The Super-Simple Breakfast Steve Martin and Martin Short Both Swear By

For more than five decades, Steve Martin has been leaving his mark as an actor, comedian, writer and musician. And while his quick wit and comedic genius have kept us laughing for years, it’s his love for a humble breakfast combo that’s got the internet buzzing lately. The Only Murders in the Building star has been peppering his Instagram feed (and rumor has it, his costar and lifelong pal Martin Short ’s inbox) with snapshots of his ideal breakfast: perfectly poached eggs on toast.

Related: Selena Gomez—and Fans—Can't Help but Troll Steve Martin's Low-Quality Social Media Post

That’s right! This classic breakfast dish is Martin's not-so-secret obsession. And apparently he's not the only one. Martin has said that his pal and fellow comedian Martin Short is also a big poached egg fan. In fact, when the two are on tour, they always judge the hotel they're staying at by their eggs , sending pictures of their breakfasts to each other in their respective rooms in the morning. We were curious about the combo, so we took a crack at poached eggs and toast to see if it would change our breakfast life too.

😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳 🍔

Ingredients Needed to Make Steve Martin's Poached Eggs and Toast

To make this recipe all you’ll need are a couple of eggs and your favorite toast. Based on his Instagram, Steve Martin keeps it classic with toasted whole grain bread , two perfectly poached eggs, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. No fuss, no frills—just like his comedy.

Related: I Made The Famous 'Larry David Sandwich' and It's My New Favorite Bagel Breakfast

What's the Best Way to Make Poached Eggs?

According to Rosie Gill, director of education at Christopher Kimball's Milk Street , poaching eggs really couldn't be easier.

"If you're hesitant to poach eggs, fear not," she says. "This method is simple and straightforward." The biggest trick here? Gill advises home cooks to reach for a deep skillet with water instead of a pot, because adding and taking out the eggs will be much easier.

Here's how to properly poach an egg: Fill a 10-inch skillet with at least 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Line a large plate with paper towels. Crack each egg into a small bowl or cup. Once the water is at a simmer, one at a time, carefully tip the eggs into the water near the edge of the pan. (Don't let the poaching water reach a full boil; aim for a full but gentle simmer with just a few bubbles breaking the surface every few seconds. The churn of boiling water will cause the eggs to break before they have a chance to set.)

Once all the eggs have been added to the pan, cover the pan and turn off the heat. Let the eggs cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, gently transfer each egg to the prepared plate to briefly drain before adding them to your toast.

Related: The Genius Poached Egg Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner

What I Thought about Steve Martin's Poached Eggs on Toast

I’ll admit it, poached eggs have always intimidated me. As a food writer and avid home cook, I'm comfortable with all kinds of complicated recipes but there are still a few things I just can’t seem to master no matter how hard I try: rice, pancakes and...poached eggs. So, when I decided to take a stab at making this, I knew it was time to call in an expert to guide me in the right direction and help me figure out what I’ve been doing wrong.

With the help of Rosie, my result was a perfectly cooked poached egg: slightly jammy with a slightly runny yolk and a delicate white—just like Steve and Marty like it. Because Steve didn't outline how to prepare the toast, I took some liberties in that department. I placed my poached egg ever so gently on some homemade sourdough toast dressed with a swipe of herbed cream cheese and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. It was the very best two-ingredient breakfast for dinner I made this week. Steve and Martin were onto something: maybe poached eggs aren't so intimidating after all!

Tips for Making Steve Martin's Poach Eggs and Toast

1. Using a skillet instead of a pot of water is key. The wider, lower skillet gives you more control over both the water and the egg.
2. Pre-crack your eggs. Cracking the egg into a little dish before lowering it into the water makes all the difference. The slow simmer and the quick turn-off of the heat worked beautifully. Thank you, Rosie!
3. Trust the process. Using this method results in some wispy whites that may float away from each egg as it is added, Gill says, but a firm layer of white will set neatly around the yolk, forming picture-perfect poached eggs on your breakfast plate.

Up Next:

Related: Dolly Parton’s Secret Ingredient for the Fluffiest Scrambled Eggs