Sauces and Flavored Butters

Maltaise Sauce

This simple, elegant sauce brings bright citrus, creamy butter, and a bit of red pepper heat to dishes like steamed or roasted vegetables, fish, poultry and more. Try it as a way to boost flavor on one of your tried-and-true dishes.

Servings

4-6

Level

Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Challenge European Style Unsalted Butter
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper (optional)
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 - 1½ lb. asparagus spears or green beans, steamed

Directions

  • 1
    Melt butter and combine with red pepper; set aside.
  • 2
    Bring water to a simmer in the bottom of a double boiler or a saucepan set up to use as a double boiler.
  • 3
    Whisk egg yolks, water, orange juice and lemon juice in the top portion of a double boiler. Place this over the pan of barely simmering water and whisk constantly until the eggs are thickened (160°F). Remove from the heat and continue to whisk while very slowly adding the melted butter. (A blender could also be used – transfer the egg yolk mixture to the blender and with blender running, gradually add butter through opening in top.)
  • 4
    Blend until mixture is thick and creamy. Stir in orange zest and salt.
  • 5
    Spoon sauce over steamed asparagus spears or green beans.