Poached Eggs in Red Wine Sauce with Pancetta
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 bottles Pinot Noir
- 10 whole juniper berries
- 1 parsley sprig
- 1 thyme sprig
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 pound thinly sliced pancetta, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
- 1/2 pound white mushrooms
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons ruby port
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 4 slices firm white bread, crusts removed, cut into 8 triangles
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 8 large eggs
- Chives, for garnish
- Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saucepan.
- Add the onions and shallots and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 8 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Whisk in 1/2 cup of the wine until smooth, then gradually whisk in the remaining wine.
- In a square of cheesecloth, combine the juniper, parsley, thyme and bay leaf and tie with string.
- Add the herb bundle to the pan and simmer over low heat, skimming, until the wine has reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 45 minutes.
- Pass the sauce through a coarse strainer.
- Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet.
- Add the pancetta and cook over moderately low heat until lightly crisped, about 4 minutes.
- Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 8 minutes.
- Add the port and boil until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the wine sauce and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and swirl in 1 tablespoon of butter, then season with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the oil.
- Add the bread and cook over moderately high heat until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Fill a large skillet with enough water to reach two-thirds of the way up the side.
- Add the vinegar and bring to a boil.
- One at a time, break the eggs into the bubbling water.
- Regulate the heat so the water barely simmers and poach the eggs until the whites are set but the yolks are still soft, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to paper towels.
- Gently reheat the sauce and spoon it into soup plates.
- Add 2 bread triangles to each plate and set an egg on top of each triangle.
- Garnish with chives; serve hot.
unsalted butter, onions, shallots, salt, flour, bottles, berries, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, pancetta, white mushrooms, port, canola oil, white bread, vinegar, eggs, chives
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/poached-eggs-in-red-wine-sauce-with-pancetta (may not work)