• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Low Carb Maven
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Amazon Shop
  • Low Carb Diet Beginners Guide
  • Low Carb Keto Food List
  • U.S. to Metric Baking Chart
Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce (brown butter)

By Kim Hardesty

Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce - tender asparagus with an easy brown butter Hollandaise sauce that’s made in a blender. An easy yet elegant side perfect for low carb diets.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This easy side of asparagus and Hollandiase Sauce is the perfect low carb side.

My aunt was the first person who served Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce to me. A talented gourmet cook, she delighted in serving great tasting food to family and friends. Her Hollandaise sauce was so perfect and rich with buttery flavor that it showed me how wonderful asparagus could be.

I'm sure my Aunt Persus used a traditional method for making Hollandaise sauce, where egg yolk and butter are whisked continuously over low heat until the eggs thicken and the butter emulsifies into a rich luscious sauce. It sounds easy - and it is, but I have scrambled my egg yolks many times over the years. Just a smidge too much heat or a moment of distraction can take a Hollandaise sauce from sublime to destruction! This recipe cheats by using a blender!

If you haven't made Hollandaise sauce in a blender then you are in for a treat. It’s as simple as adding hot melted butter to a slow-running blender containing egg yolks, lemon juice, and a little water. I’ve shared this recipe previously in my post on easy blender Hollandaise, but I decided to vary the recipe by browning the butter for this easy asparagus dish. Brown butter Hollandaise sauce anyone?

A top-down view of bright green steamed asparagus spears dressed with a rich yellow sauce of browned butter Hollandaise sprinkled with paprika arranged on a oval blue and white floral china plate.

As I’ve said, asparagus with Hollandaise sauce is a wonderfully elegant side dish. It’s perfect for a dinner party or for special meals at Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, or Mother’s Day. But, I hope you don’t save serving asparagus with Hollandaise sauce just for special occasions. It’s the perfect low carb side to serve with beef, lamb, or even chicken - any time of the year.

What makes this recipe special is browning the butter in a frying pan and then adding it to the egg yolks. I swear this is why my Aunt’s asparagus with Hollandaise was so delicious. Also, using a good quality butter like Finlandia or Plugra can really add to the richness and buttery taste. Since good quality European style butter is more expensive, I save that purchase for when I really want to impress.

A view from the tip end of steamed asparagus (showing purple and green variations in color) with brown butter Hollandaise and paprika on an oval blue and white floral china plate with a silver edge.

Let me talk about Hollandaise sauce for a minute. An acid is generally added to enhance the flavor of the sauce - lemon or white vinegar are traditional. Start with 1 teaspoon and only increase by ½ teaspoon at a time. The sauce should be balanced with the butter flavor predominant. The lemon should enhance but not overpower - it shouldn't be sour, but a little tartness is fine.

I like using salted butter in my Hollandaise and believe that it seasons the sauce perfectly. If you use unsalted, add a pinch of salt at a time until the sauce tastes “good”, but not salty. Adding a little cayenne pepper and white pepper to a Hollandaise sauce brings out a nice savory flavor. I add just a touch more seasoning when I plan to make the sauce for asparagus than I would for say poached eggs.

Enjoy!

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce is 2 net carbs per serving.

This easy side of asparagus and Hollandiase Sauce is the perfect low carb side.

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce - tender asparagus with an easy brown butter Hollandaise sauce that’s made in a blender. An easy yet elegant side perfect for low carb diets.
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 248kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • salt and pepper to taste

Hollandaise Sauce

  • 4 ounces salted butter
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1-2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (or white vinegar)
  • 1-2 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1-2 pinch white pepper

Instructions

Preparation:

  • If the asparagus is medium to large in thickness, cut 1 inch off of the bottoms and lightly peel the stalks with a vegetable peeler. I start about ⅓ from the top and continue to the bottom of each spear. If the asparagus is thin, hold a spear towards the bottom and bend it until it snaps. Cut the remaining spears to the same length. Separate the eggs, reserving the whites for another use.

Asparagus:

  • Place the asparagus in a microwave safe bowl and add 1 tablespoon of water. Cover with plastic wrap and cook at high power from 1 ½ - 2 ½ minutes depending on your microwave. Drain off the water and keep covered. Alternately, blanch the asparagus in boiling water until it is crisp tender, drain, and keep warm. 

