Oeufs en Meurette
Poached Eggs in Red Wine Sauce
A classic Burgundian brunch dish featuring perfectly poached eggs nestled in a rich, savory red wine sauce, accompanied by crispy lardons, tender pearl onions, and sautéed mushrooms. Traditionally served with toasted bread.
🧂 Ingredients
- 8 Large Eggs(For poaching)
- 500 ml Dry Red Burgundy wine (Pinot Noir)(A good quality, drinkable wine is essential for flavor.)
- 150 g Lardons or thick-cut bacon(Cut into 1/4-inch thick strips.)
- 12 Pearl onions(Peeled. If small, leave whole; if larger, halve.)
- 150 g Cremini mushrooms(Cleaned and quartered or halved if small.)
- 60 g Unsalted butter(Divided: 30g for sautéing, 30g for finishing the sauce.)
- 1 tablespoon All-purpose flour(For thickening the sauce.)
- 100 ml Chicken or beef broth(Low sodium preferred.)
- 1 medium Shallot(Finely minced. Essential aromatic for the sauce.)
- 1 clove Garlic(Minced.)
- 2 Fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 Bay leaf
- 4 thick slices Baguette or sturdy country bread(For toasting.)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper(Freshly ground.)
- 1 tablespoon White wine vinegar(For poaching the eggs.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Red Wine Sauce Base: In a medium saucepan, combine the Red Burgundy wine, minced shallot, minced garlic, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let it gently simmer and reduce by about half, which should take approximately 15-20 minutes. The liquid should become slightly more concentrated in flavor. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan, discarding the solids. Set aside.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 2
Cook the Garnishes: While the wine reduces, melt 30g of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lardons and cook until they are golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the lardons with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet. Add the peeled pearl onions to the skillet and sauté in the bacon fat until they are tender and lightly caramelized, about 8-10 minutes. Add the quartered mushrooms to the skillet and cook until they are browned and have released their moisture, about 5-7 minutes. Season the onions and mushrooms with salt and pepper. Remove the onions and mushrooms from the skillet and set aside with the lardons.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 3
Finish the Red Wine Sauce: Add the 1 tablespoon of flour to the reserved red wine reduction in the saucepan. Whisk well to combine and cook for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in the chicken or beef broth. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly until it thickens slightly. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer very gently for about 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. For a richer, glossier sauce, whisk in the remaining 30g of cold butter, one piece at a time, until fully incorporated (this is called 'monter au beurre'). Keep the sauce warm over very low heat.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Poach the Eggs: Bring a large saucepan of water to a gentle simmer (do not boil). Add the white wine vinegar and a pinch of salt. Crack each egg into a small ramekin or cup. Carefully slide the eggs, one or two at a time, into the simmering water. Poach for 3-4 minutes for a runny yolk and set whites. Using a slotted spoon, gently remove the poached eggs and drain them on a paper towel.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Toast the Bread: While the eggs are poaching, toast the slices of baguette or country bread until golden brown and crisp. You can do this in a toaster, under the broiler, or in a dry skillet.
⏱️ 3 minutes - 6
Assemble and Serve: Place one slice of toasted bread on each serving plate. Carefully place two poached eggs on top of each slice of toast. Spoon a generous amount of the warm red wine sauce over the eggs. Scatter the crispy lardons, caramelized pearl onions, and sautéed mushrooms over the top. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The quality of the Red Burgundy wine significantly impacts the final flavor of the sauce. Use a wine you would enjoy drinking.
- ✓The poached eggs will absorb some of the red wine, giving them a beautiful, subtle purplish hue.
- ✓For an even richer sauce, you can add a tablespoon of crème fraîche at the end, off the heat.
- ✓Ensure the water for poaching eggs is simmering, not boiling, to prevent the whites from breaking apart.
- ✓Taste and adjust seasoning of the sauce throughout the process.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Serve with crispy croutons instead of toasted bread.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or chives for added freshness.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a hint of heat.