Ingredients
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2 Bay Leaves
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1 cup White Wine
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3 whole peppercorns
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2 French shallots
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250 grams Butterunsalted' cut into small cubes then left out of the fridge for 2 hours
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1/8 cup Fresh Cream
Directions
I know some people who say “any idiot can cook; it’s the sauces that make the meal!” Of course most of these people are Saucier Chefs and I’ve only heard them speak with this blasphemous tongue at 4:30 am on a Sunday morning in the last pub that will still serve us after a busy Saturday nights service in the restaurant.
Just in case there is some truth in what they say though, you would do well to learn a few classic sauce recipes and what better place to start than Beurre Blanc. This sauce can be used on any number of dishes and is very adaptable to new ideas and styles of cuisine, infuse it with some unique spices, add some citrus or virtually any herb you can find. Plus that way if you run into one of my snobby salted tongue saucier colleagues you can shut them up before they get out of hand.
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Place the eschalot, bay leaves, peppercorns and the wine in a small saucepan and place on a low flame until only a bit of liquid is left and a slight glaze appears on the bottom of the pan (approx _ an hour).
Add the cream to the wine reduction and reduce further on very low heat.
Turn the heat up on the wine/cream reduction for just a minute and then remove the saucepan from the heat all together.
Using a wooden spoon, stir in butter cubes about 5 at a time. Do not add more until the others have completely melted (very important that you constantly stir at this stage).
Add the remaining butters 5 at a time and strain the entire sauce through a fine sieve.
If you are adding your own ingredients such as herbs, spices or juices, this is the point at which to add them.
Taste for seasoning and serve or keep warm in a Bain Marie (sauce can not be used again once cooled, so time it well).
