POACHED EGGS WITHOUT VINEGAR RECIPES

Steps:

• Fill a large skillet, ideally one with straight, tall sides, with water to a depth of 1 1/2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Using a slotted spoon, carefully place the whole, uncracked eggs in the water and roll them around for 15 to 20 seconds, so they’re evenly warm. Take them out of the skillet. Add the vinegar to the boiling water.
• Crack the eggs into the boiling water one at a time, spacing them apart (if they're too hot to the touch, wait a few seconds until they feel OK to handle). Adjust the heat to keep the water steadily and lightly boiling. Let the eggs poach until the whites are opaque and firm, and the yolks are set to your desired doneness, 3 to 6 minutes. Gently nudge the yolk with the spoon to check for doneness: Very runny yolks will wobble like a water balloon; standard runny yolks will feel soft but set; firm yolks will feel solid.
• Transfer to paper towels with the slotted spoon and gently pat dry. Butter toast and layer with ham and cheese, if using. Place poached eggs on top, season with salt and pepper, and top with another pat of butter, if you like.

Steps:

• To make the hollandaise sauce, bring a small saucepan of water to a gentle simmer. Find a heatproof glass bowl that will fit neatly on top without touching the water and add the yolks, vinegar and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Whisk together until frothy, then place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk again until the mixture thickens. Gradually whisk in the butter, starting with single cubes, and as the sauce gets thicker, add 2–3 at a time. If the sauce begins to look oily – as if it might be splitting – whisk the mixture off the heat for a few minutes. When all the butter is incorporated, season with the remaining lemon juice, salt and white pepper. Turn off the heat but leave the bowl on top to keep the sauce warm. A piece of cling film laid directly on the surface will stop a skin forming.
• To poach the eggs, fill a saucepan with 10cm/4in of water and a splash of white wine vinegar. Bring to a gentle simmer. Fill a large bowl with cold water. Crack the first egg into a small sieve – this will drain away any runny egg that might cloud the water.
• Lower the heat so just a few small bubbles remain then stir to create a whirlpool. When the whirlpool has almost disappeared, tip the egg from the sieve into the middle of where the whirlpool was. Poach for 2 minutes while watching the heat – there should be small, gentle bubbles constantly but nothing more vigorous. Spoon the poached egg into the cold water. Repeat 3 times and keep the water gently simmering when all the eggs are done.
• Top each muffin half with a slice of smoked salmon. Reheat all the eggs in the poaching pan for 30 seconds, then sit on top of the salmon. Give the sauce a quick stir then spoon over the top of each egg – if it’s too thick, stir in a splash of cool water to thin. Garnish with the chives and serve immediately.