Basic Hollandaise Recipes

Steps:

• Add the egg yolks, lemon juice, 3/4 teaspoon salt and cayenne pepper to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine.
• Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Slowly drizzle in the melted butter while whisking constantly and rapidly until the mixture is pale and has thickened, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula if needed. If the bowl feels hot to the touch, remove it from the heat and continue whisking until cooler. If the sauce starts to get lumpy, grainy or begins to separate, remove from the heat and whisk in a few drops of warm water. Return to the heat and continue whisking until all the butter has been added.
• Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning with lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve immediately or cover and hold in a warm place for up to 2 hours, whisking occasionally. The sauce should not be reheated.

Steps:

• Boil the vinegar together with peppercorns and tarragon, reduce by half. Strain and reserve (see Secrets for success on storing, below).
• Boil a large pan of water, then reduce to a simmer. Using a large balloon whisk, beat together the yolks and 2 tsp of the reduced wine vinegar in a heatproof bowl that fits snugly over the pan.
• Beat vigorously until the mixture forms a foam, but make sure that it doesn't get too hot. To prevent the sauce from overheating, take it on and off the heat while you whisk, scraping around the sides with a plastic spatula. The aim is to achieve a golden, airy foam (called a sabayon), which forms ribbons when the whisk is lifted.
• Whisk in a small ladle of the warmed butter, a little at a time, then return the bowl over a gentle heat to cook a little more. Remove from the heat again and whisk in another ladle of butter. Repeat until all the butter is incorporated and you have a texture as thick as mayonnaise. Finally, whisk in lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste plus a little warm water from the pan if the mixture is too thick.

Steps:

• In a blender, combine egg yolks, water, lemon juice, and salt; blend until frothy.
• Heat butter in the microwave or in a small saucepan over medium until bubbly (do not let brown). With blender running, pour in hot butter in a very thin stream, blending until sauce is thick and emulsified.

Steps:

• Vigorously whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together in a stainless steel bowl and until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Place the bowl over a saucepan containing barely simmering water (or use a double boiler,) the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Continue to whisk rapidly. Be careful not to let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume. Remove from heat, whisk in cayenne and salt. Cover and place in a warm spot until ready to use for the eggs benedict. If the sauce gets too thick, whisk in a few drops of warm water before serving.
• Brown the bacon in a medium skillet and toast the English muffins, cut sides up, on a baking sheet under the broiler. Fill a 10-inch nonstick skillet half full of water. Add white vinegar to the cooking water. This will make the egg white cook faster so it does not spread. Bring to a slow boil. Gently break 1 of the eggs into the water taking care not to break it. Repeat with remaining eggs. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook 3 1/2 minutes until the egg white is set and yolk remains soft. Remove with a slotted spoon, allowing the egg to drain. To assemble: Lay a slice of Canadian bacon on top of each muffin half, followed by a poached egg. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon hollandaise sauce over the eggs. Garnish with chopped parsley.
• Yield: 4 servings

Steps:

• Fill a medium saucepan with 2 inches water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat so water is barely simmering.
• Off the heat, whisk egg yolks in a heatproof bowl or on top of a double boiler until they become pale. Place over the simmering water. Whisking constantly, cook until the mixture is thick enough to hold a trail from the whisk and begins to hold its shape when drizzled from the whisk, about 3 minutes.
• Whisking constantly, add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until each addition is incorporated completely before adding the next. When all the butter has been added, season with lemon juice, salt, cayenne, and black pepper. The sauce should be thick but still able to drizzle from a spoon (and it should form a pool, not a mound). If it is too thick, thin it with a little water.
• The sauce is best if used immediately but can sit for about an hour over hot water in a bain-marie or in a Thermos.

Steps:

• In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, vigorously stir egg yolks and lemon juice with wire whisk. Add 1/4 cup of the butter. Heat over very low heat, stirring constantly with wire whisk, until butter is melted.
• Add remaining 1/4 cup butter. Continue stirring vigorously until butter is melted and sauce is thickened. (Be sure butter melts slowly so eggs have time to cook and thicken sauce without curdling.) If the sauce curdles (mixture begins to separate), add about 1 tablespoon boiling water and beat vigorously with wire whisk or hand beater until it's smooth.
• Serve immediately. Store covered in refrigerator. To serve refrigerated sauce, reheat over very low heat and stir in a small amount of water.

Steps:

• Use a small, thick ceramic bowl set in a heavy-bottomed pan, or a heavyweight double boiler. Off the heat, put the egg yolks and cream in the bowl or upper section of the double boiler and stir with a wire whisk until well-blended - the mixture should never be beaten but stirred, evenly, vigorously and continually. Place the container over hot water (if you are setting the bowl in water, there should be about 1 1/2 inches of water in the pan; in a double boiler, the water should not touch the top section). Stirring eggs continuously, bring the water slowly to a simmer. Do not let it boil. Stir, incorporating the entire mixture so there is no film at the bottom. When the eggs have thickened to consistency of very heavy cream, begin to add the cooled melted butter with one hand, stirring vigorously with the other. Pour extremely slowly so that each addition is blended into the egg mixture before more is added. When all the butter has been added, add the lemon juice or vinegar a drop at a time and immediately remove from heat. Add salt and a mere dash of cayenne.

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in saucepan.
• Cook on low heat 5 min. or until heated through, stirring constantly.
• Serve over hot steamed fresh asparagus, sugar snap peas or broccoli.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan and skim any white solids from the surface. Keep the butter warm.
• Put the egg yolks, white wine or tarragon vinegar, a pinch of salt and a splash of ice-cold water in a metal or glass bowl that will fit over a small pan. Whisk for a few minutes, then put the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and whisk continuously until pale and thick, about 3-5 mins.
• Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the melted butter bit by bit until it's all incorporated and you have a creamy hollandaise. (If it gets too thick, add a splash of water.) Season with a squeeze of lemon juice and a little cayenne pepper. Keep warm until needed.
• To make eggs benedict, toast the muffin halves, top each half with a slice of warmed ham and a poached egg, and spoon over a generous helping of hollandaise.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until bubbly; do not let brown.
• Combine egg yolks, water, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne in a blender; blend until frothy. With blender running, pour in hot butter in a very thin stream and blend until sauce is thick and emulsified. Promptly pour sauce into a serving bowl.

Steps:

• Cut the butter into four pieces, place in a 1-quart glass measure or bowl, and microwave, covered with a paper towel, on high, until almost melted, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove butter from the microwave and stir until completely melted.
• Separate eggs, placing the yolks in a small bowl and setting the whites aside for another purpose. Beat the yolks well with a whisk or fork, then add to the butter and stir well.
• Add cream and lemon juice to egg mixture and stir well. Microwave mixture, uncovered, on high, until just slightly thick, about 1 to 2 minutes, stopping every 20 seconds to stir with a fork. Remove sauce from microwave and stir in mustard.
• NOTE: Sauce may be kept warm for up to 2 hours in an insulated container. Or cool the sauce to room temperature and refrigerate it in a covered microwave-safe container for up to 24 hours. To re-warm, cover container with plastic wrap, pierce wrap with a knife to vent, and microwave on 50 percent power until heated through, about 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to stir halfway through. Do not allow sauce to boil.

Steps:

• Cut the butter into several pieces and bring to room temperature.
• In the top of a double boiler, combine egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Add a piece of butter.
• Cook, stirring steadily with a wooden spoon or wire whisk, over, but not touching, boiling water.
• When butter melts and sauce begins to thicken, add remaining butter, stirring constantly until melted.
• Continue cooking as sauce thickens, about 2 more minutes.
• Immediately remove from heat.