Poached Eggs

INGREDIENTS:

1 or 2 eggs per person

1 tbsp salt

Large shallow-sided pan filled with water

Kitchen paper

Slotted spoon or potato masher

METHOD

Bring a pan of water to the boil, and heavily salt it. Wait for the salt to dissolve, then turn the heat down until you have a very gentle simmer (with hardly any small bubbles).

When your water has reached the right temperature, you have two options for getting the egg in. You want to ease it into the water without creating any splash, as this will break up the albumen. If you have asbestos fingers, then break the egg over the water with it touching the surface. However, if you don’t wish to burn your fingers, it is probably better to tip the egg into a small mug or cup, then slip the egg into the water from the cup, holding onto the handle.

You can cook as many eggs at a time that there is room in the pan for, but make sure they each have space in between and do it in a clock-wise fashion, so you know which ones need removing first.

While they are cooking try not to fiddle with them or move them about as this will break up the eggs. When they look ready, gently lift one with a slotted spoon or a flat potato masher works well. If the white holds together you can lift it out to see by touching it whether it is ready. The whites should be a solid colour and no longer translucent. If it starts to come away from the yolk it is not ready yet.

When you are satisfied the white is cooked and the yolk is still runny, lift each egg carefully out and place on a doubled over piece of kitchen paper. This will drain any excess water. Carefully dab the top of the egg with the kitchen paper as well. Season some more and serve!

Top Tips: The eggs must be the best quality to hold together. The ability for the egg white to retain its shape and texture has a lot to do with the quality of the feed the chicken has been given. Generally the thicker the shell, the better the egg. Serve them on buttered toast or English muffins, with smoked salmon, spinach, ham, avocado, bacon or hollandaise sauce! You can actually cook poached eggs in advance, by dropping them into ice-cold water as soon as they are cooked. Drain and store them in the fridge, not touching one another in a sealed container, then just re heat them in nearly boiling water for 1 minute when ready to eat.