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Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

This Bearnaise Sauce Recipe is a rich, velvety French butter sauce made with clarified butter, egg yolks, vinegar, shallots, and fresh tarragon. It brings a restaurant-quality finish to steak, roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, and seafood. Smooth, aromatic, and deeply flavorful, it’s one of the essential classic sauces in French cooking.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: French
Calories: 230

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 cup clarified butter warm, not hot
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon minced, divided
  • 1 tablespoon parsley optional
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch of cayenne optional

Equipment

  • 1 Small saucepan For reducing vinegar and shallots
  • 1 Whisk For emulsifying the sauce
  • 1 Heatproof mixing bowl For double-boiler setup
  • 1 Fine strainer To remove shallots and herbs

Method
 

  1. Combine shallots, vinegar, water, and half the tarragon in a small saucepan. Simmer until reduced to about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Strain the mixture and allow it to cool slightly.
  3. Whisk egg yolks and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl until lightly thickened.
  4. Set the bowl over simmering water, whisking continuously until the yolks begin to thicken.
  5. Slowly drizzle in the warm clarified butter while whisking constantly to form a smooth, glossy sauce.
  6. Mix in the remaining tarragon, parsley, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
  7. Serve immediately over steak, chicken, vegetables, or seafood.

Notes

  • Maintain low heat to avoid scrambling the yolks.
  • If the sauce becomes too thick, whisk in 1 teaspoon warm water.
  • Best served fresh; Bearnaise does not store well and should not be refrigerated.
Bearnaise Sauce Recipe
Bearnaise Sauce Recipe