Description
Rich, savory au jus sauce amplifies roast beef’s deep flavor profile with minimal ingredients and maximum impact. Culinary enthusiasts savor this classic French accompaniment, promising a simple yet sophisticated enhancement to your favorite meat dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein Ingredient:
- 1 cup beef drippings
- 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
Flavor Enhancers:
- ¼ cup red wine or dry sherry
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon (tsp) garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon (tsp) onion powder
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Thickening Agents (Optional):
- 1 teaspoon (tsp) cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) water
Instructions
- Prepare a medium saucepan and warm the beef drippings or butter over medium heat, carefully lifting any caramelized remnants from the pan surface to enhance the foundational flavor profile.
- Pour red wine or dry sherry into the heated pan, allowing the liquid to reduce and concentrate its aromatic essence for 1-2 minutes while gently stirring.
- Incorporate beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder into the pan, creating a harmonious liquid base that will develop complex flavor dimensions.
- Gently elevate the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the ingredients to intermingle and develop depth for approximately 5-7 minutes, periodically tasting to assess the emerging flavor balance.
- Consider creating a cornstarch slurry if a more velvety consistency is desired, whisking the mixture into the simmering liquid and continuing to cook until the sauce reaches a subtle thickening point.
- Position a fine mesh sieve over a serving vessel, carefully straining the Au Jus to ensure a smooth, refined texture that will complement roasted meats or provide an exceptional dipping experience for sandwiches.
- Transfer the strained liquid to a warmed serving container, maintaining its temperature and ensuring the sauce remains ready to enhance the accompanying protein with its rich, savory character.
Notes
- Capture maximum flavor by using homemade beef drippings from roasted meat, which intensifies the rich, meaty taste profile.
- Experiment with different wine varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir to create unique depth and complexity in the sauce.
- Transform this classic Au Jus into a gluten-free version by using cornstarch carefully and selecting gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Create a lighter, healthier alternative by substituting butter with olive oil and using low-sodium beef broth to reduce overall salt content.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg