Useful culinary techniques from the world’s most renowned chefs.
Culinary Techniques
Hollandaise

Hollandaise

Bookmark and Share
A classic French sauce, Hollandaise is a beautiful accompaniment to steamed vegetables such as asparagus. And whilst it can be tricky to make, with the right care and preparation you can achieve beautiful results, and distinguish yourself from friends not ambitious enough to try.

The real challenge with Hollandaise lies in creating an emulsion, mixing ingredients that don’t normally mix. Being precise with your heat and thorough with your whisking are vital, as is using the proper ratio of ingredients.

This recipe will provide 240-360ml of sauce, enough to serve 4 to 6 people.
Instructions:
  • 230 g of butter
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon cold water
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper

  • Don’t use the milky residue at the bottom of the butter pan. Season to taste with salt, pepper, lemon juice and cayenne.
  • Heat the butter in a saucepan until melted.
  • Whisk the egg yolks for about 1 minute in a separate saucepan, allowing lots of air into them until they become thick and sticky.
  • Add the water, lemon juice, and salt, and whisk for half a minute more.
  • Place the saucepan over very low heat, or barely simmering baine-marie, and add the melted butter, drop by drop, while continuing whisking. This should take between 1 and 2 minutes.
  • If it seems to be thickening too quickly, or becomes lumpy, immediately plunge the bottom of the pan in cold water, then beat the yolks firmly to cool them. Then resume beating over heat. The egg yolks have thickened enough when you can begin to see the bottom of the pan between strokes, and the mixture forms a light cream on the wires of the whip.