How To Make Brown Butter

Known in French as beurre noisette [burr nwah-ZEHT], brown butter is a type of butter sauce, similar to beurre blanc. It refers to melted butter that's cooked until it's a light brown color, similar to that of a hazelnut.

 

To make brown butter, heat whole butter slowly over low heat until it's an amber color and gives off a nutty aroma. After 3–4 minutes, the butter will foam and turn faintly golden, then it will turn darker as the milk solids sink to the bottom of the pan and begin to brown. Watch the butter carefully and take care not to let the stove get too hot — too high a heat and the milk solids in the butter will burn and smell smoky instead of fragrant.

Tags: dairy