Brown Butter Lemon Sauce Recipes

LEMON BUTTER SAUCE FOR FISH

Steps:

• Place the butter in a light coloured saucepan or small skillet over medium heat.
• Melt butter then leave on the stove, whisking / stirring very now and then. When the butter turns golden brown and it smells nutty - about 3 minutes, remove from stove immediately and pour into small bowl. (Note 2)
• Add lemon juice and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir then taste when it has cooled slightly. Adjust lemon/salt to taste.
• Set aside - it will stay pourable for 20 - 30 minutes. See Note 3 for storing.
• Pat fish dry using paper towels. Sprinkle with salt & pepper, then flour. Use fingers to spread flour. Turn and repeat. Shake excess flour off well, slapping between hands if necessary.
• Heat oil in a non stick skillet over high heat. When the oil is shimmering and there are faint wisps of smoke, add fish. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until golden and crispy on the edges, then turn and cook the other side for 1 1/2 minutes (cook longer if you have thicker fillets).
• Remove immediately onto serving plates. Drizzle each with about 1 tbsp of Sauce (avoid dark specks settled at the bottom of the bowl), garnish with parsley and serve with lemon on the side. Pictured in post with Kale and Quinoa Salad.

LEMON BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small, heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Cook, swirling constantly, until butter turns dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in shallots until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat and stir in parsley, thyme, and lemon juice.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper). Serve immediately.

COD WITH BROWN BUTTER LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the peels from the lemons, revealing the flesh. Cut the segments free from the membranes, then dice and place in a bowl. Squeeze any remaining juice from the membranes into the bowl. Set aside.
• Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons butter and begin to cook, stirring, until the butter begins to brown. Add the brioche, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, continually tossing and swirling the brioche until evenly toasted, about 4 minutes. Remove the croutons to a plate and let cool. Wipe out the pan.
• Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper. Heat the same pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons butter and the oil and begin to cook over the heat, stirring. Add the fish and cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fish and continue to cook, basting occasionally with the butter from the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the fish to a plate. Wipe out the pan.
• Turn the pan to medium heat and add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Let melt, then add the capers and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to cook until the butter browns, then add the wine, lemon juice and segments and parsley. Swirl together. Spoon the sauce over the fish and garnish with the croutons.

HALIBUT WITH BROWN BUTTER, LEMON AND SAGE

Steps:

• Season fish on both sides with plenty of salt and pepper.
• Pour oil into a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast iron or nonstick) and set over medium-high heat. When oil is hot (but not smoking), swirl to evenly coat the pan, then add fish in a single layer. Let cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes, until first side is nicely browned. Adjust the heat as needed to produce a steady sizzle and prevent scorching.
• Flip and cook fish for about another 3 minutes, until just done. (To test for doneness, use a fork to gently probe the flesh: it should flake easily.) Transfer cooked fish to a warm platter or serving plates.
• Make the sauce: Place skillet back on the stove over medium-high heat. Add butter and sage leaves. Cook butter, swirling the pan, until foamy and just beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Turn off heat and stir in lemon juice.
• Spoon butter sauce and sage leaves over fish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and parsley. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH BROWN BUTTER AND LEMON PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut 2 lemons in half and squeeze juice into a measuring glass or small bowl; you should have 1/4 cup juice. Set aside. Using a paring knife, cut ends off remaining lemon to expose flesh. Upend lemon on a cut end and remove peel and white pith from lemons; discard. Cut between membranes to release segments into bowl with juice; squeeze membranes to get any last drops of juice. Fish out any seeds; set aside. Thinly slice chives and place in a small bowl; set aside.
• Pull side muscle off scallops, if needed; pat dry. Season lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet, preferably stainless steel, over medium-high. Pour in oil to lightly coat surface (2-3 Tbsp.); heat until it shimmers and you see first wisps of smoke. Swiftly place scallops into skillet, flat side down, and cook without touching, tossing, or fussing until underside is deep golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Use a thin spatula or tongs to gently turn over; if they resist, cook another 30 seconds and try again. Cook on second side until flesh at top and bottom looks opaque but there is still a faintly translucent strip in the middle, 1-2 minutes, depending on size. Transfer scallops to a plate.
• Pour off any oil in skillet and set over medium heat. Add butter and cook, swirling, until butter foams, then browns, about 2 minutes. Add reserved lemon juice and segments; energetically stir and swirl pan to emulsify sauce. Mix in capers and reserved chives and spoon pan sauce around and over scallops.

BROWN BUTTER SAUCE WITH LEMON BEURRE MEUNIèRE

Steps:

• Cut butter into pieces and in a small heavy skillet melt over moderately low heat. Simmer butter until golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and immediately add lemon juice, salt, parsley, and pepper to taste, swirling skillet to incorporate (butter will foam).
• Serve sauce immediately.

BROCCOLI WITH LEMON BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, combine the butter, water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the broccoli to the pan, stir to coat, and cover with a lid. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring once, until broccoli is tender but still bright green. Serve warm, or refrigerate and serve cold.

BROWN-BUTTER SALMON WITH SCALLIONS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Pat salmon dry, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest of the lemon in wide strips. Cut the lemon into wedges for serving.
• In a large, ovenproof skillet, melt the butter over medium. When it's foaming, add the scallions and the lemon peel, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns brown and smells nutty, 3 to 6 minutes. (If you're using a light-colored pan, you'll see the browned bits in the skillet. If you're using a dark-colored pan, look for dark spots on the white parts of the scallions; those are browned bits of butter and a sign to remove the skillet from heat.)
• Immediately remove from heat, and add ⅓ cup of water. Stir to combine. Lay the salmon, skin side down (if there's skin), into the sauce. Cover the skillet and bake until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, or slightly longer if you're cooking a single, large piece. (You'll know the salmon is done when the fish flakes or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 120 degrees.)
• Eat the salmon with a spoonful of sauce and a squeeze of the lemon.

ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BROWNED BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Snap off or trim ends from asparagus. Steam in a large pot of water or asparagus steamer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl and keep warm. Melt butter in a medium skillet. cook over medium-high heat until butter just begins to brown and foam, being careful not to burn. Remove from heat and stir in garlic. Swirl pan several times, then stir in lemon juice and vinegar. Pour over hot asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to mix. Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with thyme and lemon zest, optional.