Introduction to

Sauces

At the completion of this lesson, the student will be able to discuss the different types of Starches and methods of cooking and the method to prepare a White Sauce.

Topic Learning Objective

SaucesCream or white sauce, medium sauces are

used to bind ingredients together in scalloped meat, fish egg, and vegetable dishes• Made with butter, flour, milk• Cooked over low heat and stirred constantly

Butter Sauces, white or cream sauces with a high % of butter and little or no seasoning other than salt• Used with green veggies, and with fish and shellfish• Hollandaise Sauce

Other Sauces:• Pizza, tomato, Creole, sweet and sour, tartar sauce,

bar-b-que.

SaucesStandards for preparing a good sauce

• Should not over power the flavor of food it accompanies• Should be of proper consistency• Should be thoroughly cooked

Starches in cooking

Used as a thickening agent.What are the different types of starches?• Cornstarch• Flour

Chemical Properties

Actual thickening process caused by starch granules swelling up.

The correct quantity of water (or fat) is necessary when adding to starches.• Ensures correct food consistency• Eliminates lumping• Prevents thickened liquids from reverting to liquid form after cooking

Starch GranulesHeating temperatures

• Cornstarch and flour mixtures start to thicken at 144 to 162 deg F. These starches complete the final thickening process at 205 deg F.

Cooking times• Under cooking does not allow starches to reach their

maximum thickening capability.Other ingredients

• High amounts of acid in food may prevent starches from setting and may curdle.

Guidelines for preparing sauces and gravies with a Roux

Roux is a cooked mixture of equal parts by weight of fat and flour

Fat types:• Clarified butter – for a finer sauce, good flavor (what

is clarified butter?• Margarine: widely used in place of butter because of

its lower cost, inferior flavor, not as fine a sauce, quality varies

• Animal fats: chicken fat, beef drippings, lard, can be used when their flavor is appropriate to the soup or sauce, when properly utilized, can enhance flavor

• Vegetable oil and shortening: not preferred because they add no flavor

FlourFlour thickening power depends on starch content,

bread flour has less starch and more protein than cake flour

Sometimes browned dry in the oven for use in brown roux, but has only one-third the thickening power of un-browned flour

Produces an opaque (not allowing light to pass through) gel.

Same procedures apply in cooking as in other starches: Proper temperature, time & mixing

CornstarchProduces a product that is almost clear with a glossy

texture, Paste is clear or translucent (permits light to pass through but not clearly)

Only half as much cornstarch as flour is required – has twice the thickening power

Corn starch is more desirable for use in dessert sauces (cherry sauce, pineapple sauce, etc.) Pie fillings (chocolate, cherry, apple, etc.)

Mix cornstarch in cold liquids stirring until smooth before adding it to a hot liquid. Eliminates lumping. Stir continuously during cooking to achieve maximum

thickness, simmer until liquid turns clear and no starchy taste

Excessive boiling will break down the starch and thin out the product.

RouxIngredient Proportions: A well-made roux should be

stiff, not runny or pour able. Using excess fat increases the cost of roux and allows

the excess to rise to the top of the soup or sauce which makes the product look and taste greasy.

Preparing Roux: Roux must be cooked so that the finished product does not have the raw starchy taste of the flour.

RouxWHITE ROUX: Cooked for only a few minutes, just enough to

cook out the raw taste of the flour. Once the white roux has a frothy, chalky, slightly gritty appearance the cooking is stopped before it begins to color. White roux is used as a thickening agent for products based on milk.

BLOND ROUX: Also known as a pale roux is cooked a little longer just until the roux begins to change to a slightly darker color. Blond roux is used for products based on white stocks and results in a pale ivory color for the finished product.

BROWN ROUX: Brown roux is cooked until it takes on a light brown color with a nutty aroma and has the consistency of beach sand. This roux is cooked slowly over low heat to allow easy browning without scorching. For a deeper brown roux the flour may be browned in the oven before adding the fat.

RouxBasic Procedure for Roux Preparation

1.Melt fat. 2.Add equal amounts of flour, stirring until fat and flour

are thoroughly mixed 3.Cook to require degree for white, blond, or brown roux.

NOTE: Cooking is done in a heavy bottomed saucepan on top of the stove and stirred constantly for even cooking. Use low heat for brown roux, moderate heat for white or blond roux.

RouxCombining roux and liquid to achieve a

smooth, lump-free product is a skill that takes practice to master.

Liquid may be added to roux, or roux may be added to liquid.

“Mother Sauces”Also called Grand Sauces. These are the five most basic

sauces that every cook should master. Antonin Careme, founding father of French "grande cuisine," came up with the methodology in the early 1800's by which hundreds of sauces would be categorized under five Mother Sauces, and there are infinite possibilities for variations, since the sauces are all based on a few basic formulas. Sauces are one of the fundamentals of cooking. Know the basics and you'll be able to prepare a multitude of recipes like a professional. Learn how to make the basic five sauces and their most common derivatives. The five Mother Sauces are:

Bechamel Sauce (white) Veloute Sauce (blond) Brown (demi-glace) or Espagnole Sauce Hollandaise Sauce (butter) Tomato Sauce (red)

Making the Sauce from Roux Béchamel Sauce or White Sauce

1. USE A HEAVY BOTTOMED SAUCEPOT: Prevent scorching to either the roux or the stock.

2. COOL ROUX: Once the roux is made remove it from the fire to cool slightly.

3. POUR LIQUID SLOWLY: Beat vigorously to prevent lumping. If the liquid is hot the starch will gelatinize quickly. If the liquid is cool it can be added slowly to dissolve the roux before adding the remaining liquid.

4. BRING LIQUID TO A BOIL: Continue to beat well as roux does not reach its full thickening power until near the boiling point.

5. SIMMER THE PRODUCT: Simmer product until all the starchy taste of the flour has been cooked out.

6. FINISHING THE PRODUCT: When product is finished, keep it hot or cooled for later use. Either way it should be covered or should have a thin film of butter melted on the top to prevent a skin formation.

Making the Sauce from RouxProportions Of Roux To Liquid in White Sauce or

Béchamel sauce

Croquette: A small cake of minced food, such as poultry, vegetables, or fish, that is usually coated with bread crumbs and fried in deep fat.

Use Type Fat Flour Liquid Other

Base for soups and creamed veggies

Thin 1 T 1 T 1 c ¼ t. saltDash pepper

Base for sauces, scalloped, creamed dishes

Medium

2 T 2 T 1 c ¼ t. saltDash pepper

Soufflé, croquettes

Thick 3 T 4 T (¼ c.) 1 c ¼ t. saltDash pepper

Cheese Sauce from White SauceCheese Sauce:• Start with medium white sauce, add 1 cup shredded

sharp American cheese, stirring to melt• Or add 2/3 c shredded American cheese and 2/3 c

shredded Swiss cheese• Add cooked pasta• Natural cheese gives a grainy texture and stringy

appearance, process cheese gives a smooth sauce

Other ThickenersSlurry:A thin mixture of flour and cold water (milk) products made with

a slurry have neither as good a flavor nor as fine a texture as those made with roux. Frequently used for gravies

Breadcrumbs and other crumbs: Will thicken a liquid very quickly because they have already

been cooked, like instant starches. Crumbs may be used when smoothness of texture is not desired. A common example is the use of gingersnap crumbs to thicken sauerbraten gravy.

Adapted from:Whatscookingamerica.netwww.uscg.mil/mlclant/KDiv/docs/RLESSON26.ppt www.doe.in.gov/octe/facs/CAF-LessonPlanForRoux.doc