sauce espagnole

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Word: Sauce Espagnole

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition:
Sauce Espagnole is a type of brown sauce in French cooking. It is made from a base of beef stock or bouillon, thickened with a mixture of butter and flour called a roux. It often includes seasonings such as herbs and Worcestershire sauce, along with tomatoes and a caramelized mix of minced carrots, onions, and celery. Sometimes, a bit of Madeira wine is added for extra flavor.

Usage Instructions:

• In Cooking: Sauce Espagnole is often used as a base for other sauces, like demi-glace, and can be served with meats or used in various recipes. It adds a rich flavor to dishes.

Example:

• "The chef prepared a delectable beef stew, simmering it in a sauce espagnole to enhance the taste."

Advanced Usage:

• Culinary Techniques: Understanding how to make sauce espagnole can help you create more complex sauces. It is a fundamental sauce in classical French cuisine and is used as a base for many other sauces.
• In Restaurant Menus: You might see dishes described as being served with sauce espagnole, indicating the type of sauce used to enhance the meal.

Word Variants:

• Related Sauces: Demi-glace (a sauce made from sauce espagnole and stock), and other mother sauces in French cuisine.

Different Meanings:

• Culinary Context: It specifically refers to this particular type of brown sauce.
• General Use: The term "sauce" alone can refer to any liquid used to enhance the flavor of food, such as tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, or soy sauce.

Synonyms:

• Brown sauce
• Espagnole sauce (often just referred to as "Espagnole")

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "sauce espagnole," the word "sauce" can appear in phrases like "sauce it up," meaning to add more flavor or excitement to something.

Summary:

Sauce Espagnole is an important sauce in French cuisine known for its rich flavor and versatility.

Academic

Noun

1. bouillon or beef stock thickened with butter and flour roux and variously seasoned with herbs or Worcestershire etc.
2. brown sauce with tomatoes and a caramelized mixture of minced carrots and onions and celery seasoned with Madeira

Synonyms

• brown sauce
• sauce Espagnole
• Espagnole