Peanut Free Classic Béarnaise
Few sauces feel as luxurious as a properly made béarnaise — glossy, buttery, and fragrant with fresh tarragon and a whisper of chervil. The technique here is classic French: a sharp reduction of white wine vinegar, dry white wine, shallots, and tarragon forms the flavor backbone before the egg yolks ever hit the bowl. Whisking the yolks over a gentle bain-marie until they reach a safe 160°F gives you that thick, ribbon-like base that holds the clarified butter as you drizzle it in drop by drop. The result is a sauce rich enough to make a simple steak or roasted vegetable feel like a restaurant plate. Because every ingredient is whole and straightforward — butter, eggs, fresh herbs, a splash of wine — there's no need to scan labels for hidden additives or worry about cross-contact from shared processing lines. It's the kind of recipe that rewards patience and a good whisk, and once you've nailed it, you'll find yourself looking for excuses to serve it.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the reduction
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp dry white wine
- 2 medium shallots, finely minced
- 1 tbsp fresh tarragon leaves, roughly chopped (for the reduction)
- ¼ tsp black pepper, coarsely cracked
For the sauce
- 3 pasteurized egg yolks
- 1 tbsp cold water
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, clarified
- 1 tbsp fresh tarragon leaves, finely chopped (for finishing)
- 1 tsp fresh chervil, finely chopped (optional)
- salt, to taste
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- 1
Clarify the butter: melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat until the milk solids sink and the foam subsides, about 8–10 minutes. Skim the foam from the surface, then carefully pour the clear golden liquid into a heatproof measuring cup, leaving the white milk solids behind. Keep warm.
- 2
Make the reduction: combine the white wine vinegar, white wine, shallots, roughly chopped tarragon, and cracked black pepper in the small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 4–5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl, pressing the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids.
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