Name: Vincent’s braised lettuce polonaise
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 125 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 eggs (60gm each), at room temperature; 2 baby cos; 50 gm butter, coarsely chopped; Cured egg yolk; 100 gm fine sea salt; 100 gm caster sugar; 2 egg yolks; Parmesan stock; 200 gm parmesan rinds (see note); 750 ml chicken stock (3 cups) (substitute with vegetable stock for vegetarians); Golden parsley crumb; 100 gm butter, coarsely chopped; 100 gm coarse breadcrumbs from day-old bread, such as sourdough; ¼ bunch coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus extra to serve (¼ cup)

Ingredients

4 eggs (60gm each), at room temperature

2 baby cos

50 gm butter, coarsely chopped

Cured egg yolk

100 gm fine sea salt

100 gm caster sugar

2 egg yolks

Parmesan stock

200 gm parmesan rinds (see note)

750 ml chicken stock (3 cups) (substitute with vegetable stock for vegetarians)

Golden parsley crumb

100 gm butter, coarsely chopped

100 gm coarse breadcrumbs from day-old bread, such as sourdough

¼ bunch coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus extra to serve (¼ cup)

Method

Main

1.For cured egg yolk, combine salt and sugar, then place a third of the mixture into a small plastic container. Make 2 divots with the back of a spoon for the yolks, leaving enough room for the salt mixture to surround each, then carefully lower the yolks into the divots and cover with remaining salt mix. Cover the container and refrigerate until yolks are firm and dried (5-7 days; check after a couple of days to make sure yolks are still covered with salt mix). Brush off salt mix, remove from container and refrigerate until required.

2.For parmesan stock, combine parmesan rinds with chicken stock in a saucepan and simmer over medium heat until stock is well flavoured (40-50 minutes), then strain (discard rind). Makes 500ml.

3.For golden parsley crumb, melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat and toast breadcrumbs, stirring frequently, until golden (3-5 minutes), then season to taste and add chopped parsley. Tip out onto absorbent paper and keep warm.

4.Heat a saucepan of water that will fit a small colander or noodle basket to 62C over very low heat, then immerse fresh eggs, trying to maintain the temperature for 50 minutes. Drain and peel.

5.Meanwhile, remove outer leaves of cos revealing the tender hearts and halve. Heat butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat until starting to foam and colour (3-5 minutes), then slide cos hearts in cut-side down, season generously and add a little parmesan stock to moisten. Cover with buttered parchment paper and braise until just cooked (2-4 minutes). Transfer to warm plates.

6.Gently place an egg on top of each cos half, pour pan juices over, sprinkle generously with parsley crumbs, grate cured egg yolk over, scatter with chopped parsley and serve.