How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce

  • Share
Intro
How to Make Lemon Butter Saucethumbnail

Lemon and butter are a classic combination. (Photo: CRP photo)

Lemon butter sauce is an ideal addition to many foods, including chicken, fish, and shellfish. Famous chefs from Julia Child to Emeril Lagasse have their own variation of this simple sauce. While the name seems to explain the entire recipe, several additional ingredients make this sauce delicious and savory. Master the basics and soon you’ll be adding your own personal touches, just like the pros.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Heat a skillet or frying pan over high heat. Add the wine, lemons, garlic and shallots and cook for 3 minutes.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Break up and mash the softened lemons in the pan with a wooden spoon or a wire whisk.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Add the salt, pepper, Worcestershire and hot sauce if using, and stir until the mixture is a little syrupy.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Stir in the cream and cook for 1 minute at high heat.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Reduce the heat to low and add the butter, a few tablespoons at a time, while continuing to stir the mixture.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Remove the pan from the heat and turn off the range. Keep stirring the sauce to blend in the butter until it is completely melted.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Strain the sauce into a bowl; press down on the mixture to extract all the liquid.

How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce (Photo: CRP photo)

Stir in the parsley, and serve the sauce warm.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 3 lemons, peeled and quartered
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 turns freshly ground black pepper
  • dash Worcestershire sauce
  • dash hot pepper sauce (optional)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter cut up, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
Tips & Warnings
  • Fresh-squeezed lemons are fragrant and flavorful and are recommended over bottled lemon juice. Peeling the lemons will reduce the bitterness of the sauce.

    You can substitute other herbs, such as basil or oregano, for the parsley.

  • Be cautious when cooking over high heat. Splashes from the sauce can be dangerous. Never leave your pan or skillet unattended.

More Like This

Comments

Featured
View Mobile Site