Buttery Shallot Bread Sauce Recipes

CREAMY BREAD & SHALLOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a deep non-stick pan. Add the shallots, cloves and bay leaves, and gently cook for 10 mins over a low heat until the shallots are soft and colouring a little. Pour in the milk, then part-cover the pan and leave to simmer on a very low heat for 10 mins.
• Remove the cloves, then add the bread and cream to the shallot mixture. Grate in half the nutmeg, then cook for 5 mins, or until the bread absorbs the milk and starts to break down a little but still has a texture. Can be made 1 day ahead (you may need to thin with a little milk). Grate over the remaining nutmeg to serve.

CLASSIC SHALLOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Peel and finely chop the shallot. You should end up with about 3 tablespoons in total.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, soften up the butter for a couple of minutes on low speed.
• Add the lemon juice and chopped shallot to the butter and continue mixing until the shallots are fully incorporated.
• Spread out a large (1-foot or bigger) square of plastic wrap across your work surface, then scoop the mixed butter onto the plastic. You are now going to roll the butter into a cylinder inside the plastic wrap.
• Tie the excess plastic wrap at the ends of the cylinder into a knot, or just use little pieces of string to tie off the ends. You can even make a string out of a short section of plastic wrap and roll it into a little rope.
• Chill or freeze until needed.

BEURRE BLANC (CLASSIC FRENCH BUTTER SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and add the shallots. Cook briefly, stirring, and add the vinegar and wine. Cook until the liquid is almost totally reduced.
• Add the heavy cream and salt and bring to the boil. Add the pieces of butter, a few at a time, stirring rapidly with a wire whisk.

SHALLOT AND GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small saucepan of boiling water boil the garlic cloves for 6 minutes, drain them, and peel them. In a small heavy skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it fry the shallot for 3 to 5 minutes, or until it is golden. Transfer the fried shallot to paper towels to drain. In a small bowl mash the garlic to a paste, add the fried shallot, the butter, and salt and pepper to taste, and cream the mixture. Let the butter stand, covered, in a cool place for 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop. Serve the butter with meat, poultry, seafood, or vegetables.

BUTTERY SHALLOT BREAD SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a pan, then add the shallots, cloves, thyme and bay and cook very, very gently for 15 mins until soft, translucent and pale golden.
• Remove the cloves, add the milk and pepper, then bring to a gentle simmer for 10 mins. Stir in the breadcrumbs, give it another 5 mins or so over a very low heat until the bread has plumped up nicely, then stir in the cream and nutmeg. Fish out the stalks from the thyme - the leaves will have fallen off. Season to taste. To serve, grate over a little more nutmeg, drizzle with a little more cream and decorate with a bay leaf.

HALIBUT WITH SHALLOT BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the stock in a wide shallow pan and bring to a simmer. Slide in the fish, cover and poach for 6-8 minutes until the fish is tender. Remove from the heat and keep the fish warm in the liquid while preparing the sauce.
• Place the shallots in a small pan with the wine vinegar. Boil until only a tablespoon of liquid remains. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter one piece at a time, whisking constantly to make a glossy sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, return to the heat briefly. Add the Pernod®, salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of fish cooking liquid.
• Lift the fish from the stock and transfer to warmed dinner plates. Spoon the sauce over the top and serve.

BUTTER SAUCE WITH SHALLOTS AND WINE

Steps:

• Combine shallots and wine in a small saucepan. Boil, and cook until liquid evaporates being careful not to burn shallots. Remove from heat and allow to cool about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add butter and olive oil to saucepan and whisk until it becomes thickened. If the pan is too hot the butter will curdle. Serve.