Brown Sauce Recipes

HOMEMADE BROWN SAUCE

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan with 150ml cold water and 1 tsp salt. Cover the surface with baking parchment. Simmer over a low heat for 50 mins until the fruit softens. Cool for 30 mins.
• Transfer to a blender and blend, then decant into containers while warm. Seal and store in the fridge. Will keep for up to 2 months.

BASIC BROWN SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute onion in butter in a heavy skillet until onion is tender; discard onion. Cook butter over low heat until it begins to brown. Add flour, stirring until smooth ( I find that a whisk works best). Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add bouillon granules, and gradually stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in pepper. Serve with beef or pork.
• Bordelaise Sauce: Substitute 1/3 cup dry red wine for 1/3 cup of the water, and stir in 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes and 1/4 teaspoon dried whole thyme; increase pepper to 1/4 teaspoon.
• Mushroom Brown Sauce: Saute 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter; drain and stir into Basic Brown Sauce. Serve with beef.

BASIC BROWN SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the veal shank and knucklebones in a roasting pan, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 45 minutes. When the veal pieces are brown, brush them with 3 tablespoons of tomato paste and season again. Raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and return the pan to the oven for 15 more minutes. Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Saute the mirepoix vegetables and thyme in the butter to coat then stir in the remaining tomato paste and continue cooking until the vegetables are caramelized. Pour in the red wine to deglaze, stir. Transfer the browned bones to the stockpot. Whisk in the water and broth. Add the bouquet garni and bring the sauce to a boil. Simmer gently for about 3 hours, skimming periodically. Strain the sauce through cheesecloth or a chinois to remove the bones and vegetable solids. Continue to cook for 1 hour more, skimming any foam that rises to the top, until the sauce is reduced to 2 cups and nicely thickened. Taste for strength and seasoning. May whisk in a pat of softened butter to finish the sauce.
• Serve with meats or poultry.

BROWN SUGAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter or margarine. Add flour and salt; stir until smooth.
• Stir in brown sugar. Blend thoroughly and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles and is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in boiling water. Return to heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Add vanilla extract and stir until well blended. Serve hot.

ALL-PURPOSE STIR-FRY SAUCE (BROWN GARLIC SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine soy sauce, broth, rice wine, sugar, sesame oil and white pepper. (See note in intro about the soy sauce).
• Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup water.
• Heat a pan over high heat; add the cooking oil, swirling to coat; add the garlic and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds.
• Add the soy sauce mixture; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until the sauce boils and thickens.

QUICK BASIC BROWN SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauté the chopped shallots or scallions in the butter. Gradually add the wine and bouillon. Let it come to a boil and add the seasonings. Cook down for a few minutes. Add beurre manié to thicken to taste. Let simmer for a few minutes and strain.
• Variations
• Bordelaise Sauce: Add a little poached marrow to the brown sauce. Correct the seasoning and add a touch of chopped parsley.
• Sauce Diablé: Add 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and a few dashes Tabasco to the brown sauce. Stir well.
• Sauce Périgueux: Add finely chopped truffles to the brown sauce.

BROWN SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the chicken pieces into 2-inch lengths, leaving the skin on but discarding excess fat. Place the pieces in a heavy skillet and cook, without adding oil or other fat, about 30 minutes, stirring frequently. The chicken skin will give up its own fat. The pieces should be quite brown but not burned.
• Add the onions, carrots, celery, parsley sprigs, thyme and bay leaves and cook, uncovered, about 30 minutes longer, stirring frequently.
• Add the chicken broth, salt and pepper. Cook 20 minutes, stirring.
• Pour the mixture into a food press or food mill, pressing the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. There should be about 3 cups of sauce.
• Heat the butter in a skillet and add the shallots and livers. Cook, stirring and turning the livers often, about 2 minutes. Add the Cognac.
• Pour the sauce into the container of a food processor or electric blender and add the cooked livers and the foie gras. Blend as thoroughly as possible. Return the sauce to a saucepan and reheat gently. Do not overcook or the livers will become grainy. Add salt and pepper.

BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

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.

JUDY'S BROWN SAUCE

Steps:

• Working in batches, place the apples, plums and onions into the work bowl of a food processor, and grind until fine. Transfer the ground fruit and onions into a large pot, and stir in the malt vinegar, sugar, salt, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cayenne pepper until the mixture is well combined. Bring to a simmer over low heat, and simmer until brown and thickened, about 3 to 4 hours.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the sauce into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot, and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.