Sesame Free Fennel Béarnaise Sauce

Total time30 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time15 min

4.9

(19)

Classic béarnaise is already a showstopper, but this version layers in the subtle anise sweetness of fresh fennel for something that feels genuinely special. The reduction — built from white grape juice, water, tarragon stems, and finely chopped fennel — gives the sauce a bright, aromatic backbone before a single drop of butter ever hits the bowl. From there, pasteurized egg yolks are whisked into that strained liquid and gently cooked over a double boiler until thick, safe, and silky smooth. Butter goes in one tablespoon at a time, building that glossy, spoonable texture that makes a great béarnaise so satisfying to pour. A finish of fresh tarragon leaves ties the whole thing together with a clean herbal note. Every ingredient here is naturally free of sesame — no tahini, no sesame oil, no hidden blends to second-guess — so you can focus entirely on technique and flavor. Drape it over grilled steak, roasted vegetables, or poached fish and watch it disappear.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the reduction

3 tbsp white grape juice
3 tbsp water
1 tbsp fresh tarragon stems, roughly chopped
2 tbsp fennel bulb, finely chopped

For the sauce

3 pasteurized egg yolks
½ cup unsalted butter, cut into 1-tbsp pieces
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp fresh tarragon leaves, finely chopped

Instructions

1
Combine the white grape juice, water, chopped tarragon stems, and fennel in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid reduces to about 2 tablespoons, 5–7 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl, pressing the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids.
2
Add the pasteurized egg yolks to the strained reduction in the heatproof bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened.

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