Classic Bearnaise And Paloise Sauces Food

CLASSIC FRENCH BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Tie the peppercorns and 2 tarragon sprigs in cheesecloth and secure with butcher's twine to make a sachet. In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, shallots and sachet and simmer over low heat until the liquid is evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool; discard the sachet.
• In a medium bowl set over a double boiler, whisk together the egg yolks and lemon juice. Heat, whisking constantly, until the yolks are pale and slightly thickened. Slowly ladle in the clarified butter, whisking constantly, until the sauce is emulsified. If sauce looks like it is getting too thick, add water by the tablespoon until you reach the desired consistency. Remove from the heat and add the chopped tarragon and 1 tablespoon of the shallots. Season with salt and pepper.

CLASSIC BEARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it is just melted.
• In another medium-sized non-reactive saucepan, boil the vinegar, wine, shallots , tarragon, and peppercorns over medium heat until reduced to about 1/4 cup.
• Strain into a measuring cup. Discard the solids.
• Whisk the egg yolks in the top portion of a double boiler . Slowly pour the warm vinegar mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to avoid scrambling them.
• Place the top portion of the double boiler over the bottom of the double boiler containing simmering water. Make sure that the simmering water is not touching the bottom of the pan with the egg mixture. Whisk constantly.
• The second that the yolk mixture begins to thicken slightly, about 3 minutes, remove the pan from above the hot water and continue whisking .
• Turn off the heat and add the ice cubes to the bottom of the double boiler to cool the hot water a little.
• Put the pan of yolks back above the hot water. Whisk in the melted butter, drizzling it in very slowly as you whisk.
• If at any time the sauce looks as if it is about to break, remove the pan and continue whisking to cool it down or whisk in 1 teaspoon cold water.
• Whisk in the salt and cayenne.
• When all the butter is incorporated, taste and add more salt or cayenne as needed. Use the sauce immediately on your favorite dishes.

BéARNAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the egg yolks in a mini food processor and season with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne, then add the vinegar.
• Finely chop the tarragon stalks and leaves separately. Melt the butter in a pan then add the chopped tarragon stalks and bring it to a simmer - the butter needs to be hot so that it will cook the egg yolks slightly.
• Turn the processor on and add the hot melted butter slowly while the processor is running. Once all the butter has been added and the mixture is smooth and thick, pour it into a bowl and stir through the tarragon leaves. Season and serve with steak.

CLASSIC BEARNAISE AND PALOISE SAUCES

Steps:

• Put the cut-up butter in a 1-cup glass measure with a pouring spout, and microwave until completely melted and clear but not bubbling (or heat in a warm oven, 190 degrees F., about 25 minutes). Skim off any foam from the top, and cool until lukewarm but still liquid.
• Combine the liquids and seasonings (except the cayenne and fresh herbs) in a 3-cup, heavy-bottomed, non-reactive saucepan, and simmer over medium heat until the liquid reduces to 1 tablespoon (no farther). Strain the liquid into a cup, pressing hard to squeeze all the juices out of the shallots, then return it to the saucepan.
• Whisk in the yolk, and place over medium-low heat. Stir in 1/4 of the clarified butter, and continue whisking across the bottom and around the sides of the pan until the yolk-and-butter mixture thickens to a sour cream consistency. If the yolk is overcooked, it will start to scramble; if undercooked (as in "blender Bearnaise" recipes), it will taste raw.
• Dunk the pan briefly in cold water; then very slowly dribble in the rest of the butter off heat, whisking constantly, without including the milky liquid at the bottom. When all the butter is absorbed, the sauce should be the consistency of a medium-thick mayonnaise.
• Add the cayenne pepper, taste for seasoning, and stir in the herbs. To keep the sauce from congealing, set it in a pan of hot tap water, but the sooner it is served, the better.
• For Paloise sauce, omit the tarragon, and finish with 1/2 tablespoon finely shredded mint; do not add mint to the vinegar reduction (the cooking distorts its flavor).
• If the sauce overheats or the butter is added too fast, the oily fat can separate out. If that happens, during or after cooking, it is easy to fix: Put a teaspoon of water in a small bowl, add a spoonful of the separating sauce, and whisk them together until creamy; then gradually add the rest of the sauce, spoonful by spoonful, until the whole thing is reconstituted.