Green Eggs and Ham

Serves 12

Ingredients

Basil Oil

• 1 bunch basil
• 1 garlic clove
• 250ml extra virgin olive oil

Salsa Verde

• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp capers
• 1 tbs gherkins pickled in sweet vinegar
• 2 anchovy fillets (optional)
• 2 large handfuls flat-leaf parsley
• 1 bunch basil
• 1 handful fresh mint
• 1 tbs Dijon mustard
• 3 tsp lemon juice
• 8 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Hard boiled egg (grated)

Scrambled Eggs

• 6 large free-range eggs
• 3 tbs ice-cold butter (diced)
• 1 tbs crème fraîche or pure cream
• 1/2 bunch freshly chopped chives
• 400 gms shaved ham (pan fried)
• 5 chunky slices of bread
• Freshly ground sea salt
• Cracked pepper

Method

For the Basil Oil

1. Blanch the basil leaves in boiling water for a couple of seconds and then refresh them in iced water. Drain the water and pat the leaves dry with a paper towel.
2. Process leaves with olive oil and garlic. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve or chinos lined with a cloth or oil filter, and then let it filter without pressing.

For the Salsa Verde

1. Finely mortar the garlic, capers, gherkins, anchovies and herbs.
2. Add the mustard and lemon juice and slowly stir in the olive oil until you achieve the right consistency.
3. Balance the flavours with freshly ground black pepper, a bit of salt and a grated egg.

For the Scrambled Eggs

1. Crack the eggs into a cold, heavy-based pan, add half the butter and place onto the stove over a generous heat.
2. Using a spatula, stir the eggs fast to combine the yolks with the whites.
3. When mixture begins to set add the remaining butter. The eggs will take about 3 minutes to scramble. Note that they should still be soft. Tip: Don’t let the eggs get too hot in the pan – keep moving the pan off and back on the heat to ensure they don’t become hard.
4. Toast the bread.
5. Add the crème fraîche to the scrambled egg mixture and season with salt and pepper, then add the chives.

To Serve

Put the toast on warm plates, pile the softly scrambled eggs on top and serve with ham, basil oil and salsa verde.