Poached Eggs with Sunchokes and Comté Polenta

1. In a medium, deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid, combine the sunchokes with 1 tablespoon of the butter and stir over moderately high heat until the butter is melted. Add 1/2 cup of water, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over moderate heat until the liquid is evaporated and the sunchokes are tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the sunchokes to a bowl and wipe out the skillet. Fill the skillet with water and bring to a simmer.

2. In a large saucepan, combine the milk with 1 cup of water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Whisk in the polenta and cook over moderate heat, whisking, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until creamy; stir in a few tablespoons of water if the polenta is too stiff.

3. Crack the eggs into ramekins and gently pour them into the simmering water in the skillet, one at a time. Poach the eggs until the whites are set and the yolks are runny, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggs to a paper towel–lined plate.

4. Spoon the polenta and sunchokes into shallow bowls and top with the eggs. Garnish with chervil and cheese, sprinkle with truffle salt and serve right away.

Suggested Pairing

Fresh, wild berry–scented Beaujolais.