Mouth-Watering Merlot Sauce for a Perfect Steak!
Hear ye, hear ye, for I bring to you a recipe so divine that it shall leave your taste buds singing praises. This recipe is a merlot sauce for steak that shall elevate the flavors of any beef dish and leave you feeling content with every bite.
As a lover of wine and an admirer of good food, I have curated a recipe that includes the perfect balance of flavors and ingredients to make your steak even more delectable. Red wines hint at sweetness, making them a perfect accompaniment for meats like beef. And merlot wine, in particular, includes a variety of full-bodied reds like cabernet sauvignon.
This easy-to-make wine reduction sauce includes ingredients like beef broth, red currant jelly, and thyme sprigs to amplify the depth of flavors in this dish. Within minutes, this sauce will add an extra layer of flavor to any cooked steak pan.
So summon your inner cook or chef and treat yourself with this flavorful merlot sauce. The recipe uses basic ingredients that are easy to find and instructions that are easy to follow. So let us not waste any more time, my friends – let us embark on this culinary adventure together!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Oh sweet heaven, I am ecstatic to present this recipe to you! If you’re a steak lover, let me tell you that this recipe will do things to your taste buds that you never thought possible. Trust me, when I say that once you try this Merlot sauce, you’ll never want your steak any other way again.
Picture this: a perfectly cooked steak covered in a luscious and velvety sauce made with red wine, butter, and beef broth. The subtle hint of sweetness from the red currant jelly and the savory flavor from the shallots and thyme sprigs make this sauce an absolute knockout. It’s the perfect balance of flavors that instantly transforms any steak into a gourmet meal.
What’s more, this recipe includes a variety of full-bodied reds such as cabernet sauvignon that pairs well with good steak. You can even use filet mignon or ribeye steak as a substitute in case you’re feeling extra fancy.
So if you’re looking to make any evening dinner or BBQ party even more special, we highly recommend making this Merlot sauce for your cooked steak pan!
Ingredient List
Here are all of the ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious merlot sauce:
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup shallots, finely chopped
- 2 cups merlot wine
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon red currant jelly
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For substitutions/variations:
- You can use other types of dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.
- If you don’t have red currant jelly, you can substitute it with black currant jelly or grape jelly.
- Instead of beef broth, you can use chicken broth or stock.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, be sure to use a gluten-free beef or chicken broth.
The Recipe How-To
Step 1: Gather the Ingredients
Before we start cooking, let’s make sure we have all the necessary ingredients. For this delicious Merlot Sauce recipe, we will need:
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1/4 cup of finely chopped shallots
- 3 cups of Merlot wine
- 1 cup of low-sodium beef broth
- 1/2 cup of red currant jelly
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs, or 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
Make sure to have all ingredients handy before starting the process.
Step 2: Create the Wine Reduction Sauce
The secret to a great Merlot Sauce is the wine reduction sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the 3 cups of Merlot wine and bring it to a simmer. Keep stirring occasionally until there’s only 1/2 cup left. This should take about 20 minutes.
Then add in the 1 cup of beef broth, 1/2 cup red currant jelly, and the fresh or dried thyme to the pan. Continue stirring frequently until the whole mixture is well combined.
Step 3: Cook Shallots and Finish Red Wine Reduction
In another pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped shallots into the melted butter and cook for about two minutes until softened.
Add in your wine reduction you cooked earlier into this pan and let it simmer for another five minutes until it has thickened.
Step 4: Add final touch ups
If you would like to intensify your flavor use salt and pepper to taste but make sure not to overdo it! Do a taste test first before adding extra salt or pepper.
Now that this delicious sauce is finished, it’s time to enjoy it with a nice cooked steak, perhaps ribeye or tenderloin.
Bon Appétit!
Substitutions and Variations
Altering the ingredients in any recipe can change the overall taste and texture of a dish. However, for this Merlot sauce recipe, some substitutions and variations are acceptable without compromising its key characteristics.
For example, instead of using beef broth, you can substitute it with chicken broth or a combination of the two. Red currant jelly could also be substituted with grape jelly or honey. In place of shallots, minced onions may be used as an alternative.
If you are looking for a non-alcoholic variation of this recipe, consider using grape juice in place of wine. The taste wouldn’t be exactly the same, but it still carries some sweetness that would do well with the red currant jelly.
For those who want to add more flavors to their Merlot sauce recipe, try adding mushrooms to your sauce. To do so, cook sliced mushrooms in some olive oil until golden brown then add them to your merlot reduction sauce mixture.
With the variations and substitutions mentioned above on ingredients, this recipe is flexible enough to accommodate different preferences without sacrificing its rich taste and texture.
Serving and Pairing
Gather around, dear food aficionados! Here’s where the magic happens, where the flavors you’ve carefully prepared and cooked come to life: the serving and pairing of this easy merlot sauce for steak.
First and foremost, let’s talk about what to serve with it. As you might have guessed from our list of ingredients, this merlot sauce is the perfect complement to a good steak. As far as cuts go, feel free to choose your favorite, be it ribeye steak, tenderloin or filet mignon. Personally, I find that a basic red like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot wine pairs particularly well with the depth and richness of this sauce.
