EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (2024)

by Erin

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This easy Bearnaise sauce recipe is rich, fluffy, and tangy. This sauce can be used on a variety of dishes, like steak and seafood.

EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (1)

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What is in Bearnaise sauce?

How to make it

Recipe tips

FAQs

What does Bearnaise sauce go with?

Wine pairings for steak with Bearnaise sauce

More homemade sauce recipes

Easy Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Interested in more savory sauce recipes? Try out my Steak Diane, Steak with Red Wine Sauce, Bordelaise Sauce, Lemon Butter Sauce and Homemade BBQ Sauce.

Bearnaise sauce (also spelled Béarnaise sauce) is an extremely versatile classic sauce. It is generally associated with steak orFilet Mignon. Its name is related to the province of Béarn, France.

EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (2)

Bearnaise is a loose derivative of hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise is an egg yolk mixture emulsified with unsalted butter and acid. Hollandaise sauce is also one of the five mother sauces of French cuisine, meaningit can be used to make a range of other sauces.

Bearnaise builds on hollandaise with egg yolks, butter, white wine vinegar, shallots, and tarragon. The mildness of these flavorings make it perfect for chicken and beef as well as seafood. This luscious sauce is especially popular for grilled or broiled meats, such asBroiled Lamb Chops. It’s also incredibly delicious with french fries!

With this easy recipe, you’ll be able to master this delicious sauce the first time.

What is in Bearnaise sauce?

  • Shallot
  • White Wine Vinegar – Gives this sauce its tangy flavor.
  • Fresh Tarragon – Tarragon has an amazing flavor that’s slightly like black licorice. Can’t find fresh tarragon? Try one of these tarragon substitutes.
  • Egg Yolks – This is what gives the sauce its creamy, fluffy texture.
  • Unsalted Butter – Using unsalted butter guarantees that you can control the salt level of your finished sauce.
  • Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed is best here!
  • Salt + Pepper
EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (3)

How to make it

  • In a small skillet, add the shallots, vinegar, pepper and 1 tablespoon of tarragon leaves and bring to a boil over medium heat.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer over low heat and cook until almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and place in a metal mixing bowl. Allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile, fill a small saucepan with an inch or two of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.To the cooled shallot reduction, add the egg yolks and a dash of cold water. Whisk to combine.
  • Place the metal bowl over the saucepan of simmering water and turn the heat down to low. Keep an eye to be sure the bowl isn’t touching the boiling water.
  • Whisk the egg-shallot mixture until it begins to thicken, about 5-6 minutes.
  • Melt butter in the microwave or on the stove, then gradually whisk it in, a splash at a time. Continue whisking until the sauce has emulsified and coats the back of a spoon.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tsp. chopped tarragon leaves.
  • Season with salt, to taste. Enjoy!
EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (4)

Recipe tips

  • Unfortunately, this sauce cannot be reheated. However, it can be held at temperature in a sous vide water bath at 130 degrees for up to 4 hours. Add the sauce to a mason jar and place it in the bath.
  • If the sauce gets too hot while whisking, you’ll end up with scrambled eggs.

FAQs

What does Bearnaise sauce taste like?

Béarnaise sauce has a rich, creamy, and tangy flavor with a slight herbal, licorice-like note from the tarragon. The sauce is known for its velvety texture and buttery taste, and it pairs well with a variety of dishes, including steak, fish, and vegetables. Overall, Béarnaise sauce is a flavorful and indulgent addition to any meal.

What’s the difference between Bearnaise and Hollandaise sauce?

Béarnaise sauce and hollandaise sauce are both classic French sauces made with butter, egg yolks, and acid (typically vinegar or lemon juice), but they differ in a few key ways. The main difference between the two sauces is the addition of tarragon and shallots in béarnaise sauce, which gives it a distinct flavor and aroma. Béarnaise sauce also typically includes white wine in its ingredient list, while hollandaise sauce does not.
In terms of texture, béarnaise sauce is often thicker and more velvety than hollandaise sauce, due to the reduction of the shallots and the addition of tarragon. Hollandaise sauce, on the other hand, is known for its smooth, silky texture.

Can I substitute hollandaise sauce for Bearnaise sauce?

Yes. Overall, while both sauces are similar in composition and are often used interchangeably. However, it’s the addition of tarragon and shallots in béarnaise sauce that gives it a unique flavor profile and texture.

EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (5)

What does Bearnaise sauce go with?

  • Sous Vide Filet Mignon
  • Air Fryer Filet Mignon
  • Sheet Pan Salmon
  • Traeger Steak
  • Easy Roasted Chicken
  • Broiled Lamb Chops
  • Deviled Eggs or Eggs Benedict
  • Roasted Vegetables

What to serve on the side

  • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
  • Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
  • Glazed Carrots
  • Roasted Miso Cauliflower
  • Easy Arugula Salad
  • MORE → 50+ of the best sides for steak
EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (6)

Wine pairings for steak with Bearnaise sauce

  • Full-bodied Chardonnay
  • Viognier

More homemade sauce recipes

  • Romesco Sauce
  • Mustard Sauce for Steak
  • Creamy Peppercorn Sauce
  • Beef Gravy
  • Red Wine Jus
  • Creamy Mushroom Sauce
  • Bordelaise Sauce
  • Red Wine Sauce
  • Lebanese Garlic Sauce
  • Mojo Sauce
  • Chimichurri Sauce
  • MORE → my must try steak sauces

Did you try this Bearnaise sauce recipe?

If you loved this bernaise sauce I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me onInstagramusing the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (7)

Easy Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

Perfect to be paired with steak, this Bearnaise Sauce Recipe is flavored with fresh cracked blacked pepper and tarragon leaves.

