I had Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict when I was on vacation a few years back, and it was love at first bite—I knew I had to conquer my fear of hollandaise sauce so I could make this dish a regular part of my life.
How is this different from a typical eggs Benedict?
A crispy English muffin topped with a creamy-yolked poached egg and smothered in hollandaise sauce? Yes, please! Typical eggs Benedict comes with either Canadian bacon or ham between the English muffin and the egg, but I much prefer the smoky, savory flavor of lox—especially when you combine with with a heavy hand of fresh dill.
I’m drooling as I type this. Literally drooling. This is the perfect dish to serve for Easter breakfast or Mother’s Day brunch (dear my family: hint, hint, nudge, nudge).
What goes into this smoked salmon eggs Benedict?
There are four key components to this salmon eggs Benedict:
- English muffins. These make the base of the dish.
- Poached eggs. Another cooking thing that isn’t as scary as it sounds!
- Hollandaise sauce. More on this in a sec, but know that this is essentially egg yolks warmed and whisked with butter, lemon juice, and seasonings.
- Smoked salmon.
What’s the deal with hollandaise sauce?
Before I made hollandaise for the first time, I was definitely afraid. Whenever I thought of hollandaise sauce, I thought it must be so complicated that chefs-to-be have to make it as their final exam in culinary school. I have this vision of an angry French chef yelling at a tiny Audrey Hepburn to, “Whisk! Whisk! Whisk!”
But as it turns out, making hollandaise sauce is a breeze! Way easier than baking with yeast or manhandling a whole chicken. I was afraid all these years for absolutely nothing.
But what do I do with hollandaise sauce?
Of course, there are a ton of uses for hollandaise sauce. One of the more common is pouring it over green veggies like asparagus and Brussels sprouts (seriously, try it). But probably the most famous is eggs Benedict.
What do I need to know about making smoked salmon eggs Benedict?
Pulling this dish together takes a bit of multitasking—especially to make sure everything is warm at the same time. That makes this a perfect meal to make when you have kitchen helpers, but it can also be done solo if there is only one of you. Make your hollandaise sauce first—it can hold in the double broiler while you are toasting English muffins. If the Hollandaise sauce starts to thicken too much to pour, it’s easily thinned out with a bit of hot water. Enjoy!
What should I serve with smoked salmon eggs Benedict?
This dish is what brunch dreams are made of, so serve it with other brunch favorites! Might we recommend…
- Strawberry mimosa
- An arugula or spring mix salad with balsamic dressing
- Oven-roasted potatoes and asparagus
Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
Easy poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, and lox make this Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict recipe the best brunch you’ll ever make!
Ingredients
For the Hollandaise Sauce:
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup butter, melted (or 5 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon of dried), plus more for garnish
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Salt, to taste
For the poached eggs:
- Water
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 8 eggs
For serving:
- 4 English muffins, sliced in half and toasted
- 8 ounces smoked salmon
- Fresh dill, for garnishing
Instructions
For the Hollandaise Sauce:
- Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Place a heat-proof bowl over the simmering water and add the egg yolks.
- Whisk constantly until eggs are thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 or 4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and turn off the heat.
- Continue whisking and gradually add in the butter one tablespoon at a time, whisking until the butter is fully incorporated before adding more.
- Add the remaining ingredients and whisk together.
- Place the bowl over the warm saucepan and set aside. Whisk when ready to serve.
For the poached eggs:
- Fill a saucepan about two-thirds of the way up with water and add the vinegar. Bring the water to a simmer over medium heat.
- Gently break an egg into a small bowl, and then slide the egg into the simmering water. Repeat the process with another egg.
- Set a timer for 3 ½ minutes and let them poach. About a minute or so in, gently stir the water to make sure the eggs aren’t sticking to the bottom of the saucepan.
- Carefully remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and set on paper towels to let dry.
- Continue until all the eggs are poached.
For serving:
- Place an ounce of smoked salmon on each English muffin half. Top with a poached egg and a drizzle of hollandaise sauce.
- Garnish with fresh dill and serve.
Notes
If the Hollandaise sauce becomes too thick before serving, add a tablespoon or two of hot water and whisk thoroughly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 534Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 610mgSodium: 1819mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 30g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
