Seared Tiger Prawns with Oregon Morel Mushroom Beurre Blanc Sauce, Asparagus and Whipped Potatoes

Seared Tiger Prawns with Oregon Morel Mushroom Beurre Blanc Sauce, Asparagus and Whipped Potatoes

Beurre blanc is a simple butter-based emulsified sauce that's great with fish or seafood. The following is a basic recipe for Beurre Blanc Sauce. To make the morel mushroom beurre blanc, in a separate pan while preparing the basic beurre blanc sauce, saute' one cup of a clean sliced morel mushrooms in two tablespoons of butter on high heat. Cook until mushrooms have caramelized slightly and cooked through.  Set aside the sauteed mushrooms and allow to cool to room temperature. When the beurre blanc is completed, stir in the sauteed morels.

note: I like to include black peppercorns in the beurre blanc, especially with the mushrooms, they are to be strained out with the shallots. 

Good wines for the reduction (or au sec, meaning "nearly dry") include Chablis, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, but any drinkable dry white will do. For a deliciously luxurious beurre blanc, try making it with leftover Champagne.

Tip: Cold butter keeps the beurre blanc emulsion from breaking.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup dry white wine
½ cup white wine vinegar
1 Tbsp finely chopped shallot
1 lb unsalted butter, cold
Kosher salt, to taste

Preparation:
Heat wine, vinegar and shallots in a saucepan until the liquid boils, then lower the heat a bit and continue simmering until the liquid has reduced down to about 2 tablespoons. This should take about 10 minutes.

While the liquid reduces you can cut the butter into medium (½-inch) cubes, but either leave this until the reduction is nearly finished or return the butter cubes to the refrigerator to keep them cold while the liquid finishes reducing.

Once the wine-vinegar mixture has reduced to 2 tablespoons, reduce the heat to low and start adding the cubes of butter, one or two at a time, and whisk rapidly with a wire whisk.

As the butter melts and incorporates, add more butter and keep whisking. Continue until you only have 2-3 cubes remaining. Remove from heat while whisking in the last few cubes, and whisk for a moment or two more. The finished sauce should be thick and smooth.

Season to taste with Kosher salt. Traditionally the shallots would be strained out before serving, but doing so is optional. Serve right away.

Makes 2 cups of beurre blanc sauce.