Green Eggs and Ham - Michael Chiarello

Submitted by Brookelynne26

"From Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking. Would be great served with soup or salad for a light dinner. The basil oil will need to be made well ahead of time."

 

• Ready In: 4hrs 10mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Serves: 2

ingredients

• about 1 1/2 quarts water
• salt
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 slices country-style bread, each 1/2-inch thick
• 2 thin slices prosciutto
• freshly ground black pepper

• Basil Oil

• 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh basil
• 1 cup olive oil

directions

1. Make basil oil: Place basil and olive oil in a blender and puree. Put mixture in a saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, simmer 45 seconds. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Immediately strain oil again through a flat bottomed paper filter, such as those used for drip coffee machines (acone shaped filter will get clogged). You may need to gently squeeze the filter to force the oil out. Let filtered oil settle for a few hours, then pour off any clear oil, leaving the dark behind. Pour through a funnel into a bottle for storage. Cover and refrigerate. Use within 1 month.
2. Preheat a broiler or a lightly oiled stove-top grill pan.
3. Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Salt the water, add the vinegar, and then lower the heat so the water barely bubbles. One at a time, break the eggs into a custard cup or small bowl, and then pour into the water, trying not to break the yolks. With a slotted spoon, gently lift and shape the whites around the egg yolks until glazed but still liquid, about 2 1/2 minutes longer.
4. While the eggs poach, toast the bread slices on both sides. Put a slice of toast on each of 2 plates. Immediately top with the prosciutto so that it softens from the heat of the toast. Lift the poached eggs out of the water with a slotted spoon, letting excess water drip off, and then place an egg on each toast. Drizzle each toast with 2 teaspoons basil oil and then grind a little black pepper over each. Serve immediately.