One of the
mother french sauces, also known as the
brown sauce. This one is very
delicate and not often used alone, it is typically the basis of other sauces. As is, it is best served with
red meats. And of course, this is just how I make it, there is no "correct"
recipe.
Heat the oil in a sauce
pan and add the onion, cook until brown. Add the carrot and celery and cook several minutes until
softened. Add the
tomato paste and cook about 5 minutes. You want to
carmelize the natural sugars in the paste, so look for it to get a deeper
brownish color. In a second pan, combine the 1/2 C flour and 1/2 C oil to make a
roux. Cook approximately 5 minutes, we want a blond roux which should be light in
color. Meanwhile, add stock to the vegetables and bring to a
simmer. Add a small amount of the stock mixture to the roux and combine so that there are no
lumps, then add the roux to the stock.
Whisk well to combine and return to a simmer.
Next, you'll want to add spices. Since this is a delicate smooth sauce, you should put your spices in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it up so that the pieces can be easily removed. Use what you like, I'd suggest 1 teaspoon parsley, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1 bay leaf, 6 peppercorns, 1 smashed clove garlic, and a sprig of rosmary. Add spices to the sauce, and simmer for 1 hour. Skim any fat off the top if needed. Remove the spice ball, and strain the sauce through cheesecloth.