**Beurre Blanc: A Classic French Butter Sauce**
Beurre blanc, meaning "white butter" in French, is a classic French butter sauce made with shallots, white wine, and butter. It is typically served with fish, seafood, and vegetables. This versatile sauce is easy to make and can be prepared in just a few minutes. In this article, we will provide two recipes for beurre blanc: a classic version and a modern variation with lemon and herbs. Both recipes are simple to follow and yield a delicious and flavorful sauce that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook, you will be able to master this classic French sauce with our easy-to-follow instructions. So, gather your ingredients and let's get cooking!
BEURRE BLANC (CLASSIC FRENCH BUTTER SAUCE)
This is a classic butter sauce. It works well with fish. It's flexible, too, and can take on flavors like chile, ginger and mustard.
Provided by Craig Claiborne And Pierre Franey
Categories condiments, sauces and gravies
Time 20m
Yield About one cup
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and add the shallots. Cook briefly, stirring, and add the vinegar and wine. Cook until the liquid is almost totally reduced.
- Add the heavy cream and salt and bring to the boil. Add the pieces of butter, a few at a time, stirring rapidly with a wire whisk.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 625, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 67 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 42 grams, Sodium 374 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 2 grams
BEURRE BLANC
This classic French butter sauce makes a simple and elegant finish to poached fish and seafood. This recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart Living. Also try: Lobsters with Beurre Blanc and Sliced Broiled Scallops on the Half Shell with Beurre Blanc
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Cuisine-Inspired Recipes French Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In small saucepan, combine shallots, wine, and vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 10 minutes.
- Turn down heat to lowest possible flame. Whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, adding a piece as previous one melts. Don't allow sauce to become too hot. For a more smooth sauce, strain through a fine sieve, if desired.
- Season with salt and pepper and keep over a bain-marie. Just before serving, stir in herbs.
CLASSIC BEURRE BLANC: WHITE BUTTER SAUCE
Steps:
- In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, combine vinegar, wine, shallots, lemon, and bay leaves to make an infusion. Simmer over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes until the mixture is reduced to a wet paste, about 2 tablespoons. Add the cream and continue to simmer until reduced again to about 2 tablespoons. Cream is added to make the sauce more stable and less likely to separate.
- Reduce the heat to low and remove the bay leaves. Whisk in the chunks of butter in small batches. The butter should melt without the sauce getting too hot, producing a creamy emulsified sauce. Do not let the sauce go over 130 degrees F, where it will separate. If the sauce starts to break, remove from heat, add 2 ice cubes and whisk until it cools down and comes back together. Season with salt and pepper, fold in the chives, and serve immediately. Keep covered in a warm place for a few hours, if needed.
- Serve with fish or vegetables.
CHEF JOHN'S BEURRE BLANC
Although beurre blanc purists would object to the bit of cream in this classic sauce, it does help create a more stable base, enhances the flavor, and makes an even more beautiful color than when made without. Have all the ingredients measured and handy before starting as this sauce comes together rather quickly.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes
Time 18m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place wine, lemon juice, cream, shallots, and cream in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and let simmer until liquid is reduced by about 75%, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to the lowest setting and whisk in about 2 cubes of butter. Keep butter moving until it melts. When melted, add a few more cubes, whisking continuously so butter emulsifies into the wine/lemon juice mixture.
- Continue to add butter, a few cubes at a time until all of it has been incorporated and the sauce has a thick, luxurious texture, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Taste for seasonings and add a pinch of salt and cayenne, if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 255.3 calories, Carbohydrate 2 g, Cholesterol 70.4 mg, Fat 25.5 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 0.5 g, SaturatedFat 16.1 g, Sodium 46.5 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
Tips:
- Use unsalted butter for this sauce, as salted butter can make it too salty.
- Be sure to use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to prevent the sauce from scorching.
- Cook the shallots over medium heat until they are softened and translucent, but not browned.
- Add the white wine and let it reduce by half, or until it is syrupy and flavorful.
- Whisk in the cold butter a little at a time, until the sauce is thick and creamy.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the sauce immediately over your favorite fish or seafood dishes.
Conclusion:
Beurre blanc is a classic French butter sauce that is easy to make and incredibly flavorful. It is perfect for serving over fish, seafood, or vegetables. With its rich, creamy texture and delicate flavor, beurre blanc is sure to impress your guests. So next time you are looking for a special sauce to elevate your meal, give beurre blanc a try. You won't be disappointed.
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