Untested Condiment: Brown Butter Hollandaise

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  • 4

Ingredients

  • Hollandaise:
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/4 water
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 lemon

Preparation

Step 1

For the hollandaise: Melt the butter slowly in a saucepan, leaving it on the heat until it has turned brown (not black). Skim off any foam that rises to the top, and pour the clear butter into a bowl, leaving behind the milk solids. Wash the saucepan.

Put the yolks, 1/4 cup water and a pinch of salt into the clean pan. Whisk over medium heat until ribbony, 3 to 5 minutes. If the pan gets too hot, the eggs will scramble, so lift the saucepan on and off the heat occasionally to keep the temperature in check. Take the pot off the heat and slowly whisk in the clarified butter, adding it in a thin stream. Season with salt, pepper, and a few squirts of lemon. It will be thick, but still pour off a spoon. It should be globby, like mayonnaise.