Béarnaise

Definition

A hollandaise variant made with tarragon, shallots, and red wine reduction instead of just lemon juice; hollandaise's more sophisticated older sibling who studied abroad.

Example Usage

Serve the grilled steak with a béarnaise sauce made with fresh tarragon and red wine that costs as much as the vegetables.

Origin

French, possibly from 'Béarn' (Basque region) or meaning 'bearnish,' the etymology is charmingly murky

Fun Fact

Béarnaise shares the same emulsion base as hollandaise but uses completely different flavorings, showing how flexible the structure is

Source: Classical French sauce tradition

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