Poached Eggs and Spinach on Cheesy Sourdough Toast
Photography by Manja Wachsmuth.

For a meaty version of this recipe, top the toast with a couple of slices of baked ham or cooked bacon before spooning on the spinach sauce.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
4 cups packed spinach leaves, well washed and thick stems removed
Cheese sauce
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
dash of Tabasco, optional
To assemble
4 large slices sourdough bread, toasted
4-8 eggs, poached or fried
ground paprika for sprinkling
METHOD
Preheat the grill to its highest setting.
Put the spinach in a large heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Turn to wilt then drain well and refresh under cold water. Drain and squeeze out excess water in a clean tea towel then roughly chop.
Sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan then stir in the flour and cook gently for 1 minute. Take off the heat and whisk in the milk to make a smooth sauce, then stir in the mustard and Worcestershire sauce and season well.
Place back over the heat and bring the sauce to the boil, stirring constantly then simmer for 2-3 minutes. Take off the heat, add the cheese, Tabasco and spinach and combine well.
To assemble: Place the toasted bread on a baking tray and top with the spinach sauce. Pop under the grill for a few minutes until golden and bubbling. Transfer to plates and top each toast with 1-2 eggs and season with salt and pepper and a pinch of paprika.
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Issue #103
Winter is on its way but rather than batten down the hatches, we're ready to have some fun with the latest issue of dish! Get your soup bowls out, we've got all the soul warming deliciousness you can handle, plus outrageously good toasties for a cheesy bit of fun on the side. Next, it's time to hit the road with an epic escape to Black Barn Retreat and some classic comfort food. Back home, there's plenty of sumptuous bakes to tempt you with and even more to tempt your guests in our latest Dinner for Six section. And be prepared for time to really fly by when you're having fun with our Food Fast section!