Don't let the title scare you off...you CAN make the perfect poached egg. I've got the inside scoop right here. And sriracha and feta take ho-hum avocado toast to the next level.
How to Make A Perfect Poached Egg...Every Time
Great morning! I mean...mornings are GREAT when I have this to look forward to for breakfast. Period. Poached egg perfection is doable, achievable and every kind of -able.I found this technique on one of my favorite sites, Serious Eats, run by Chef Kenji Lopez-Alt, who discovers and shares "how-to's" for just about every culinary question.
And knowing how to make the Perfect Poached Egg (PPE for short) can take you just about anywhere a touch of semi-runny yolk is required. On pizza or ramen, on top of grilled cheese, avocado halves...I could go on and on.
And avocado toast? It's not kitchen magic that's for sure. If someone told this California-born girl back in the "olden days" that someday people would be making big money from spreading avocado on toast and charging $12 for it, I'd have answered with "and sure, I'll be talking into a watch like Inspector Gadget too." Regardless, I'm in love with avocado toast. Thank goodness it's so easy to make it at home!
The Poached Egg Method
Here's how you make it all happen:
Tools needed:
- Small glass bowl
- Chinese strainer
- 4 qt. saucepan
- Slotted spoon
- Paper towel folded on a small plate
- Toaster
Bring about 2-3 inches of water to simmer at approximately 170˚. You can use a thermometer or just eyeball it to look like the image. There should be tiny, little bubbles coming to the surface. I suggest using a thermometer the first time you try this and after that use your peepers. Trust your gut (ok - I admit to making a little game out of this combining the eyeballing and the thermometer but I digress).
While the water comes to temp, position your strainer over the top of the small bowl. You can see that my strainer is larger than my bowl. (Someday I will buy the perfect tiny strainer but who wants to be perfect? ) Next, gently crack your egg (never on the side of the bowl - one good tap on the counter does it) into the strainer and swirl it once to remove the excess white. THIS IS THE SECRET. You won't have all those pesky little tails on your poached egg. Promise.
No Vinegar Needed
Once your water comes to temp, pick up your strainer and lower it into the water and angle it until the egg slides out happily into the saucepan. Immediately set your timer for 3:00. The egg will hang out on the bottom of the pan and slowly start to form a perfect shape. No swirling, no vinegar - no nothin'.
Avocado Toast's Secret Ingredient
Meanwhile, toast your bread until all toasty and golden or dark depending on your mood. And open up and pit your avocado. Slice or mashed or cube your avocado on to your toast and top with crumbled feta and a copious amount of pepper. Because pepper, my friends, is essential to successful avocado toast (or homemade guacamole for that matter).
When your timer goes off, take your slotted spoon and lightly scoop the egg from the bottom of your pan and place it for a second on your paper towel/plate to remove any water.
Place your egg on to your avocado toast and grab your favorite sriracha (or hot sauce or gochujang) and give it a good drizzle. And sit back satisfactorily, smile, and make another.
tips
For a crowd - You can make several of these poached eggs at a time. Depends on the size of your pan, of course. The most I have done in a 4 qt. pan is 3. You can cook them and refrigerate them and drop them back in simmering water just before serving. I'll admit - we've used a microwave for 15 seconds too.
For a few: These would make a great dinner, with some prosciutto in which case I'd use four eggs for two people. Or maybe some leftover carnitas layered on top of the avocado and then the egg.
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📖 Recipe
Perfect Poached Eggs with Sriracha and Feta Avocado Toast
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 ripe avocado, halved and pitted
- 2 T feta cheese, the best you can find
- 1 teaspoon sriracha, or other hot sauce
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a 4 qt saucepan to 170 degrees until tiny bubbles appear
- Crack the egg into a small strainer set over a bowl small enough so the strainer doesn't hit the bottom.
- Swirl once and allow the excess egg white drip into the bowl below.
- Once the water comes to temperature. slowly lower the egg into the water and tilt the strainer to slide the egg into the pan. Immediately set a timer for 2:30.
- Toast bread until desired doneness.
- Mash, slice or cube avocado and place over bread. Top with salt, pepper and even some everything bagel seasoning from Trader Joe's.
- Once the timer goes off, grab your slotted spoon and remove the egg from the pan and place on a paper towel lined plate to remove excess water.
- Place egg onto toast and drizzle with hot sauce of your choice.
Hey I loved your recipe and the approach on how to get the PPE 😉. I will definitely try your recipe next weekend! Love and hugs Nina (twosisterslivinglife)
I very much enjoyed reading your post!
Thanks Nina! And thanks for popping over here to see me!😍
I just tried your method for poaching the egg! It was my first poached egg, ever. You made it seem so easy! While mine wasn’t as pretty as yours but I will definitely be doing this again. Delicious!
I am sure it was great! I have practiced ALOT and it definitely takes some time management but is so easier without all the swirling and stuff. The next time you do it it'll be even better! Thanks Erin!
What an interesting to poach the egg using the strainer. I can't wait to try!
Thanks Stacey! Let me know how it works out for you. It really is a game changer in our house!