The Best Bearnaise Sauce From Julia Child Recipes

CHATEAUBRIAND WITH BEARNAISE SAUCE AND CHATEAU POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Season the beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, over high heat, melt the butter. Add the beef and sear for a couple of minutes on each side. Place in the oven and roast for 20 to 25 minutes for medium rare. Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with potatoes and chateaubriand sauce
• For the potatoes: In a saute pan, over medium heat, melt 8 tablespoons of butter. Add the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Saute the potatoes for 3 to 4 minutes. Place the potatoes in the oven and roast the potatoes until golden brown and tender, about 20 minutes, shaking the pan every 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and add the parsley. For the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, wine, peppercorns, shallots, and tarragon. Bring the liquid to a boil and reduce to 1 tablespoon. Add 1 tablespoon of water. Combine the reduced liquid and egg yolks in a stainless bowl, over simmering water. Whisk until frothy. In a steady stream, add the butter until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Strain the sauce through a chinois and set aside.

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.