How to Make Bordelaise Sauce

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(16)

This bordelaise sauce is a simple version of the classic French red wine and shallot reduction sauce. It's fantastic on a steak, roast beef, or whatever!

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Close up on a sauce boat of bordelaise sauce with a spoonful dripping back down into the boat.
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
1 cup
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 teaspoon butter

  • 4 large shallots, peeled and sliced

  • 1 pinch salt

  • 1 cup red wine

  • 2 cups veal stock

  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make bordelaise sauce.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add shallots and a pinch of salt; cook and stir shallots until caramelized and browned, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Shallots caramelizing in a saucepan of butter.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Add red wine and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; cook until wine is nearly evaporated and pan juices are thick and slightly syrupy. Watch carefully as the mixture burns easily. Add veal stock, return to a simmer, and cook until reduced by half and sauce is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

    Red wine being added to saucepan.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

    Everything simmering together.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Pour sauce through a fine mesh strainer set over a container. Tap the strainer with a spoon while straining and squeeze out the last remaining drops of sauce from the residue. Season sauce to taste with salt and black pepper.

    Sauce being poured through a fine mesh strainer.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Close up on a sauce boat of bordelaise sauce with a spoonful dripping back down into the boat.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Recipe Tip

Don't use cooking wine; don't use good wine, either. Just get a nice bottle of wine, something you would drink.

27 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

82 Calories
1g Fat
9g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 82
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 40mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g 5%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 234mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.