Cooking School Lesson

How to Make a Butter Sauce

Lesson Graduates

Barbara J Robert B Suputtra H Robin  M Kevin C Nicole B Josh P Marta T James M Cindi L Bonnie D Kevin R Dan V Jc F Gerald G Richard G Devon T Giuseppe D Nelson P Rick L Michael W El-myrrh S Jean W Tomas S Brenda L Tom H Sérgio N Elizabeth S Patti L Bob M Greg L Cristina G Michelle C Asia P Myles S Victor M Tony D Julie A Zane C Brian C Angelica E Victor B

Lesson completed by:
3711 students

Lesson Snapshot:

  • 1 instructional video
  • 9 practice recipes
  • 10 tip and technique videos
  • interactive quiz

Lesson Description & Goals

Butter sauce is also called a beurre blanc sauce (“white butter”) or sauce blanc. It is a classic French butter sauce that is often served at fancy restaurants. It is considered by some to be a bit more challenging sauce because it has a tendency to split. Beurre blanc or butter sauce goes well with many vegetables and lean meats and is especially delicious in fish recipes and seafood recipes.

In this lesson, we will show you how to prepare a basic beurre blanc. You will learn how to serve and hold beurre blanc and how to fix it if it happens to split. Finally, we will show you how to vary this elegant sauce to make many other delicious sauces.

  • Identify the main components of a butter sauce or beurre blanc
  • Make a butter sauce or beurre blanc sauce
  • Understand how to properly hold and serve a butter sauce or beurre blanc
  • Know how to fix a split a butter sauce or beurre blanc sauce
  • Know how to vary a butter sauce or beurre blanc to create a variety of different sauces

Lesson Practice Recipes

This lesson includes access to the following text & instructional video recipes

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Asparagus with a Tarragon Beurre Blanc

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Dress up asparagus with this luxurious tarragon butter sauce.

Comments: 17 Views: 4513 Success: 100%
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Cod with Classic Beurre Blanc Sauce

by Kimberley S in Rouxbe Recipes

Any type of white fish can be adorned with this classic, rich butter sauce.

Comments: 0 Views: 5175 Success: 100%
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Halibut Cheeks with Lemon-Dill Beurre Blanc

by Kimberley S in Rouxbe Recipes

Juicy pan-fried halibut cheeks are smothered in fresh lemon-dill beurre blanc.

Comments: 13 Views: 7926 Success: 100%
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Chicken with Ginger-Lemongrass Beurre Blanc

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Ginger, lemongrass and rice vinegar lend a twist to a classic beurre blanc. Serve these tender chicken medallions with a s...

Comments: 0 Views: 4215 Success: 100%
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Seared Scallops with Truffle Beurre Blanc

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Pan-seared scallops served with a truffle beurre blanc make up this elegant and sexy appetizer.

Comments: 23 Views: 15264 Success: 100%
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Tilapia with Pink Peppercorn Beurre Blanc

by Tony M in Rouxbe Recipes

Classic beurre blanc infused with pink peppercorns. Serve over pan-fried tilapia or any other type of white fish.

Comments: 6 Views: 6135 Success: 100%
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Beurre Blanc with Tomato Concassé and Chives

by Joe G in Rouxbe Recipes

This classic butter sauce, garnished with tomato concassé and chives, is a beautiful accompaniment to any delicate white f...

Comments: 4 Views: 4800 Success: 86%
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Pan-Fried Salmon with Beurre Rouge

by Tony M in Rouxbe Recipes

This classic French butter sauce, beurre rouge, pairs well with salmon and grilled meats.

Comments: 12 Views: 4630 Success: 100%
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Sole with Beurre Blanc and Golden Beets

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Delicate brill sole is served with a fennel-white bean mash, braised kale and beautiful yellow beets.

Comments: 3 Views: 8296 Success: 100%

What People are Saying

Constance L
Confidence in the kitchen.
I made my first beurre blanc recently after the lesson and finished it with chives. It was fabulous! I love these lessons - they really reinforce my confidence in the kitchen.
Richard L
Delicious and impressive.
So Simple, So Elegant. I served it over flounder with a large fresh salad on the side. Dinner was on the table in a flash and was delicious and impressive.
Richard W
The video have eased my intimidation.
I have wanted to try making a beurre blanc for some time, but with what I had previously heard, I was very intimidated about it. I have just finished watching the video on beurr... More >>
Stephen R
Easy to follow instructions.
First time ever making this sauce... nice, clear, easy to follow instructions and it came out perfectly. I put it over some wonderfully baked stuffed lobster tails and it was he... More >>