CLASSIC MADEIRA SAUCE
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
2 medium onions, diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
3 large sprigs fresh parsley
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unbleached flour
3 cups beef stock
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons brandy
¼ cup Madeira
sea salt to taste
freshly ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. Melt the butter, add the onions, carrots, parsley and thyme.
Sauté until they are very dark and caramelized. This will take about 30 minutes
During the last 10 minutes of cooking add the sugar to promote the browning.
2. Stir in the flour and cook on low heat for about 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Whisk in the stock, tomato paste and the bay leaf. Let the sauce simmer for
about 15 minutes with the lid off, stirring occasionally.
4. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve, pushing very hard on the
vegetables so that you extract all the flavor. Return the sauce to the pot and finish with the brandy and Madeira.
5. Adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. Serve this sauce with any grilled poultry
or meat dish.Makes 3 cups.