But why stop there? Don’t just limit yourself to steak – this merlot sauce recipe can be versatile enough to match almost anything on your dinner table! Chicken, pork chops and even grilled vegetables are all perfect candidates to get dolloped with this wine reduction sauce. You can even add it into your BBQ sauce or mushroom sauce to elevate those dishes’ flavors.
When plating your dish, don’t forget to spoon some of that incredible merlot sauce over everything you’ve prepared. It will make all the difference in how your meal tastes and looks like. And for a final flourish, garnish with some fresh thyme springs.
Now that you know how to pair this sauce with different dishes let’s cheers to a great pairing and enjoy the complex flavours that our palates can live for!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
Lo and behold! The merlot sauce for steak recipe can also be made ahead of time. This makes it a perfect option if you want to impress your guests without stressing out on the day of the event. Any leftover sauce can also be stored properly to be used within a few days or weeks.
Once the sauce is finished, allow it to cool slightly and then transfer it to an airtight container. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to a month. If you’re reheating from frozen, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
When reheating the sauce, place it in a small pot over low heat and stir occasionally until it’s warmed through. Don’t forget to check the consistency; if it’s too thick, add some beef broth gradually while stirring until desired thickness.
To make things simpler, you can even make a big batch and freeze the excess. It’s an excellent safety net for those impromptu weeknight dinners that your family loves since you can simply thaw a cup or two of merlot sauce in no time.
Overall, this recipe is not just simple and effortless but also very convenient to prepare ahead of time.
Tips for Perfect Results
To ensure that your merlot sauce turns out perfectly, there are a few key tips to keep in mind.
Firstly, make sure to use a good quality merlot wine – this will have a significant impact on the flavor of your sauce. Look for a medium to full-bodied red with a hint of sweetness, such as a cabernet sauvignon. You can also experiment with other reds to find your favorite flavor combination.
When cooking the shallots, be sure to cook them down until they are caramelized and soft. This will help bring out their natural sweetness and add depth of flavor to the sauce.
It is important to let the wine reduction simmer for at least 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and create a rich, concentrated taste. Resist the temptation to rush this step, as it will enhance the overall taste of your sauce.
Another tip is to use low-sodium broth or stock to control the saltiness of your sauce. Because you are reducing the liquid down, it’s easy for flavors to concentrate and become too salty. If you need additional seasoning, always add more at the end once you’ve tasted the final product.
Lastly, if you want a thicker or thinner consistency for your sauce, you can adjust it by adding more or less butter or broth. Remember that when adding butter or cream to a wine reduction sauce, always remove from heat before doing so and stir well until fully incorporated.
With these tips in mind, your merlot sauce will come out beautifully every time!
FAQ
As a sommelier, I have encountered numerous questions from wine enthusiasts who love creating new wine and sauce pairings. In this section, I have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you navigate any queries you may have while preparing the Easy Merlot Sauce for Steak Recipe.
Is Merlot wine good with steak?
Merlot is an excellent wine that pairs seamlessly with various kinds of steaks, including ribeye. This steak is revered for its abundant juiciness and unmatched flavor.
What sauces are good with steak?
A list of eight different delicious sauces is provided below. These sauces include variations of BBQ, steak sauce, and herb-infused sauces that can be used to add flavor to dishes like grilled meats and vegetables.
What wine is best for steak wine sauce?
When it comes to making red wine sauce, dry red wines with a subtle sweetness work wonders, such as full-bodied options like cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and merlot. The plush texture of these wines lends the sauce a smooth consistency, making them ideal for pairing with a wide array of dishes.
How to make wine sauce after cooking the steak?
As a sommelier, I highly recommend adding a touch of elegance to your juicy steak by bringing a rich and bold red wine sauce to the table. Before diving in, reserve one tablespoon of the steak’s savory drippings and keep the pan over a medium flame. Then, mix in a generous helping of beef stock, balsamic vinegar, and fresh thyme sprigs, creating a heavenly aroma.
Watch and wait as the wine mixture reduces and thickens to a perfect consistency, usually around 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t forget to remove the thyme before letting the sauce simmer on low heat, ready to be drizzled over your mouth-watering steak. With this brilliant pairing, your taste buds are in for a treat.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this easy Merlot sauce recipe is a perfect addition to any steak dinner. The combination of red wine, beef broth, butter, and thyme sprigs create a delicious and savory sauce that adds a burst of flavor to cooked steaks. This recipe is also versatile, as you can use it for different types of steaks like filet mignon, ribeye, and tenderloin.
What I love most about this recipe is the use of red Merlot wine, which adds a hint of sweetness that perfectly compliments the richness of the steak. Additionally, red Merlot wine is a great pairing with full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, making it perfect for pairing with good steak.
Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or just want to enjoy a gourmet steak dinner at home, this Merlot sauce recipe will surely impress your guests or loved ones. So next time you cook up some steaks, consider trying this sauce recipe and see how it enhances the flavors of your dish. Bon appétit!
Easy Merlot Sauce for Steak Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) jar red currant jelly (get a "fancy" one if you can find it )
- 1/4 cup butter (or more, must be butter )
- 1/2 cup beef stock, not beef broth (store bought )
- 1 cup merlot
Instructions
- put all ingredients in a medium non stick sauce pan.
- bring to a boil and turn down to medium heat
- keep on medium heat for 10 minute
- sauce should reduce down to a syrup like sauce.
- pour over cooked steak of choice.