Beurre Blanc
Master the elegant and classic French sauce, Beurre Blanc, a creamy and tangy butter sauce made by emulsifying cold butter into a reduction of white wine, white wine vinegar, and shallots. Perfect for enhancing seafood, poultry, vegetables, and more, this recipe guides you through effortless preparation to elevate your home-cooked meals with restaurant-quality flavor and texture.
- Author: Lina
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: About 1/2 cup sauce (serves 4) 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Gluten Free
Sauce Base
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons finely minced shallots
Finishing
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
- Salt, to taste
- White pepper, to taste
- Prepare the Reduction: Finely mince shallots and combine them in a small saucepan with white wine and white wine vinegar. Simmer over medium heat until the liquid reduces to about 2 tablespoons, concentrating the flavors and mellowing sharp acidity.
- Strain the Reduction: Pass the reduced liquid through a fine sieve to remove shallots, ensuring a smooth, silky sauce.
- Whisk in Cold Butter: Return the strained liquid to low heat. Gradually add cold, unsalted butter in small chunks, whisking constantly to emulsify the sauce. Maintain low heat to prevent breaking the emulsion.
- Season and Finish: Once the sauce is thick and glossy and all butter is incorporated, season gently with salt and white pepper to taste. Serve immediately for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Keep the heat low when adding butter to prevent the sauce from breaking.
- Always use cold butter to help emulsify the sauce smoothly.
- Add butter slowly and whisk continuously for the best creamy texture.
- Use fresh minced shallots for the best flavor and texture.
- Beurre Blanc is best served immediately; it can separate if held too long.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat gently over low heat while whisking.
- Freezing is not recommended, as the sauce may separate upon thawing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Beurre Blanc, French sauce, butter sauce, white wine sauce, classic French, seafood sauce, poultry sauce, vegetable sauce, creamy sauce, tangy sauce, elegant sauce