Poached Atop a Breakfast Tower
The breakfast tower reaches great heights starting at the bottom with a toasted English Muffin. This is topped with a pan seared breakfast sausage, an aromatic herbed baked tomato slice, and a nest of lemon garlic sautéed spinach. Perched atop the spinach nest is a poached egg garnished with crispy prosciutto bits, shaved parmesan, and arugula. Now, this “poached” egg doesn’t have to be a “poached egg”. You could smuggle a fried egg into your nest if you wanted.
To be honest, poaching an egg can be very intimidating. By following a few guidelines, it isn’t hard to do. A bonus to poached eggs unlike other cooking methods for eggs, poached eggs can be made ahead and reheated in hot water. That is not an option when cooking fried eggs or scrambled eggs. Ugh! That does not sound appetizing. I have my cheater routes to making a poached egg, a pan designed to poach eggs and poaching pods that you place inside a pan. The eggs come out looking like they belong on top a McDonalds breakfast sandwich. Looking that perfect is not a bad thing and they will still taste delicious!
So, whether you decide to poach into your nest a true poached egg, a cheater poached egg or a fried egg it will be delicious and beautiful!
Poached Atop a Breakfast Tower
Ingredients
The Breakfast Tower
- 2 English Muffins
- 4 Fresh Eggs
- 1 pound Ground Breakfast Sausage create 4 patties
- 3 ounces Prosciutto thin sliced and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 Tomato Slices 1/4 inch thick
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Coarse Ground Pepper
- 1/2 pound Baby Spinach
- 2 cloves Garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Infused Olive Oil or olive oil with juice of half a lemon
- Arugula or Micro Greens for garnish
- Shaved Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
Prep the Tomatoes
- Preheat oven 350 degrees.
- Toss tomatoes with olive oil, basil, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. Place tomato slices on a baking sheet. Bake the tomatoes for 30minutes. Keep warm in a 150-degree oven.
Cook the Sausage
- Heat a saucepan over low heat. Once the pan is hot, drizzle with a very light coat of vegetable oil. Cook the sausages for 5 minutes on each side (the internal temperature should be 160degrees). Drain on paper towel. Return to pan and keep warm on a low heat or keep warm in a 150 degree oven.
Cook the Prosciutto
- In a nonstick sauté pan, cook the prosciutto over low heat until crispy (approximately 6-7 minutes). Drain on a paper towel. Set to the side.
Sauté Spinach
- Heat a large sauté pan over low heat. Once hot, add lemon infused olive oil . Add spinach and top with garlic. Sauté for a few minutes, just until the spinach starts to wilt. Use tongs to toss the spinach and garlic so that it cooks evenly. Once it has reduced half in size, season with a pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper. Remove from the heat. Gently reheat if needed.
Toast the English Muffins
Poach the Eggs
- Bring 3 to 4 inches of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon of any light-colored vinegar (White, Apple or White Wine Vinegar). Reduce heat to low, allowing small bubbles to lift from the bottom of the pan but not bubbles at the water surface.
- Crack each egg into individual ramekins. Gently pour eggs into hot water and cook for3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Trim with kitchen shears any excess white whispies .My Definition of a Egg Whispie: White threads of various sizes that barely connect to the poached egg.
- For a more perfect looking poached egg, swirl the water to create a vortex. Drop the eggs into the vortex, one at a time (recreating the vortex for the second egg). This method is only good for up to two eggs.
- To reheat, drop the eggs into hot water (not boiling) for 30seconds.
Building Your Breakfast Tower
- Layer your tower as follows:English Muffin, Sausage Pattie, Tomato Slice, Lemon Garlic Spinach (create a nest for the egg), Poached Egg, Prosciutto, Shaved Parmesan, Arugula
