Although hollandaise sauce is amazingly good, it is a guilty please given that it has a half a cup of butter in it. While I was enjoying the asparagus with a poached egg in hollandaise sauce earlier in the week, the lemony nature of the sauce reminded me of another lemony sauce, avgolemono sauce . An avgolemono sauce is a Greek egg and lemon based sauce that is really tasty without all of the butter. In addition to the egg and the lemon juice, avgolemono needs a liquid and that liquid is commonly the liquid of dish that you will be adding the sauce to, though you could always use a broth or a stock. Since I would be serving my avgolemono sauce on asparagus I used the water that I cooked the asparagus in as the liquid in the sauce. Normally an avgolemono sauce would be finished with this but I commonly associate dill and capers with lemony sauces and I could not resist adding some to this one. Of course you can turn this from a side dish to a light meal that is perfect for breakfast or brunch by topping it off with a poached egg.
Asparagus with a Poached Egg in a Dill and Caper Avgolemono Sauce
ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus (trimmed and cleaned)
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
- 1/2 lemon (juice)
- 1 tablespoon dill chopped
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 2 eggs
directions
- Cook the asparagus in boiling water until it just turns dark green, about 2 minutes.
- Drain the water, reserving 1/2 cup of it.
- Rinse the asparagus under cold water to stop the cooking process and set aside.
- Whisk the egg in bowl until frothy.
- Slowly whisk in the lemon juice followed by the reserved asparagus water.
- Heat in a small sauce pan while whisking until the sauce thickens, mix in the dill and capers and remove from heat. (Do not bring it to a boil.)
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and reduce the heat to medium.
- Swirl the water in the pot.
- Crack an egg into a bowl and pour the egg from the bowl into the water. Repeat for the remaining egg.
- Let the eggs cook until the whites are set but the yolks are not, about 2-3 minutes and fish them out.
- Split the asparagus between two plates, top with the poached eggs and the dill and caper avgolemono sauce.
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Jane says
This looks fantastic without being too "guilt-inducing." Will have to try it for lunch!
Shayne says
wow that dish made a great picture
saveur says
Ooh, this looks so tasty and a healthier alternative to Hollandaise. 🙂
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
A terrific combination! I love that addition of Avgolemono sauce. Perfect!
Cheers,
Rosa
Just My says
your pics are totally awesom!
Joanne says
Dill and capers are a fabulous addition to the avgolemono sauce. That second picture is absolutely fabulous!
lo says
Yesterday I spend few hours with your blog. It's the BEST. Congratulation.
SKIZO says
Great
Work
good
sources
of
Inspiration
Adventures in Domestic Cooking says
Fantastic!! Wow, looks so good.
Totally going to make that=)
katerina says
I really, really need to try asparagus with a poached egg. Your pictures are mouth watering!
Anonymous says
I'm so glad to find out about the avgolemono sauce! I had never heard of it, and it sounds right up my alley.
kimberleyblue says
Really nice photos in this post! What a great idea for a sauce for asparagus and egg; challenges hollandaise for sure!
Jenn says
I have never seen an avgolemono sauce before, what an awesomely delicious alternative to hollandaise! Beautiful photo too, the asparagus tips are literally popping out of the screen!
Michelle says
these are awesome pictures! and it looks so delicious
Kait says
Great sauce. It looks just as delicious as the hollandaise.
Tanusree says
room-mate and me tried out your recipe for Sunday lunch and it turned out yummy !! Thanks for the recipe.
pigpigscorner says
Love your first click!
Anonymous says
wow, that first photo is really amazing… i love it!
Sippity Sup says
oh my that speaks to me on so many levels. it's so easy to think Hollandaisse but you have proven there are so many other creative choices! GREG
Antonatos, Esq. says
Today I wondered whether Greek Avgolemono Sauce and Hollandaise Sauce are the same thing.
Antonatos, Esq. says
Today I wondered whether Greek Avgolemono Sauce and Hollandaise Sauce are the same thing.