Eggs Florentine

Ingredients

• 4 large flat or Portobello mushrooms
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Low calorie oil spray (less than one calorie per spray)
• 250g baby spinach leaves
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 4 large eggs
• 1-2 tsp white wine vinegar
• A pinch of grated nutmeg
• 4 slices of lean ham, all visible fat removed
• 8 thin slices of tomato
• 1 tbsp crushed pink peppercorns

For the sauce:

• 8 tbsp fat free natural fromage frais
• 25g Cheddar cheese, finely grated
• A pinch of mustard powder
• 2 tbsp freshly chopped tarragon
• 200ml boiling hot vegetable stock

Method

1. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and place gill side up on a grill rack. Season well, lightly spray with low calorie oil spray and cook under a preheated medium-hot grill for 3-4 minutes on each side or until just cooked through.
2. Meanwhile place the spinach in a large pan with the lemon juice and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Drain off any juice, season with the nutmeg and a little salt and pepper and keep warm.
3. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil. Stir in the vinegar, reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer and carefully break the eggs into the water. Cover the pan and let the eggs poach on a very low heat for about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully transfer the eggs to a large bowl of cold water.
4. Make the sauce by placing the fromage frais in a bowl with the cheese, mustard powder and tarragon. Season to taste, add the stock and, using an electric hand whisk, blend well.
5. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat gently for 1-2 minutes until warm (don't let it boil or the fromage frais will curdle).
6. Place a mushroom on each plate and cover with a slice of ham, two slices of tomato, some spinach and finally top with a poached egg. Spoon over the tarragon sauce and serve sprinkled with the pink peppercorns.

SYN FREE