Quail Eggs Benedict Pagodas

1. Make the rice balls:

a. Cut a large square of plastic wrap and rest it over a 1/2 cup measuring cup. Lightly spray the plastic wrap with water, and then sprinkle it with a bit of salt (the water helps the salt stick). Then spoon 2 tablespoons of the rice into the cup. Gather the plastic wrap up around the rice, then twist the plastic wrap, sealing the rice inside, and firmly press the rice into a slightly flattened ball shape (don’t press too hard or the rice will become mushy). Unwrap the ball, set it on a plate and repeat the process with the rest of the rice.

b. Heat the oil in a skillet, then place four of the rice balls in the skillet flattened side down. When the rice ball has browned slightly, flip it over and brown the other flattened side. Repeat with the other 4 rice balls. (You can brush the rice balls with a small amount of soy sauce after browning them for a bit of added flavor.)

2. Make the sauteed shiitake mushrooms. Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add the mushrooms and toss them for several minutes in the skillet/wok until they are cooked through and browned. Remove the skillet/wok from the heat and transfer the mushrooms to a separate container so that they do not continue to cook.

3. Make the poached quail eggs. Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer. Gently break the quail eggs, one by one, into the simmering water and let them poach for 1 minute. Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and place them in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking.

4. Make the lime hollandaise sauce. Place the egg yolks, salt, pepper, and lime juice in the blender jar. (Do not blend yet!) Place the butter in a small saucepan and heat it over medium-high heat until the butter is foaming. Blend the egg yolk mixture at top speed for 2 seconds, and then with the blender running, remove the cover and pour the hot butter into the blender in a thin stream of droplets. By the time two-thirds of the butter has been added, the sauce should be a thick cream. Continue pouring, but do not pour in the milk residue that is in the bottom of the pan. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings.

5. Assemble the pagodas. Place several slices of sauteed mushrooms on top of each rice ball. Remove the quail eggs from the water with a slotted spoon and set one on top of each of the rice balls. Top each rice ball with a spoonful of hollandaise sauce and a sprinkling of chopped chives.

Variation: for a less-formal version, serve everything over a bed of rice, and use a poached chicken egg in place of the quail egg.