Cheese And Egg Yolk: Perfect Pairing For Breakfast

Eggs and cheese are a match made in heaven, and the type of cheese you use depends on how you like your eggs. For scrambled eggs, American cheese and cream cheese are great options as they melt easily and add to the creaminess. For a sunny-side-up egg on a salad, add some goat cheese or parmesan for a delicious and healthy meal. If you're making an omelette, you can't go wrong with Swiss cheese, ham, and sauteed onions. Egg yolks are also commonly used in sauces like Mornay and bechamel to make them richer and help with binding and emulsification.

Cheese and egg yolk in mornay sauce

Mornay sauce is a classic béchamel sauce enriched with cheese and egg yolk. It is a French classic that is often served with eggs, in a variation on Eggs Benedict, replacing the hollandaise sauce.

Ingredients

To make a Mornay sauce, you will need:

• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Onion
• Cheese (Gruyère, Parmesan, Emmental, Manchego, or Kefalotyri)
• Egg yolks

Method

First, make a roux with the butter and flour, then add the milk to create a béchamel sauce. Cook this for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until the raw flour taste has cooked off. You can then add some whole cloves and a bay leaf to the sauce and simmer until reduced by about 20%. Remove the bay leaf, onion, and cloves, and strain the sauce. Return the sauce to the pan and add your grated cheese, stirring until melted. Finally, add the egg yolks to the sauce and season to taste.

Tips

Mornay sauce is best served fresh but can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. When reheating, do so over low heat and add a little milk or stock if the sauce becomes too thick.

Some recipes suggest adding a dash of mustard powder, cayenne, and Gorgonzola to enhance the flavour.

Egg yolk in cheesecake

Egg yolks are a key ingredient in cheesecakes. They give the dessert a rich and creamy texture. The number of egg yolks used in a cheesecake recipe varies depending on the desired texture and consistency. For example, a New York-style cheesecake uses extra egg yolk and cornstarch to achieve its signature dense, rich, and creamy texture.

When making a cheesecake, it is important to use room-temperature ingredients, including the eggs, to ensure a smooth and creamy texture. The eggs should be added one at a time to the batter, and it is crucial not to overmix the batter to maintain the desired dense and creamy consistency.

Additionally, baking a cheesecake at a high temperature for a short period and then lowering the temperature ensures that the cheesecake stays creamy inside. This technique allows the eggs to puff up and the cake to cook slowly, resulting in a dense yet creamy texture.

To summarise, egg yolks are essential in cheesecakes as they provide richness and creaminess. The number of egg yolks and the baking technique can be adjusted to achieve the desired texture, whether it's light and airy or dense and firm.

Goat cheese with a sunny side up egg

Goat cheese and sunny side up eggs are a delicious combination. The creaminess of the goat cheese complements the texture of the egg yolk, creating a mouth-watering dish that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

One way to prepare this dish is to make a sunny side up egg pizza with goat cheese and herbs. Here is a recipe for two people:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 free-range eggs
• 2 ounces of goat cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 tablespoon of fresh sage, torn
• 1/2 tablespoon of fresh rosemary leaves
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
• Flour for rolling out the dough

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface to a 12-inch circle.
• Lift the dough onto a 12-inch round pizza pan and press down.
• Brush the top of the dough with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the pan in the oven and bake until the dough just begins to harden and turn golden, about 20-25 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and carefully crack the eggs on top.
• Sprinkle over the sage and rosemary, then return the pan to the oven and continue baking until the egg whites and yolks are cooked to your desired doneness.
• Remove the pizza from the oven and crumble the soft goat cheese on top.
• Slice the pizza while still warm and enjoy!

Another way to enjoy goat cheese with a sunny side up egg is to add it to a salad. Simply place a sunny side up egg on top of your salad and sprinkle on some goat cheese. This adds a delicious, creamy texture and a major flavor boost to your salad.

Goat cheese and sunny side up eggs are a perfect match, offering a unique taste experience that is sure to impress.

Cheddar or provolone with bacon, egg, and cheese

When it comes to bacon, egg, and cheese, you can't go wrong with either cheddar or provolone. Both are popular choices for breakfast sandwiches, and for good reason.

Cheddar, a sharp and tangy cheese, pairs well with the salty goodness of bacon and the creamy texture of eggs. It's a classic combination that never fails to satisfy. Cheddar is a versatile cheese that can be used in many different types of dishes, from omelettes to quiches. It's also a favourite for grilled cheese sandwiches, and its sharp flavour can stand up to other strong ingredients like Canadian bacon or breakfast sausage.

Provolone, on the other hand, brings a creamy, buttery flavour to the sandwich. It has a more subtle flavour than cheddar, but its smooth texture and mild taste complement the other ingredients beautifully. Provolone is also a popular choice for grilled cheese sandwiches, and it goes well with ingredients like chicken, avocado, or tomato.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could even combine the two! A breakfast sandwich with both cheddar and provolone, like the Ham Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich, is sure to be a flavourful treat. The sharp cheddar and mild provolone together create a wonderful balance of flavours, and the eggs and bacon only add to the deliciousness.

So, whether you choose cheddar, provolone, or a combination of the two, you're sure to enjoy your bacon, egg, and cheese creation!

Omelettes with swiss cheese, ham, and sautéed onions

Omelettes are a blank canvas and can be made with any type of cheese, meat, and vegetables. Swiss cheese, ham, and sautéed onions is a great combination for an omelette. Here is a recipe for a delicious omelette with these ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• A pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon of cream or milk (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter or 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped ham
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 stem of finely chopped chives (optional)
• Other vegetables of your choice (optional)

Instructions:

• Gather your ingredients and prepare your vegetables by chopping or slicing them.
• Warm a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a tiny dab of butter. Once it starts foaming, add the ham and cook for about a minute or two until it is warmed through. Remove the ham from the pan and set it aside in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt and cream or milk (if using). Whisk well until fully combined and slightly foamy.
• Return the pan to the stove and melt the remaining butter over moderate heat. The stove should be on medium-low to medium heat, depending on the strength of your stove.
• Pour the whisked eggs into the pan and leave them for about 15 seconds or until the edges start to set.
• Use a rubber spatula to make long, leisurely strokes, scraping the cooked eggs from the bottom of the pan to allow the uncooked egg to run underneath. Continue doing this for about 30 seconds or until the eggs are partially cooked.
• Spread the custardy semi-scrambled eggs evenly across the pan.
• Sprinkle the cheese and then the warmed ham on half of the omelette. The warm ham will help melt the cheese.
• Use two rubber spatulas to fold the omelette over.
• Leave the omelette in the pan for another 30 seconds to melt the cheese and finish cooking the inside.
• Slide or flip the omelette onto a plate and serve. Sprinkle with chives if desired.

Feel free to add other vegetables or ingredients of your choice to the omelette. Enjoy your delicious omelette with swiss cheese, ham, and sautéed onions!

Frequently asked questions