Blender Hollandaise

  • Add the egg yolks, 1 tablespoon of water, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and the mustard to a blender. Place the lid on top and remove the middle piece. Place the butter in a medium to large frying pan and melt the butter over medium heat. Turn the heat up to medium high and gently swirl the pan every few moments. When the solids in the bottom of the pan just begin to turn brown, turn off the heat. Turn the blender on low and begin pouring the hot butter into the blender, leaving the brown solids behind in the pan. 
  • After the butter has been incorporated, add the cayenne pepper and white pepper and blend. Taste. Adjust seasoning with more acid, salt or pepper. Pour over the asparagus and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Notes

More butter, up to 2 ounces, can be added to the egg yolks if you prefer. 
-The sauce can be thinned out with more water, if needed, and I have seen some recipes call for heavy cream. 
-If you need to keep the sauce warm while cooking other dishes, it can be kept in a double boiler ( I use a bowl resting over a pot with about an inch of hot water in the bottom. I will periodically turn the heat between low and off to modulate the temperature.) for up to an hour. Make sure to whisk from time to time to prevent a skin from forming on the top and to prevent the sauce from getting too hot on the bottom of the bowl. 
-Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Reheat over a water bath just like mentioned above, stirring every few minutes until warmed through. Thin with water if needed. 
Nutrition Facts
Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 248 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Protein 4g8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Fiber: 1g

About Kim Hardesty

Kim is a self taught cook with over 30 years experience in the kitchen. She develops and tests low carb and keto recipes in her California home. She began her low carb journey in 2009 and at the urging of friends, started blogging in 2014. Kim shares delicious low carb and keto recipes no one would believe are sugar-free. Her recipes are featured in newsstand publications and on sites all over the internet.

View all posts by Kim Hardesty | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

More Side Dishes

  • keto cucumber salad in a bowl with blue napkin beside
    Keto Cucumber Salad
  • keto coleslaw
    Creamy Keto Coleslaw Recipe
  • Pan fried turnips in a cast iron pan with wooden spatula
    Pan Fried Turnips Recipe with Onions and Spinach
  • Bacon wrapped asparagus bundles with roasted lemons in a white serving dish
    Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
FREE EMAIL BONUS

How to Love Your Low Carb Keto Diet

Secrets, tips & recipes to keep you on track!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. linda m

    December 29, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    what would you serve with this...it sounds so good and I am gonna try it

    Reply
    • Kim Hardesty

      December 29, 2019 at 3:21 pm

      Hi Linda. This recipe goes well with any protein - steak, fish, poultry, pork, lamb or shellfish. -Kim

      Reply
  2. Kate

    December 24, 2018 at 11:04 pm

    Microwaving veggies depletes all nutritional value. It would be great if you could explain how to get nice tender asparagus spears without over or under cooking them. Thanks

    Reply
    • Kim

      December 25, 2018 at 6:57 am

      Thank you, Kate. I have made a note about adding the additional information to the post. Have a wonderful day! -Kim

      Reply
  3. Ioana

    May 10, 2018 at 3:34 am

    Sounds divine. I am a huge fan of brown butter coffee, but making hollandaise sauce with brown butter seems to be insanely delicious.

    Reply
    • Kim

      May 10, 2018 at 9:42 am

      It is, Ioana. The subtle nuttiness is nice. I'll have to try that browned butter coffee. -Kim

      Reply
  4. Vivian

    April 26, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    Another fantastic recipe! We loved this!! So easy to make and so delicious!! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Kim

      April 26, 2017 at 7:35 pm

      Hooray! So glad you liked it, Vivian. Enjoy your week. -Kim

      Reply
  5. Adina

    March 24, 2017 at 8:29 am

    I absolutely love this dish, it is one of my favorite asparagus dishes in spring. I don't normally like to use so much butter when cooking but I always make an exception when it comes to sauce hollandaise, it is heavenly!

    Reply
    • Kim

      March 24, 2017 at 8:33 am

      Thanks Adina. I don't typically make the sauce or use quite so much butter either, but will for a special occasion. It's luscious. Have a wonderful weekend. - Kim

      Reply
  6. Carole

    March 20, 2017 at 9:56 am

    James and I tried your Asparagus with Brown Butter Hollandaise last night and we both found it scrumptious. As you suggested the brown butter added a wonderful depth of flavor that isn't apparent in regular Hollandaise. It was rich, flavorful, and satiating, And because it's so quick and easy to prepare, it's a perfect accompaniment to either every day or special occasion meals. Thank you for your clever "hack."

    Reply
    • Kim

      March 20, 2017 at 3:01 pm

      Oh good, Carole, I'm so glad that you and James liked it. Even my husband, who is not an asparagus lover, ate several spears with the Hollandaise on it. I hope you are enjoying a nice Spring. Thinking of you. -Kim

      Reply
  7. Carole

    March 16, 2017 at 10:46 am

    What a BRILLIANT idea! I absolutely love browned butter and often use it by itself on veggies. This is a terrific idea that will help "up" the sumptuousness of the asparagus. Thanks for another fantastic recipe!

    Reply
    • Kim

      March 16, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      Thanks Carole. I hope you like it. I know you will let me know if I am off the mark or hit it out of the park! Have a wonderful rest of the week, my friend. -Kim

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Footer

As featured on: The Feed Feed, Men's Health, Bulletproof, Huffpost, Health, Delish, Brit + Co, County Living, BuzzFeed, The Diabetes Council, BuzzFeed, Greatist, Shape, Parade, Women's Health, Keto Summit

INFORMATION

Terms and Privacy
About
Contact
Low Carb Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Copyright © 2025 Low Carb Maven on the Foodie Pro Theme