By Beleaev Family | International Caviar & Gourmet, Head Office London | beleaev.com
Crab eggs benedict is the brunch upgrade that swaps standard salmon for fresh white crab. The result is sweeter, more delicate, more luxurious. The technique is the same as classic eggs benedict, just with crab instead of smoked salmon.
Key Takeaways
- Use fresh white crab meat, lightly seasoned
- Make hollandaise after poaching the eggs
- English muffins toasted dark golden
- 60g of crab per portion
- Build to order, serve immediately
The Ingredients
Serves 2 (4 muffin halves)
For hollandaise:
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp water
- 175g unsalted butter, melted
- A pinch of cayenne
- Sea salt
For crab topping:
- 240g fresh white crab meat
- 2 tbsp full-fat mayonnaise
- 1 tsp lemon juice, plus zest
- Sea salt and white pepper
For assembly:
- 2 English muffins, split
- 4 large very fresh eggs
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar (poaching water)
- 1 tbsp finely sliced chives
- A few flakes of Maldon sea salt
The Method
Step 1: Prep Crab
Mix crab with mayo, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate.
Step 2: Toast Muffins
Split muffins by tearing with fork. Toast deep golden. Place on warm plates.
Step 3: Make Hollandaise
Whisk yolks, vinegar, water in bowl over bain-marie until thick. Drizzle in melted butter while whisking. Season with cayenne and salt. Keep warm but not hot.
Step 4: Poach Eggs
Stir simmering vinegar water into whirlpool. Slide one egg in. Repeat. Poach 3 minutes. Lift onto kitchen paper.
Step 5: Build
Top each muffin half with 60g of crab mixture. Place a poached egg on top. Spoon hollandaise generously over each. Scatter chives and salt flakes. Serve immediately.
Tips
Crab is delicate. Don't overdress with mayo. Light touch.
Poached eggs first, hollandaise second. Hollandaise must be made within 30 minutes of serving.
Don't pre-build. Hollandaise softens the muffin within minutes.
Use proper English muffins. Pre-sliced supermarket buns are wrong.
Variations and Pairings
With caviar topping: Add a small spoon (5g) of Royal Oscietra on top alongside the hollandaise.
With avocado: Add a layer of mashed avocado between muffin and crab.
With chilli: Add 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh chilli to the crab mixture.
Wine pairing: Champagne or a sparkling rosé.
For more brunch ideas, see our caviar eggs benedict and smoked salmon and caviar bagel recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fresh does the crab need to be?
Fresh white crab from a fishmonger, used same day or next. Pasteurised tinned crab gives inferior results.
Can hollandaise be made in advance?
30 minutes maximum. Beyond that it splits or sets.
What's the right muffin?
A proper English muffin, torn open with a fork (never sliced with a knife). Toast deep golden.
How much crab per portion?
60g per muffin half (120g per person if 2 halves). Generous but not overwhelming.
Further Reading
Crab eggs benedict on a Sunday morning is the brunch upgrade that proves luxury and breakfast belong together. Discover Beleaev's caviar collection at beleaev.com.
Beleaev is an international caviar and gourmet house headquartered in London, with fulfilment hubs across the UK, Europe, the UAE, and the United States. We deliver responsibly farmed Beluga, Oscietra, Sevruga, and Kaluga caviar to customers in each region within 24 to 48 hours.
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