Savory Waffles with Cremini Mushrooms and Poached Eggs

By DreiFromBK

Chef Jesse Cool loves it when the egg yolks blend with the juices of the mushrooms to form a sauce. Maybe it's her dad's influence—he used ketchup on everything—but with these waffles Cool would actually reach for a bottle of ketchup (Muir Glen organic is her favorite). This recipe is adapted from one in her book, Breakfast in Bed (Harper Collins).

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup minced shallots or red onion
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup thinly sliced shallots (about 2) or red onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds cremini or white mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sweet sherry or Marsala
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons chopped thyme
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 8 large eggs

Preparation

Step 1

Lightly oil an 8-inch-square waffle iron and preheat it. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine the butter, shallots and rosemary; whisk in the eggs and then the buttermilk. Gradually stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture.
Pour one-third of the batter into the waffle iron and bake until browned, about 8 minutes. Set the waffle aside and bake the remaining batter in 2 batches.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the shallots and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, sherry, parsley and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over moderately high heat for 5 minutes. Uncover and add the cream. Cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender and the sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
Bring a large skillet of water to a boil and add the vinegar. Break 4 of the eggs into the water, 1 at a time. Simmer gently over moderate heat until the whites are firm and the yolks soft, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat with the remaining eggs.
Meanwhile, cut each waffle into 4 squares and toast until crisp. Set 2 squares on each of 4 warmed plates. Arrange 2 eggs on each plate and spoon the mushrooms on top. Pass the remaining waffles separately.