NEW RECIPE: Bacon-Tomato Napoleon with Fresh Hollandaise

© Constantine William Spyrou

Continuing my run at the Masterchef challenges, this one has to do with the very first "Mystery Box" Challenge. In this challenge, the contestants had 60 minutes to create a dish using a very limited pantry of eggs, lemon, herbs and spices, flour, sugar, butter, and other such ingredients. In addition, chefs could only use the 4 ingredients in their Mystery Box. This time around, it was a few slices of bacon, a tomato, a potato, and a bar of chocolate. 

I decided to throw the chocolate out (which can be done in the actual competition) and focus on the bacon, tomato, and potato. I got inspired from a dish I saw on Food Network. A famous steakhouse in New York called Peter Luger's has the special dish of sizzling bacon that is served with tomatoes and onions. Even though onion is not available in the MasterChef pantry, I decided to replace it with potatoes to add a level of savory, and garnish it with a hollandaise sauce to help lift the flavor and make it really rich. With the acidity of the tomato coming through, this dish should be a keeper. 

Recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients:

3 slices bacon
2 Tablespoons fresh cracked black pepper
1 Roma tomato, sliced into 1/4inch rounds
1 potato
2 cloves garlic
2 sprigs rosemary
1 sprig fresh thyme
4 egg yolks
1 tablespoon fresh chopped tarragon
2 Tablespoons melted butter
2 tbsp kosher salt

Cooking/Assembling:

1. Turn the oven light on. Place the sliced tomatoes on a baking pan in the oven and let them dry for 30-45 minutes.
2. Rub the cracked black pepper into the bacon. Cook it until is crisp on each side.
3. Parboil the potato in salted water for about 3-4 minutes. Slice into rounds, season, and saute in butter with crushed garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
4. Create a double boiler by placing two stainless steel bowls over a pot of boiling water. Add the egg yolks and whole butter, and whisk until smooth. Stir in fresh tarragon and salt and pepper, and take off the heat.
5. Form the napoleon in this way: Layer potatoes at the bottom, followed by bacon, then tomato slices, then bacon, and potato to finish off. Garnish with hollandaise sauce.

This dish is rich and quick, but easy to make and delicious at the same time.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know what you think and what you would change! Enjoy! =)