Hollandaise Sauce

 

This hollandaise sauce recipe goes perfectly over eggs & ham on English muffins for a breakfast treat, or over steamed vegetables for a tantalising twist.

 

2 tablespoons white-wine or tarragon vinegar or fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons boiling water
3 large egg yolks
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Melt the butter and keep it warm.  
Heat the vinegar or lemon juice until just warmed.

 

Have kettle with boiling water and a measuring tablespoon ready. 
Place the top of a double boiler over (not in) hot water. (This means the bottom of the top of the double boiler should not make contact with the water heating in the bottom half of the double boiler.)
Place the egg yolks in the top of a double boiler and whisk until they begin to thicken.

 

Now add 1 tablespoon of the boiling water.

 

Continue to beat the sauce until it begins to thicken.

 

Repeat with the remaining water, one tablespoon at a time, beating the mixture after each addition.
Now add the warmed vinegar or lemon juice.

 

Remove the double boiler from the heat.

 

Beat the sauce briskly with a wire whisk.

 

Continue to beat the mixture as you slowly pour in the melted butter.

 

Add the salt and cayenne and beat the sauce until it is thick.

 

Serve immediately.

 

 

Makes:  1 cup.

 

 

NOTE:  Please make sure that the water in the bottom half of the double boiler never actually boils - make sure that remains hot and gently simmering.  If the water starts to boil, just add a very small amount of cold water to reduce the temperature slightly.

 

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