Eggs Florentine




This one is by special request (a request that was more specific than "um, could you please post something?" but I guess I'm addressing those too) and I was more than happy to oblige because, after making it, I got to eat it. 

Eggs Florentine is one of my favorite special-treat breakfasts.  However, I've always been sort of amused/horrified by the concept of "Would you like some more egg yolk sauce on your eggs?  With butter?"  It is good, but it is crazy.  So although the concept of a vegan (and optionally soy-free) hollandaise sauce served over an actual egg may seen contradictory, for me it works.  If it doesn't work for you, which would also make sense, then use the sauce over asparagus, steamed cauliflower, or as a topping for luxurious enchiladas (for that, I'd make it thinner with some extra water).  It would also be delicious on whole grain toast with sauteed mushrooms or on a plain baked potato.  

I would say that there are three very important elements to a hollandaise sauce, vegan or not:  rich fattiness, tanginess and creaminess.  Cashews make this stuff both rich and creamy, while providing a fabulous source of copper and magnesium.  For tang, lots of lemon juice.  If you make it with unsweetened hemp milk, oat milk or rice milk, it's also soy free. 

Nutritional yeast is the only specialty ingredient here, but it is well worth finding if you havn't already.  There are not alot of non-animal sources of vitamin B-12, but nutritional yeast is a great one.  It's fabulous with balsamic vinegar on cauliflower and an integral ingredient in cheeseless macaroni and cheese.  Get thee to a health food store and buy it.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cooking Time: 10 Minutes
Yield:  About 1-1/2 Cups of sauce (or enough for 4 Servings)
Hollandaise Sauce:
½ Cup Raw Cashews
1 Cup Milk, non-dairy, unsweetened
¼ Cup Nutritonal Yeast
½ Tsp Dry Mustard
½ Tsp Sea Salt
¼ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
Juice of 1 ½ to 2 Lemons
If making the eggs florentine, you’ll also need:
4 Organic Eggs
4 Slices Whole Grain Bread
A Few Large Handfuls of Baby Spinach

Grind the cashews into a powder using a coffee or spice grinder.  Combine all sauce ingredients, except lemon juice, in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, whisking to combine.  Turn down heat to low and continue to let simmer for 1-2 minutes.  Whisk in enough water to get to desired consistency, which could be as much as ½ cup.  Sauce thickens as it sits, so the quicker you use it the less water you’ll need.  Turn off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice, to taste, until mixture is smooth.

In the meantime, poach the eggs (see here for a great set of instructions on that), toast the bread, and sauté the spinach until just wilted—either in a little olive oil or the water still clinging to the leaves after rinsing.  Season the spinach with sea salt and black pepper.  Smear a little olive oil onto the toast, if you’re feeling naughty.

For each serving, layer toast, then a little spinach, then an egg, then drizzle generously with sauce.  Sprinkle with a little paprika or black pepper for color.  Serve immediately.  

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Comments

  • 3/22/2009 8:56 AM Kristina wrote:
    Wow! These are great. Never in a million years would I have thought cashews had such culinary prowess!
    I have some extra hollandaise. It is so tasty that I'd love to drizzle it over some asparagus for dinner tomorrow. Do you think it will keep well?
    Reply to this
    1. 3/22/2009 9:15 AM Delicious Wisdom wrote:
      hi!
      i've had mine in the fridge for a couple of days and its doing fine.  last night, we dipped steamed broccoli into it.  considering what's in there, i'd say it should be ok in the fridge for atleast a few days.
      nic
      Reply to this
  • 3/23/2009 8:30 AM Steph wrote:
    vegan hollandaise sauce!? i'm in!
    Reply to this
  • 3/31/2009 6:47 PM Ricki wrote:
    That is such an intriguing sauce! The eggs look beautiful. Bookmarked!
    Reply to this
  • 4/5/2009 12:57 PM Erin wrote:
    I made eggs benedict with bacon on toast and this hollandaise sauce. My husband said he couldn't even tell that it wasn't actual hollandaise. Luckily, I also had a nice amount left over. I put it in the fridge, reheated it the next and added some hot water because it had gotten thick. Then I put it over a broccoli and cheese omelete. It was wonderful. Very impressive recipe. And very easy. Thank you!!
    Reply to this
  • 4/8/2009 9:52 AM dhimas130184 wrote:
    very nice blog, i am so wondering, keep going i will visit back
    Reply to this
  • 9/8/2009 6:45 PM GIGI wrote:
    Woah! That egg... man I want to pop it in my mouth! ha ha!
    Reply to this
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