Sauces are very useful for flavoring meat and vegetable dishes. Find out how to prepare an onion sauce in a practical and fast way.
Ingrediants
Doses for 4 people
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2-3 onions cut into thin slices
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) of flour
- 60 ml of red wine
- 120 ml of broth (meat, vegetable or mushroom based)
- Salt and Pepper To Taste.
- 3 finely chopped garlic cloves (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Onion Sauce
Step 1. Take a large, thick-bottomed pot and melt the butter over medium heat
Wait for it to start bubbling and retreating.
Many cooks replace it with a mixture of butter and vegetable oil, believing this will raise the smoke point. This is actually not true, but doing this will lessen the burnt taste
Step 2. Add the onion and let it brown
If you want to flavor the sauce even more, take advantage of it to also incorporate the garlic and dried rosemary. Cook over medium-low heat for about 5 to 8 minutes: the ingredients should brown.
- Adding a pinch of salt removes moisture and improves the flavor of the sauce. However, cooking will take longer.
- If the sauce dries up, add some water.
Step 3. Cover the pot and caramelize over low heat
Check and stir the onions from time to time to prevent them from sticking to the bottom. After 10 minutes, they should have turned a deep brown, but not too dark. Also, they should have softened enough to crumble into small pieces.
Step 4. Bring the flame to medium heat and add the flour
Beat it with the other ingredients and cook for 1 or 2 minutes to incorporate well.
Step 5. Pour the red wine into the pot and let it simmer for a couple of minutes
Table wine allows you to obtain a much better taste than cooking wine.
Select a wine that goes well with the dish that accompanies the sauce. A full-bodied wine is recommended for red meats. For root vegetables, an earthy wine is recommended
Step 6. Pour in the broth of your choice and let it simmer until a thick consistency is obtained
If you want the sauce to be diluted, allow about 5 minutes or so. If, on the other hand, you want it to shrink and thicken, calculate 15.
If using fresh rosemary, incorporate it with the broth
Step 7. Taste the sauce and, if necessary, season with salt and pepper
You can also add a teaspoon of another ingredient, such as balsamic vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire or soy sauce.
Part 2 of 2: Variants
Step 1. Replace raw onions with caramelized onion chutney
Heat it and proceed immediately with the incorporation of the flour.
It is a good solution if you are using a thin pan that does not allow you to cook the onions evenly
Step 2. Add some mushrooms
Replace half of the onions with an equal amount of finely chopped mushrooms. Serve them with a steak.
Use mushrooms
Step 3. Make a sauce inspired by Indian cuisine
Spicy onion sauces form the basis of many Indian dishes. Try making your own by choosing the ingredients you prefer:
- Dice a large onion and cook it as illustrated in the first section of the article.
- Add the flavorings. Choose from minced garlic, ginger paste, sliced chillies and / or garam masala (spice mixture). Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Dice a large tomato and cook until it liquefies. Alternatively, add some vegetable broth.
- If you decide to use vegetable broth, prepare it with chopped carrots, peppers and celery. Add plenty of water and let the sauce boil for at least an hour, until it gets a thick consistency.
Advice
- The sauce can be stored in an airtight plastic bag. You can keep it in the freezer or refrigerator for 1 or 2 days. If you use vegetable broth, you can keep it longer. Before using it, put it in a saucepan to allow it to heat or thaw.
- Before serving, you can filter it. Do this in case the onions have burned.
