beurre blanc

Definition

A velvety French sauce of reduced wine, shallots, and cold butter whisked into a precarious emulsion that can break if you look at it wrong. The sauce that separates confident cooks from nervous wrecks.

Example Usage

The chef finished the halibut with a classic beurre blanc that was perfectly smooth and glossy.

Origin

French, literally meaning 'white butter,' originating from the Loire Valley region

Fun Fact

Legend has it that beurre blanc was created by accident when a chef forgot to add egg yolks to a béarnaise sauce, but the mistake was so delicious it became its own classic.

Source: Classical French sauce repertoire

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