Bearnaise Sauce

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Classic Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

Makes: 4 servings

I N G R E D I E N T S
1/3 cup white tarragon vinegar (plus 2 more tablespoons if you are using fresh tarragon)
1/3 cup dry white wine
4 crushed peppercorns
1 heaping tablespoon very finely chopped shallots
2 heaping tablespoons finely chopped leaves of chervil or parsley
6 sprigs fresh or 4 sprigs bottled tarragon (with 2 tablespoons liquid from bottle)
Ingredients for 1 recipe Hollandaise Sauce

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Combine in a small heavy saucepan vinegar, wine, peppercorns, shallots, chevril or parsley, and tarragon with liquid or the extra tarragon vinegar. (Reserve the leaves from half of the stalks and put aside.) Cook over high heat until liquid evaporates. Make Hollandaise and gradually add in the herbs.. Very finely chop and add remaining chevril or parsley and remaining tarragon.

Makes 2 cups (4-6 servings)

I N G R E D I E N T S
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon cream
1 cup (1/2 pound) melted butter, cooled to room temperature
1 tablespoon lemon juice or white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of cayenne pepper

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Use a small, thick ceramic bowl set in a heavy-bottomed pan, or a heavyweight double boiler. Off the heat, put the egg yolks and cream in the bowl or upper section of the double boiler and stir with a wire whisk until well-blended — the mixture should never be beaten but stirred, evenly, vigorously and continually. Place the container over hot water (if you are setting the bowl in water, there should be about 1 1/2 inches of water in the pan; in a double boiler, the water should not touch the top section). Stirring eggs continuously, bring the water slowly to a simmer. Do not let it boil. Stir, incorporating the entire mixture so there is no film at the bottom. When the eggs have thickened to consistancy of very heavy cream, begin to add the cooled melted butter with one hand, stirring vigorously with the other. Pour extremely slowly so that each addition is blended into the egg mixture before more is added. When all the butter has been added, add the lemon juice or vinegar a drop at a time and immediately remove from heat. Add salt and a mere dash of cayenne.

Note:
If you proceed with care your Hollandaise should not curdle. If it does, however, don't despair. Finish adding the butter as best you can. Remove sauce to a small bowl, clean the pot and put a fresh egg yolk in it. Start over again, using the curdled sauce as if it were the butter.


Source Credits:
House and Garden, 1962

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Thanks to Tetra-Pak packaging technology fresh, preservative free products become shelf-stable ready to use gourmet sauces and foods.  There is no sacrifice of flavor or texture. 

This hollandaise sauce can be served at room temperature or heated on the stove or in your microwave.  Unopened it can be stored for a year on your pantry shelf or once opened it will remain fresh for 20 days refrigerated.

This ready made hollandaise was developed for restaurant use but we make it available to home chefs.  If you'd like to give it a try (and we suggest you keep on hand in your pantry) it is available now at GourmetSleuth.com. 

Use over vegetables, fresh salmon or your favorite eggs benedict.  Use as a base for making bernaise sauce.