Matthews Bearnaise Sauce Recipes

BLENDER BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter until bubbling hot. In a blender, add the vinegar and egg yolks and blend on high speed for several seconds. With the blender still running, remove the center lid of the blender. Pour the hot butter in a thin, steady stream into the whirling egg mixture. Add the tarragon and shallot and continue to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste.

BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, shallot, and tarragon to a boil. Cook until liquid has reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 4 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Rinse out saucepan, and return strained vinegar.
• Add egg yolks and 2 tablespoons water. Cook, over low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and forms thick ribbons, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whisk in butter, if sauce gets too hot (it starts to bubble), remove from heat and whisk in a piece of butter. Continue whisking until all the butter has been absorbed, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately transfer to a bowl to stop further cooking. Season with salt. Use immediately, or keep warm over a pan of barely simmering water.

BéARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the vinegar, shallots, black pepper and 1 tablespoon of tarragon leaves into a small saucepan, and set over a medium flame. Bring just to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer until there are only a few tablespoons of liquid left, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool.
• Fill a small saucepan with an inch or two of water, and set over medium-high heat to boil.
• Put the cooled shallot-and-tarragon mixture into a metal mixing bowl along with a tablespoon of water and the egg yolks, then whisk to combine.
• Turn the heat under the saucepan of water down to its lowest setting, and put the bowl on top of the pan, making sure that it does not touch the water directly. Continue to whisk the yolks until they thicken, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. You should just about double the volume of the yolks.
• Slowly beat in the butter, a tablespoon or two at a time, whisking slowly to combine and emulsify. Remove the bowl from the pan occasionally, so as not to overcook the eggs, and taste the sauce. Season with salt. If the flavor is not sharp enough, add a splash of lemon juice. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of hot water. Add the remaining teaspoon of tarragon leaves, and serve.

BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the bearnaise reduction first. In a small saucepan, combine the tarragon, shallots, vinegar and wine over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by half. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Blend yolks and bearnaise reduction together. With the blender running, add 1/3 of the butter in a slow steady stream. Once it emulsifies, turn the blender speed up to high and add the remaining butter. Season with salt and pepper and set aside in a warm spot to hold the sauce.

KERRY'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine shallots, wine, vinegar, 1 tablespoon tarragon, and 2 pinches pepper in a small pot set over medium heat, and reduce to about 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool.
• In another saucepan, beat egg yolks with 2 tablespoons water over low heat until they become thick and foamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add butter, about a tablespoon at a time, whisking until the mixture thickens and increases in volume.
• Add the cooled shallot mixture, chervil, and the remaining tarragon. Season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.

MATTHEW'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, tarragon, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Strain vinegar reduction into a large bowl; set aside.n
• Bring several inches of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain the water at a bare simmer. Whisk the egg yolks into the vinegar reduction, then place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk constantly until the yolks have thickened and turned a pale lemon yellow color. The mixture will form ribbons when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. Once the yolk has reached this point, remove the bowl from the simmering water.n
• Slowly pour the hot butter into the egg yolk mixture while continuing to whisk vigorously. Do not stop whisking until all of the butter is fully incorporated or the sauce will separate. Once finished, the mixture will have become a thick and creamy sauce. Serve immediately.n

MATTHEW'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, tarragon, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Strain vinegar reduction into a large bowl; set aside.
• Bring several inches of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain the water at a bare simmer. Whisk the egg yolks into the vinegar reduction, then place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk constantly until the yolks have thickened and turned a pale lemon yellow color. The mixture will form ribbons when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. Once the yolk has reached this point, remove the bowl from the simmering water.
• Slowly pour the hot butter into the egg yolk mixture while continuing to whisk vigorously. Do not stop whisking until all of the butter is fully incorporated or the sauce will separate. Once finished, the mixture will have become a thick and creamy sauce. Serve immediately.

MARTHA STEWART'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, wine, shallots, black pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons tarragon in a small saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat until reduced to 1 tablespoon, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add egg yolks and 1 tablespoon of water to reduced vinegar mixture.
• Whisk until thick and pale, about 2 minutes.
• Set pan over moderately low heat and continue to whisk at reasonable speed reaching all over bottom and insides of pan, where eggs tend to overcook.
• To moderate heat, frequently move pan off burner for a few seconds, then back on.
• As they cook, the eggs will become frothy and increase in volume, then thicken.
• When the bottom of the pan is visible in the streaks left by the whisk and the eggs are thick and smooth, remove from heat.
• By spoonfuls, add soft butter, whisking constantly to incorporate each addition.
• As the emulsion forms, add butter in slightly larger amounts, always whisking until fully absorbed.
• Continue incorporating butter until sauce has thickened to consistency desired.
• Season with salt, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped tarragon and, if desired, pepper.
• Add a few droplets of lemon juice if necessary.

