Sauce Base for Steak Sauces

By lorik

The sauce base recipe yields more than called for in the steak recipe; leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to one month. Our preferred brands of beef broth are Rachael Ray Stock-in-a-Box and College Inn Bold Stock.

Ingredients

• Base:
• 1 small onion, peeled and cut into rough 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 small carrot, peeled and cut into rough 1/2-inch pieces
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed and caps wipes clean and halved
• 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 8 ounces 85 percent lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth (see note)
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
• 2 packages (5 teaspoons) unflavored powdered gelatin
• Herb Sauce:
• 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/4 cup Sauce Base (1/2 recipe, see related content)
• 1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh chives
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Table salt and ground black pepper
• Brandy and Green Peppercorn Sauce:
• 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup Sauce Base (1/2 recipe, see related content)
• 1/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons green peppercorns, rinsed
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• Table salt and ground black pepper
• Port Sauce:
• 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup ruby port
• 1/4 cup Sauce Base (1/2 recipe, see related content)
• 1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Table salt and ground black pepper

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from cooksillustrated.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Process onion, carrot, mushrooms, and garlic in food processor into 1/8-inch pieces, 10 to 12 one-second pulses, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

2. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering; add beef and tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until beef is well browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add vegetable mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until any exuded moisture has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Add wine and bring to simmer, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Add beef broth, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns; bring to boil. Reduce heat and gently boil, occasionally scraping bottom and sides of pot and skimming fat from surface, until reduced to 2 cups, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer set over small saucepan, pressing on solids with rubber spatula to extract as much liquid as possible (you should have about 1 cup stock). Sprinkle gelatin over stock and stir to dissolve. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring stock to boil. Gently boil, stirring occasionally, until reduced to ½ cup, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

Herb Sauce:
Return now-empty skillet from cooking steaks to medium-low heat; add shallot and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add wine and bring to simmer, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Add 1/4 cup Sauce Base, vinegar, and any accumulated juices from steak; return to simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Off heat, whisk in chives, parsley, tarragon, and butter; season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks and serve immediately.

Brandy and Green Peppercorn Sauce:
Return now-empty skillet from cooking steaks to medium-low heat; add shallot and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add wine and bring to simmer, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Add 1/4 cup Sauce Base, vinegar, and any accumulated juices from steak; return to simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Off heat, whisk in heavy cream, green peppercorns, and fresh thyme, season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks and serve immediately.

Port Sauce:
Return now-empty skillet from cooking steaks to medium-low heat; add shallot and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add wine and bring to simmer, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Add 1/4 cup Sauce Base, vinegar, and any accumulated juices from steak; return to simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Off heat, whisk in fresh thyme, and butter; season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks and serve immediately.