You can’t beat a hollandaise soaked stack of goodness on a slow weekend morning. My lovely fellow cook Shel introduced us to the wonders of homemade hollandaise on a decadent flyaway weekend in Merimbula back in 1997 and we haven’t looked back. I’ve Jonai’d the original recipe as we really like to give it a lift with the basil and garlic.
I’m sure Larousse would not be happy with me, as this version requires no reducing, but I’m willing to bet that you, dear readers, will not be disappointed. The lovely Zoe (of Progressive Dinner Party fame) and her family were instant converts to homemade hollandaise when we enjoyed this on our summer holiday, and her son apparently dubbed it ‘Tammandaise’, a name we now use as well. 🙂
Hollandaise Sauce
3 egg yolks
splash of white wine vinegar
juice of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic
handful basil
salt & pepper to taste
200g butter
Method
Put all ingredients except butter into a tall cup and hand blend (or you can put them in a blender). Heat butter on stovetop or in microwave until just boiling. Pour very slowly into cup with other ingredients, blending constantly. Pour over stacks of goodness, add freshly ground black pepper, and enjoy!
Some options for the stacks on which this heaven will be poured:
Eggs from your ladies in the back garden (poached in slow boiling water with 10% vinegar)
Free-range bacon, for those who like Benedict
Spinach leaves for the Florentine-inclined, but nice with Benedict too
Mushrooms (sliced and fried up, a nice addition or to substitute for the eggs so it’s not so rich)
Roast tomatoes
Avocado
Good quality (homemade?!) sourdough bread, toasted
Why the vinegar in with the water?
I learned ages ago, from either Larousse or Stephanie, that I was meant to add 10% vinegar to hold the eggs together. Thinking about it now, I suspect maybe the lack of fresh eggs led people to that technique? My fresh eggs from the backyard don’t need it… I’ll do a proper side-by-side test soon & report back!