving fruit, portion 1 cup mixed fresh fruit into a small bowl and chill or serve room temperature as a bright, refreshing side.

  3. 13

    Finish and garnish

    Sprinkle finely chopped fresh chives (about 1 tablespoon total) over the hollandaise. Serve immediately with either the warm hashbrowns or the fresh fruit on the side.

More from Keys Cafe