There’s no need to wake up early to make this satisfying breakfast featuring roasted asparagus and poached eggs.
This is just the kind of meal I keep in heavy rotation during asparagus season. It’s quick, easy and a terrific combination of tastes and textures that’s always satisfying.
I’ve called it breakfast, lunch and dinner because it’s a natural for any time of the day. It’s really a fairly straightforward combination of ingredients, layered for presentation and tied together with a creamy but delicate sauce.
Fresh asparagus spears topped with a delicate poached egg are at the center of this particular dish. This is my lighter variation on Eggs Benedict.
I’ve swapped out bacon for asparagus and an English muffin for a roasted portobello mushroom cap. I’ve also done away with the hollandaise sauce in favor of a lighter, tangier and super quick goat cheese sauce. This makes for a dish that’s at once hearty but cleaner and fresher tasting than its namesake.
The portobello caps and asparagus spear roast quickly in the oven while your eggs are poaching and the goat cheese sauce is whizzed up in no time in the blender in order to keep things as simple as can be. A scattering of chives across the top brings a touch of freshness and green to the final dish.
This is also one of my favorite weekend brunch dishes because it easily feeds a crowd if you double the quantities. Basic, comforting, versatile; it’s a lighter spin on an old standby.
What are some of your favorite breakfast or brunch dishes?
Serves serves 2
A lighter variation on Eggs Benedict featuring portobello mushrooms and asparagus.
10 minPrep Time
15 minCook Time
25 minTotal Time
Ingredients
- 2 medium to large Portobello mushroom caps, stems removed
- 1/2 a small bunch asparagus, stems trimmed and cut lengthwise if thick
- 3 Tablespoons/45ml extra virgin olive oil (divided use)
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced or grated
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 oz/156g fresh goat cheese
- 1 Tablespoon/15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tablespoon chopped chives for serving
Instructions
- Combine the goat cheese, 1 Tablespoon of water, the lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon white pepper and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a small blender or food processor. Blend on high until smooth. (You can double the goat cheese sauce recipe if you don't have a small blender or food processor and just save half for later use.) Set aside.
- Heat broiler. Brush the mushroom caps and asparagus (if your asparagus spears are very thick cut them lengthwise) all over with remaining 2 Tablespoons of the oil and minced garlic and season with a few pinches of salt and pepper.
- Place mushroom caps on a baking sheet and broil stem side down for 5 minutes. Flip the mushrooms and add the asparagus spears to the sheet. Broil for an additional 3 minutes, or until tender and lightly golden.
- Bring a shallow pan of salted water to a gentle simmer.
- Carefully crack each of the eggs into the water. Turn off the heat, cover and let sit for 5 to 7 minutes (depending on how runny you like your yolks), then carefully remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and drain on a clean kitchen towel.
- Top each mushroom with a few asparagus spears and a poached egg. Spoon goat cheese sauce over along with an extra sprinkle of pepper and chopped chives and serve immediately.
Notes
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian
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