Poached Egg with Spinach, Mushrooms and Basil Pesto

Name: Poached Egg with Spinach, Mushrooms and Basil Pesto
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients: 15 ml white vinegar; 2 eggs, for poaching; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 200 g button mushrooms, thinly sliced; 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped; 200-250 g spinach, washed and dried; 3 Tablespoons basil pesto (45 ml); 2 slices rye or sourdough bread, toasted

By Marna Ross Updated 12 August 2026 4.73 from 121 ratings

This lovely breakfast meal of poached eggs with mushrooms, spinach and basil pesto is perfect if you want to go meat free or if you are a vegetarian. It is a lovely idea if you want to do something different than the classical English Breakfast. If you like poached eggs, then I can definitely recommend Eggs Benedict with Ham. The classical one. The poached eggs with mushrooms, spinach and basil pesto could also be a lovely idea if you own a coffee shop or cook for the coffee shop.

A perfectly poached egg served over a bed of sautéed wild mushrooms and green spinach.

Prep 15 min

Cook 15 min

Total 30 min

Serves 2

Jump to the method

Ingredients

15 ml white vinegar
2 eggs, for poaching
2 Tablespoons olive oil
200 g button mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
200-250 g spinach, washed and dried
3 Tablespoons basil pesto (45 ml)
2 slices rye or sourdough bread, toasted

Method

Veggie, Pesto And Toast Part

Start with this part first, and keep aside
When the eggs are close to poached, heat this quickly up again
Heat the olive oil on medium heat and fry the mushrooms, together with the garlic clove for 4-5 minutes until cooked
Add the spinach and cook for another 2 minutes until wilted
Place the bread in the toaster and start up the toast
Butter once toasted

Eggs

Add the vinegar to a pot filled up to the top with hot water and boil until boiling point
Gently slide each egg into the water
Spoon some water over the egg whites of the eggs while it is cooking- it will keep the eggs in shape
Simmer for 4 minutes or more until the eggs are cooked in the stage you want it: soft, medium or hard
Use a slotted spoon to remove the egg from the water and allow the water to drain from the egg by placing the eggs on kitchen towel to drain

Assembling

Place 1 slice of buttered toast in a plate
Divide the pesto into two portions and spread ½ of each portion or more, onto the toast
Followed by the poach egg
Serve the mushroom and spinach on the side or if preferred, add it on top of the pesto toast and top with the poached egg
Garnish