Sauces: Veloute and Sauce Supreme Basics
Understanding the foundational sauces of French cuisine can elevate your cooking to new heights. Veloute and Sauce Supreme are two classic examples that demonstrate the elegance of simplicity. Veloute is a smooth, velvety sauce made from a white roux and stock, serving as a blank canvas for countless dishes. Sauce Supreme, a luxurious offshoot of Veloute, incorporates cream and Parmesan cheese to create a rich, creamy sauce perfect for coating pasta, vegetables, or meats. These sauces are not only delicious but also versatile, allowing home cooks to experiment and create their own culinary masterpieces. The art of making Veloute lies in mastering the roux—equal parts flour and butter cooked gently to remove the raw flour taste without browning. The stock is then gradually whisked in, ensuring a silky texture free of lumps. Sauce Supreme builds upon Veloute by adding richness through cream and depth with Parmesan, creating a sauce that's both indulgent and refined. Learning these techniques empowers you to control the consistency and flavor profile of your sauces. Whether you're aiming for a light coating on roasted vegetables or a decadent topping for chicken, mastering these sauces will undoubtedly enhance your culinary repertoire. Veloute is straightforward yet requires attention to avoid breaking the sauce, while Sauce Supreme demands precision in balancing its creamy components. Both sauces benefit from patience and gentle heat, ensuring they maintain their luxurious texture. By understanding the science behind these sauces, you'll be better equipped to troubleshoot and perfect them, ensuring your dishes are restaurant-worthy every time.
Notes
The science behind Veloute is simple: the starch in flour swells when heated with liquid, creating a thickening agent. Ensure your roux is smooth and well-cooked to avoid a raw flour taste. If your sauce breaks, it's often due to adding stock too quickly or at too high a temperature; temper the stock by heating it gently first. Sauce Supreme's creamy texture relies on gradual incorporation of dairy and cheese to prevent separation. Keep the heat low when adding cream and cheese to maintain a smooth consistency. Both sauces can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently over low heat, whisking constantly to restore the sauce's original texture.
Steps
- 1 Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- 2 Add 3 tablespoons of flour to the melted butter, whisking constantly to form a smooth roux.
- 3 Cook the roux for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to remove the raw flour taste.
- 4 Gradually whisk in 3 cups of hot chicken or vegetable stock, ensuring no lumps form.
- 5 Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
- 6 Season the Veloute sauce with salt and white pepper to taste.
- 7 For Sauce Supreme, stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and cook until heated through.
- 8 Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and incorporated.
- 9 Simmer gently for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent curdling.
Ingredients to explore
Aleppo Pepper
Aleppo pepper offers a harmonious balance of heat and sweetness, with a subtle fruity aroma reminiscent of sun-dried tomatoes and currants. Originating from the region around Aleppo, Syria, it has a fine, slightly coarse texture that shatters easily between fingers. Its mild yet complex flavor profile makes it a prized seasoning for enhancing dishes without overwhelming them. Valued for its versatility, it bridges the gap between spice and seasoning, bringing a touch of warmth and depth to a variety of cuisines.
Agave Nectar
A golden, velvety sweetener derived from the agave plant, offering a subtly sweet flavor with a smooth, syrup-like texture.
Recipes to try
Shrimp and Chorizo Rice Skillet
A zesty, one-pan wonder where plump shrimp and smoky chorizo mingle with fragrant rice, creating a fiesta in every bite.
Spicy Peanut Chicken Noodle Bowls
Creamy peanut sauce clings to tender chicken and chewy noodles in a vibrant, fiery bowl that's comfort food on steroids.