Beurre blanc — "white butter" — is the classic French sauce made with a reduction of vinegar, white wine and shallots. Beurre rouge is a colorful sibling, made here with a combination of red wine vinegar and red wine, which give the sauce a nice tang.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Combine vinegar, wine, shallots, 2 tarragon sprigs and peppercorns in heavy small saucepan. Boil until mixture is reduced to § cup, about 20 minutes. Strain into bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Return liquid to saucepan; discard solids in strainer. Bring liquid to simmer over medium-low heat. Whisk in § cup butter, 1 piece at a time, allowing each piece to melt before adding the next (do not boil). Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover saucepan to keep warm.
Step 2
Melt 2 teaspoons butter in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add scallops and cook just until opaque in center, about 1 minute per side. Spoon sauce onto plates. Arrange scallops atop sauce. Garnish with additional tarragon sprigs, if desired, and serve.
