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Sauces, pastes & condiments · Stocks & sauce bases

Espagnole sauce

Classical French brown sauce: brown stock thickened with brown roux and simmered with mirepoix and tomato; the base of demi-glace.

Also called: sauce espagnole, espagnole sauce, classical brown sauce

1 recipe with it

What it is

One of the classical French mother sauces. Brown (veal or beef) stock is thickened with a nut-brown roux and simmered for hours with browned onion, carrot, celery, tomato and herbs, then strained until glossy and nappe. It is rarely served on its own; it is reduced with more stock to make demi-glace, which underpins many classic meat sauces.

How it’s used

  • Reduced with brown stock into demi-glace
  • Base for sauces bordelaise, chasseur, Robert and poivrade
  • Added to braises and stews for body

Characteristics

Taste
Deeply savoury and roasted, with a mild sweetness from the vegetables and tomato.
Texture
Smooth and glossy, coating a spoon; sets to a jelly when cold if made with gelatinous stock.
Appearance
Dark mahogany brown and opaque.
When cooked
Thickens further as it reduces; reheats well with a splash of stock.
Sold as
liquid, frozen
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked
Common in
French

Storage

Refrigerated. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze in portions for 3 months.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Wheat, Gluten, Milk. May contain Celery — check the label.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains wheat (gluten) and milk from the butter roux.
  • Cool quickly and refrigerate within 2 hours.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
53 kcal
Protein
3.75 g
Carbohydrate
4.81 g
Fat
2.36 g
Fibre
0.4 g
Sugars
0.21 g

USDA FoodData Central: Gravy, beef, canned, ready-to-serve (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Reduced brown stock thickened with cornflour — Simmer good stock with browned vegetables and tomato paste, reduce, then thicken lightly; quicker but less rich.

Related ingredients

Recipes with espagnole sauce