Brown Butter Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Place vinegar in a large, heatproof bowl.
• Place butter and cream in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk constantly until mixture thickens to consistency of mayonnaise and the milk solids separate out and float to the top, about 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to the bowl of a food processor and process for 20 seconds to break up solids. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until it becomes a deep brown, about 3 minutes.
• Add mixture to vinegar (it will foam up). Add salt and swirl bowl to combine; set aside.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, but don't shake it fully dry.
• In a skillet or Dutch oven large enough to hold the pasta (and preferably with a light-colored bottom so you can see the butter solids brown), melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden-brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it does not burn. If it does, start over.) Remove from heat immediately.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the brown butter. Stir in the cheese until melted. Stir in pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the pasta is glossy with sauce (you probably won't need the full 1/2 cup).
• Serve with black pepper and more Parmesan on top.

Steps:

• In a large, heavy frying pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat until pale golden, about 4 minutes. Add the sage or basil leaves and cook until crisp, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and the nutmeg. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and serve.