andy’s cooking class: hollandaise sauce

168 Pinches 17 Photos
Wichita, KS
Updated on May 26, 2015

Hollandaise is one of the five classic French “mother” sauces. It has a very buttery rich flavor that kicks up any dish it’s used on. It takes bit of practice (you should have seen my first attempt); however, once you master it, you can use it to make other, what are called “smaller” sauces, such as a béarnaise. So, you ready… let’s get into the kitchen.

prep time 15 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top
yield several

Ingredients

  • 16 tablespoons clarified butter, unsalted
  • 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons shallots, minced
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • - kosher salt, to taste
  • - cayenne pepper, to taste

How To Make andy’s cooking class: hollandaise sauce

  • Step 1
    Gather your ingredients.
  • Step 2
    Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat and reserve.
  • Step 3
    Chef’s Note: You don’t have to use clarified butter… If you choose to use regular butter, then allow the butter to melt over medium heat, allow the foaming to subside, and then skim off the foam.
  • Step 4
    Add the vinegar, wine, shallots, and peppercorns into a saucepan.
  • Step 5
    Reduce the liquid until you have three tablespoons of liquid, after straining.
  • Step 6
    Chef’s Tip: To extract the most flavor from the shallots and peppercorns, don’t boil, but simmer the liquid. The reduction process should take about 20 minutes.
  • Step 7
    Add the egg yolks and vinegar reduction to a non-reactive bowl.
  • Step 8
    Chef’s Tip: If you have a double boiler, you could put the yolks and vinegar into it.
  • Step 9
    Whisk until combined.
  • Step 10
    Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water, or use your double boiler.
  • Step 11
    Continue to whisk (without stopping) until the yolks begin to thicken, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Step 12
    Chef’s Note: The mixture is ready when the whisk begins to leave trails in the yolk mixture.
  • Step 13
    Remove from heat.
  • Step 14
    Add two tablespoons of the freshly squeezed lemon juice and whisk to combine.
  • Step 15
    Begin adding the butter to the mixture a few drops at a time, until it begins to thicken.
  • Step 16
    Chef’s Note: If you add the butter too fast, the sauce will break. Be patient… slow and easy is the way to go.
  • Step 17
    Add the remainder of the butter in a slow steady stream, while you continue to whisk.
  • Step 18
    Chef’s Note: If the mixture begins to cool, return to the simmer water, and continue whisking from there.
  • Step 19
    Add the remaining two tablespoons of lemon juice, and season to taste with the kosher salt, and cayenne pepper.
  • Step 20
    To keep the sauce warm, place it in a small container, like a measuring cup, and place that into a pan with warm water. Occasionally stir to keep the sauce smooth.
  • Step 21
    Keep the faith... and keep cooking.

Discover More

Culture: French
Category: Other Sauces
Keyword: #eggs
Keyword: #sauce
Keyword: #French
Method: Stove Top
Ingredient: Eggs

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