Deviled Eggs Benedict

Ingredients

• 2 ounces thin-sliced prosciutto, pancetta, or jamón Serrano
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup fresh bread crumb
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 hard boiled or hard steamed eggs, peeled and halved lengthwise
• 4 teaspoons juice plus 1/2 teaspoon zest from 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions or chives

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Sandwich the ham between 2 silicone baking sheet liners or 2 pieces of parchment paper, then set the packet on a rimmed baking sheet. Top it with a 2nd baking sheet and slide it into the oven. Bake until the ham has rendered well and turned golden brown, knowing it will finish crisping as it cools, about 20 minutes. Take it out of the oven and set it aside.
2. In the meantime, set a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once the foaming subsides, swirl the pan and keep cooking until the butter turns a nutty brown. Right away, stir in the bread crumbs and toss them through the butter. Lower the heat to medium and cook, tossing often, until the crumbs are golden brown and crisp. Add salt and pepper until they taste right, then set them aside.
3. Put all the yolks in a medium bowl. Pick out the 8 best-looking egg white halves and keep those nearby; set the other 4 aside for another use. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, mayonnaise, and cayenne pepper to the yolks, then use a sturdy whisk to mash and mix everything until it is fully blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Move the yolk filling into a zipper-lock bag. If you are stopping here, cover the yolk mixture and the whites and refrigerate them up to overnight; for the whites, place them cut-side-down on a large plate and cover the plate with plastic wrap. Snip a corner from the zipper-lock bag and pipe the filling into the egg white halves, mounding it generously in each hollow. Snap the ham into chips. Top each egg with some of the crumbs, a few ham chips, and sliced scallions. Serve immediately.