Cloud Eggs with homemade bread

👨‍🍳 Method

For the homemade bread ✓ Homemade · or skip – back to store-bought

1. 1
   Mix the flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl.

   Bowl
2. 2
   Add the lukewarm water and olive oil and Knead about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pliable and doesn't stick to your hands.

   BowlStand mixer

   💡For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
3. 3
   Cover and Let rise about an hour in a warm place, until the dough doubles in size.

   Plastic wraporKitchen towel

   💡Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot. The dough is ready when it has doubled, and a gentle finger press leaves a dent that fills back slowly; if it springs right back, wait longer.
4. 4
   Shape the dough into an oblong loaf and place it in loaf pan lined with parchment paper.

   Loaf pan

   💡Shape a tight loaf the length of the pan: it fills the pan evenly, and the bread rises tall instead of spreading sideways.
5. 5
   Cover and Let rise 30 minutes, until the loaf has risen.

   Plastic wraporKitchen towel
6. 6
   Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).

   Oven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
7. 7
   Bake 35–40 minutes, until the loaf is browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

   OvenLoaf pan

   💡Tapping the bottom of the loaf is the test: baked bread sounds hollow; if the sound is dull, put it back in the oven for a few more minutes.

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 8
   Turn the loaf out of the pan and let cool on a rack before slicing.

   Cooling rack

   💡Bread left in the hot pan sweats, and its crust softens: turn it out right away and cool it on a rack.

For the Egg Dish

1. 9
   Preheat the oven to 230°C (445°F).

   Oven
2. 10
   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

   Baking panParchment paper
3. 11
   Separate the eggs: the whites into a clean bowl, and each yolk into its own small cup.

   Bowl

   💡Separate each egg on its own, over a cup: a drop of yolk in the whites keeps them from whipping, and a broken yolk doesn't end up in the bowl.
4. 12
   Whip the egg whites with a pinch of the salt, to stiff, stable peaks.

   BowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Whip egg whites in a clean, dry bowl, without a drop of yolk.
5. 13
   Form a mound of foam on the paper for each egg, with a well in the center of each mound made with the back of a spoon.
6. 14
   Bake on the baking sheet 3 minutes, until the foam is lightly golden.

   OvenBaking pan
7. 15
   Put a yolk in each well and sprinkle with the Parmesan, salt and black pepper.
8. 16
   Bake on the baking sheet 3 minutes, until the yolk is warm and still runny.

   OvenBaking pan
9. 17
   Toast the bread slices, spread with butter and place a cloud egg on each slice.

   Pop-up toaster