Hollandaise Sauce

Name: Hollandaise Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 egg yolks; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp water; 1/2 cup melted butter, still warm; Salt and cayenne pepper, to taste

4 servings10 min prep10 min cookMedium

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Hollandaise Sauce

Story updated September 18, 2026

Hollandaise is one of French cuisine's five mother sauces, an emulsion of egg yolk and butter. Its name suggests Dutch origins, and some food historians believe it descends from a similar Dutch butter sauce, though it was codified and popularized within French culinary tradition.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

3 egg yolks
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp water
1/2 cup melted butter, still warm
Salt and cayenne pepper, to taste

Instructions

1Whisk egg yolks, lemon juice, and water in a bowl set over barely simmering water.
2Whisk constantly until the mixture is pale and doubled in volume, about 3-4 minutes.
3Remove from heat and drizzle in melted butter very slowly, whisking constantly, until emulsified.
4Season with salt and a pinch of cayenne.
5Serve immediately — hollandaise does not hold well.

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