A red wine reduction is a sauce that is made with beef broth, aromatic vegetables and, of course, red wine. It is used to accompany steaks and roasts, making the dish tastier and richer; the alcohol evaporates during cooking. Read on to learn how to make a perfect steak reduction.
Steps
Step 1. Heat the pan
Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat and heat it for 1-2 minutes
Step 2. Add the oil
Pour it into the pot and distribute it evenly on the bottom, tilting the pan; let it warm up for 2-3 minutes
Step 3. Brown the vegetables
- Add the chopped garlic and onion to the hot oil, cooking them for 3-4 minutes or until soft and starting to become translucent; stir constantly to cook the vegetables evenly.
- If the garlic and onion start to burn or emit a bitter smell, lower the heat; this is a sign that the pan is too hot and the vegetables are burning, altering the final flavor of the sauce.
Step 4. Simmer the broth
- Pour it into the saucepan. Use a spoon or whisk to scrape all the bits off the bottom of the pan and add them to the broth.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan and let the broth simmer for 20 minutes; when finished, the liquid volume should be halved.
Step 5. Add the wine while stirring
Incorporate it into the reduced broth and mix to even out the mixture
Step 6. Let the sauce simmer
Cover the saucepan and let its contents cook for another 20 minutes. After the first 10 minutes, stir the liquid to make sure it does not stick to the bottom, in the meantime its volume should have reduced by a third
Step 7. Check the consistency of the sauce
Dip a spoon and turn it upside down. The reduction has reached the correct consistency when it covers the back of the spoon by "glazing" it with a thin layer instead of running off; if the sauce is too runny, let it simmer for another 10 minutes
Step 8. Flavor to your taste
Step 9. Conclude the preparation by adding salt and pepper
Serve it alongside your favorite steak or roast.