How to Make Basic Sauces

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (5 Ratings)

Basic sauces are the foundation for many recipes, and learning to make them is an important cooking skill. Once you master the basic sauces, you can vary the ingredients and create many distinctive sauces to bring out the best in almost any recipe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

3 cups meat or chicken stock
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup dry sherry or wine
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
1/4 tsp. pepper
Salt to taste

Basic Tomato Sauce

Step 1

Put the olive oil in a saucepan and heat it over low heat.
Step 2

Add the onion and garlic and cook until barely soft, stirring constantly.
Step 3

Add the tomato paste and cook, continuing to stir occasionally, for two minutes.
Step 4

Fill the tomato paste can about half-full with water and add it to the mixture. Fill the can to the top, for a thinner sauce.
Step 5

Crush the canned tomatoes and add them to the mixture. Bring it to a boil, stirring often.
Step 6

Add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 7

Lower heat and allow the mixture to simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.

Basic White Sauce (Bechamel)

Step 1

Mix all ingredients except butter with a mixer, blender or whisk.
Step 2

Cook the mixture in a saucepan over low heat.
Step 3

Stir the mixture constantly until thick.
Step 4

Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Basic Hollandaise Sauce

Step 1

Whisk the eggs yolks and lemon juice in a double boiler until the mixture has thickened and is approximately double in volume.
Step 2

Add water to the bottom of the double boiler and heat it to a simmer. Continue to whisk the mixture in the double boiler. Cook gradually, and don't let the eggs to get too hot, or they will scramble.
Step 3

Pour the melted butter into the mixture very slowly, whisking until the mixture is again doubled in volume.
Step 4

Remove mixture from heat and whisk in salt and cayenne.
Step 5

Keep the Hollandaise sauce warm and covered, until ready to use.