Sauce Espagnole

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 2

Savory Sauce Espagnole for Your Beef Dishes

by The Chefin Sauce

Prep

10 min

Cook

50 min

Ready In

60 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

Ingredients

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe

Calories

186

Sugar

Fat

14g

Sauce Espagnole, also known as Spanish sauce, is a classic French mother sauce that is rich, decadent, and perfect for beef dishes. It's a labor of love to make, but the end result is worth the effort. While it has 'Spanish' in its name, the sauce is actually of French origin and dates back to the 17th century. Its savory flavor is attributed to the use of brown stock and the long cooking time that allows the ingredients to meld together. Consider serving it over a perfectly cooked filet mignon, roasted vegetables, or mashed potatoes. This sauce is sure to impress any dinner guest.

Instructions

1.	In a large saucepan, cook the onion in bacon fat over medium-low heat until translucent.
2.	Add the flour, stirring constantly to make a roux. Cook for 5 minutes or until the roux turns light brown.
3.	Add the brown stock and cider, and whisk constantly until the mixture is smooth.
4.	Add cloves and sprigs of parsley, and let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5.	Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids.
6.	Add tomato puree and continue to cook the sauce for an additional 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld together. Serve immediately with your favorite beef dishes.

PROS

Sauce Espagnole is a classic French sauce that elevates any beef dish to the next level.
The rich sauce has a deep, complex flavor that comes from its long cooking time and the use of brown stock.

CONS

While delicious, Sauce Espagnole requires a lot of time and attention to prepare.
The sauce takes around an hour to cook, so it’s not the best option for a quick weeknight meal.
Additionally, the bacon fat in the recipe can make the sauce quite fattening if consumed in large quantities.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While Sauce Espagnole is not the healthiest sauce option, it does contain a good amount of iron and other minerals from the brown stock. However, due to its high-fat content, it’s best enjoyed in moderation.

	1 teaspoon onion , chopped
	3 tablespoons bacon fat
	2 tablespoons flour
	2 3/4 cups brown stock
	1/4 cup cider
	5 cloves
	2 sprigs parsley
	2 teaspoons tomato puree