4.95 from 19 votes

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Servings: 4

Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small skillet, add the shallots, vinegar, pepper and 1 TBSP tarragon leaves and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and place in a metal mixing bowl. Allow to cool.

  • Meanwhile, fill a small saucepan with an inch or two of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

  • To the cooled shallot mixture, add the egg yolks and 1 TBSP water. Whisk to combine.

  • Place the metal bowl over the saucepan of boiling water and turn the heat down to low. Keep an eye to be sure the bowl isn’t touching the boiling water.

  • Whisk the egg-shallot mixture until it begins to thicken, about 5-6 minutes.

  • Gradually whisk in the butter, a splash at a time. Continue whisking until the sauce has emulsified.

  • Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice and remaining 1 tsp. tarragon leaves. Season with salt, to taste. Serve.

Notes

Sauce cannot be reheated.

However, it can be held at temperature in a sous vide water bath at 130 degrees for up to 4 hours. Add the sauce to a mason jar and place it in the bath.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

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This post was originally published in 2021. It was updated in 2023 to add new content. The bearnaise sauce recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

EASY Bearnaise Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in a bearnaise sauce? ›

Béarnaise sauce is a piquant child of hollandaise, one of the so-called mother sauces of French cuisine. It is simply an emulsification — egg yolks and butter cut through with vinegar flavored with tarragon and shallots, with a bite of black pepper.

What is a substitute for butter in bearnaise sauce? ›

Whisk egg yolks, black pepper, tarragon Dijon mustard, tarragon vinegar, water, and salt in a metal mixing bowl or small saucepan. Place over low heat and whisk until mixture foams, small wisps of steam appear from the sauce, and sauce is hot and thick, 1 to 2 minutes.

How do you thicken bearnaise sauce? ›

Notes. If your béarnaise is thin and runny, transfer to a large bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water. Whisk constantly and vigorously until sauce is thickened.

What do you have bearnaise sauce with? ›

Béarnaise sauce is a delicious and creamy classic French sauce that is often made from a reduction of vinegar and wine mixed with shallots, tarragon, and (sometimes) chervil and thickened with egg yolks and butter. It's typically served with meat, fish, eggs, or vegetables.

What's the difference between bearnaise and hollandaise sauce? ›

It is regarded as a "child" of hollandaise sauce. The difference is only in the flavoring: béarnaise uses shallot, black pepper, and tarragon, while hollandaise uses white pepper or a pinch of cayenne. The sauce's name derives from the province of Béarn, France.

What makes bearnaise sauce break? ›

Heat can cook the egg yolk and break the emulsion as could mixing the ingredients in the wrong order. We can call this “breaking” curdling. Straining and whisking in a little warm egg yolk might re-emulsify. Whisking or blending alone may help for sauces that have been sitting for awhile.

What is it called when you add butter to a sauce? ›

Monter au Beurre is a French term used to describe the process of adding or whisking in whole, cold butter into a sauce or puree at the end of the cooking process. This process, which is usually done off the heat, adds shine, flavor and richness.

How do you keep bearnaise sauce from separating? ›

Work over consistent heat––sometimes a big jump in temperature can cause the emulsion to break and separate. While cooking, keeping the heat low and slow can keep your sauce happy and together! Add a little fat back––a classic emulsified sauce is typically a 1:1 ratio of fat to liquid!

What can I use instead of tarragon in béarnaise? ›

Fresh tarragon substitute: Substitute parsley, dill, or fennel fronds instead to provide color and herbal notes. The acidity of lemon juice also mimics tarragon. Fines herbes: This classic French herb blend combines parsley, chives, chervil, and tarragon, often in equal parts.

How long will bearnaise sauce keep? ›

Béarnaise sauce is best served immediately, but will keep for three days in an airtight container in the fridge. Use it straight from the fridge like butter for toast, or reheat over a double boiler.

How do you fix bearnaise sauce? ›

Put egg yolk in a clean bowl. Whisk it then add the broken sauce drop by drop with continuing to whisk. If you don't have 3 hands or a way to hold the bowl still, you may want someone to help you. Whisk until the sauce is creamy and hom*ogeneous.

What is a fun fact about bearnaise sauce? ›

The recipe is a variation of Hollandaise, one of the five mother sauces of French cuisine. It was first served at the opening of the Le Pavillon Henri IV restaurant in 1836 and is named after the province of Béarn, the birthplace of Henry IV of France.

What does bearnaise sauce mean in English? ›

(ˌbeɪəˈneɪz ) noun. (sometimes without capital) a rich sauce made from egg yolks, lemon juice or wine vinegar, butter, shallots, herbs, and seasoning.

What does bearnaise sauce taste like? ›

Buttery, silky with the enigmatic flavour of tarragon and a sharp kick of vinegar, bearnaise is arguably the most elegant sauce to have emerged from the French kitchen.

How would you describe bearnaise sauce? ›

Classic Béarnaise is a creamy, rich and buttery sauce flavored with fresh tarragon. A sauce like this can easily transform weekday steak or chicken into a dinner party-worthy dish.

Does bearnaise sauce taste like mayonnaise? ›

Béarnaise sauce is like a cooked mayonnaise, with Tarragon added to it. That's about as simple as I can put it. It CAN be a bit prickly to make, but it's got ENORMOUS flavor, is rich with healthy fats and is extremely low carb.

What are the five French mother sauces? ›

The five French mother sauces are béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Developed in the 19th century by French chef Auguste Escoffier, mother sauces serve as a starting point for a variety of delicious sauces used to complement countless dishes, including veggies, fish, meat, casseroles, and pastas.

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