Perfect Poached Eggs with Sriracha and Feta Avocado Toast

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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