MATTHEW'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, tarragon, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Strain vinegar reduction into a large bowl; set aside.n
• Bring several inches of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain the water at a bare simmer. Whisk the egg yolks into the vinegar reduction, then place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk constantly until the yolks have thickened and turned a pale lemon yellow color. The mixture will form ribbons when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. Once the yolk has reached this point, remove the bowl from the simmering water.n
• Slowly pour the hot butter into the egg yolk mixture while continuing to whisk vigorously. Do not stop whisking until all of the butter is fully incorporated or the sauce will separate. Once finished, the mixture will have become a thick and creamy sauce. Serve immediately.n

CLASSIC BEARNAISE AND PALOISE SAUCES

Steps:

• Put the cut-up butter in a 1-cup glass measure with a pouring spout, and microwave until completely melted and clear but not bubbling (or heat in a warm oven, 190 degrees F., about 25 minutes). Skim off any foam from the top, and cool until lukewarm but still liquid.
• Combine the liquids and seasonings (except the cayenne and fresh herbs) in a 3-cup, heavy-bottomed, non-reactive saucepan, and simmer over medium heat until the liquid reduces to 1 tablespoon (no farther). Strain the liquid into a cup, pressing hard to squeeze all the juices out of the shallots, then return it to the saucepan.
• Whisk in the yolk, and place over medium-low heat. Stir in 1/4 of the clarified butter, and continue whisking across the bottom and around the sides of the pan until the yolk-and-butter mixture thickens to a sour cream consistency. If the yolk is overcooked, it will start to scramble; if undercooked (as in "blender Bearnaise" recipes), it will taste raw.
• Dunk the pan briefly in cold water; then very slowly dribble in the rest of the butter off heat, whisking constantly, without including the milky liquid at the bottom. When all the butter is absorbed, the sauce should be the consistency of a medium-thick mayonnaise.
• Add the cayenne pepper, taste for seasoning, and stir in the herbs. To keep the sauce from congealing, set it in a pan of hot tap water, but the sooner it is served, the better.
• For Paloise sauce, omit the tarragon, and finish with 1/2 tablespoon finely shredded mint; do not add mint to the vinegar reduction (the cooking distorts its flavor).
• If the sauce overheats or the butter is added too fast, the oily fat can separate out. If that happens, during or after cooking, it is easy to fix: Put a teaspoon of water in a small bowl, add a spoonful of the separating sauce, and whisk them together until creamy; then gradually add the rest of the sauce, spoonful by spoonful, until the whole thing is reconstituted.

MATTHEW'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, tarragon, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Strain vinegar reduction into a large bowl; set aside.n
• Bring several inches of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain the water at a bare simmer. Whisk the egg yolks into the vinegar reduction, then place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk constantly until the yolks have thickened and turned a pale lemon yellow color. The mixture will form ribbons when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. Once the yolk has reached this point, remove the bowl from the simmering water.n
• Slowly pour the hot butter into the egg yolk mixture while continuing to whisk vigorously. Do not stop whisking until all of the butter is fully incorporated or the sauce will separate. Once finished, the mixture will have become a thick and creamy sauce. Serve immediately.n

BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the white wine, white-wine vinegar, shallots, 2 tablespoons tarragon, and the peppercorns in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, and cook until it is reduced to about 2 tablespoons.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Keep warm until ready to use.
• Place egg yolks in a copper or stainless-steel bowl that fits snugly in the top of a medium saucepan. Fill the saucepan with 2 inches of water, and bring to a boil. Whisk the yolks, off the heat, until they become pale. Add wine mixture and salt, and whisk until well combined. Gradually add 1/4 cup boiling water, whisking constantly. Place bowl over the medium saucepan of boiling water; reduce heat to lowest setting. Whisking constantly, cook until whisk leaves a trail in the mixture and sauce begins to hold its shape. Remove from heat.
• Pour the warm, melted butter into a glass measuring cup. Add to yolk mixture, one drop at a time, whisking constantly. After you have added about a tablespoon of the melted butter, you can begin to add it slightly faster, still whisking constantly. Still, be careful: If the butter is added too quickly, the emulsion will be too thin or will "break" (separate).
• Once all of the butter has been added, adjust the seasoning with the lemon juice, and stir in the remaining tarragon. If the bearnaise becomes too thick, you may thin it with a little additional lemon juice or water. If not serving immediately, place pan of sauce over a pot of simmering water that has been removed from heat, or in a warm spot on the stove for up to 1 hour. Alternatively, you may store for up to 3 hours in a clean thermos that has been warmed with hot but not boiling water.

MATTHEW'S BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, wine, shallots, tarragon, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Strain vinegar reduction into a large bowl; set aside.n
• Bring several inches of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain the water at a bare simmer. Whisk the egg yolks into the vinegar reduction, then place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk constantly until the yolks have thickened and turned a pale lemon yellow color. The mixture will form ribbons when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. Once the yolk has reached this point, remove the bowl from the simmering water.n
• Slowly pour the hot butter into the egg yolk mixture while continuing to whisk vigorously. Do not stop whisking until all of the butter is fully incorporated or the sauce will separate. Once finished, the mixture will have become a thick and creamy sauce. Serve immediately.n

BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, wine, shallots, tarragon, salt and pepper to a boil and reduce to about 2 tablespoons.
• Cool slightly.
• Beat in yolks until smooth.
• Put mixture into a small stainless steel bowl and place in a skillet with about 1 inch of simmering water in it.
• Whisk sauce until it begins to thicken.
• Beat in butter, bit by bit.
• Before serving, add a few drops of lemon juice and parsley.