Au jus may sound a daunting thing to make, but you might be surprised by just how easy this rich sauce is to recreate in your kitchen. Take your meat to the next level with this superb savory juice, which is the perfect way to bump up the flavor and succulence of any dish.
How To Make Au Jus Sauce
You will need:
- Butter: many au jus recipes call for beef drippings, but you can make this delicious sauce with butter instead if you prefer. This ingredient gives it a creamy, salty flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: this is the perfect way to make a sauce taste rich and meaty, so make sure you have some to hand.
- All-purpose flour: this helps the sauce to thicken nicely. You can also make au jus with alternative flours to suit dietary needs.
- Beef broth: you need a meaty liquid that will make this sauce thin enough to pour like a gravy.
- Red wine: this isn’t a crucial ingredient so don’t worry if you don’t have it, but it will help to boost the flavors and richness of the sauce.
Au Jus Sauce Recipe
Course: SauceCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings5
minutes10
minutes62
kcalHow do you make incredible au jus at home? It’s easier than you might expect, so try this simple recipe today.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
4 tablespoons of butter
2 cups of beef broth
2 tablespoons of flour (all-purpose)
Salt and pepper
¼ cup of red wine
Directions
- Place a saucepan over a medium high heat, add your butter, and gently swirl it around in the pan until it has fully melted.
- Carefully sprinkle the flour into the butter, whisking to prevent it from turning lumpy. Mix well, until you have a smooth, thin paste. Cook for a minute or two to let the flour expand.
- Add the red wine to the mixture and whisk vigorously. Your sauce should thicken and become gooey, and it will turn purple-y brown.
- Continue cooking this mixture over a medium heat until the smell of alcohol has faded. This should take around 2 minutes.
- Pour half a cup of the beef stock into the mixture, and whisk thoroughly to combine it with the other ingredients.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, and then slowly whisk in the remaining beef stock, a little at a time.
- Increase the stove heat to bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring regularly. Boil it for five minutes so that the sauce thickens gently, and then turn off the heat and season if necessary. Serve alongside your favorite meat and enjoy!
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Tips & Tricks
Let’s now look at some top tips for making your au jus sauce outstanding.
- To make this sauce even more flavorful, grind up some porcini mushrooms and add them to your sauce. This adds an amazing depth and richness to the sauce, and surprisingly, does not make it taste of mushrooms! Stir them into the sauce once they are finely mashed, and they will take it to the next level.
- You don’t need to use high quality red wine for the sauce, but don’t choose the cheapest option. Go for something in the middle.
- If you want to make au jus with beef drippings instead of butter, simply use the same amount (4 tablespoons) and leave the butter out. This will give you a meatier flavor and is generally considered the better way to make au jus if you have access to beef drippings.
- Try drizzling the sauce over beef and noodles to make the noodles succulent and juicy. It can also be used to glaze prime rib, or for French Dip Sandwiches. Alternatively, dip some fries into it, or experiment with roast chicken.
- If you like a little bit more bite to your meals, consider adding a little Dijon mustard and some crushed garlic. You can make au jus recipes as complicated as you like by adding new ingredients, or you can keep things simple using just the basic recipe above.
- Whisk the au jus steadily while it is cooking, or it may turn lumpy. This is a hands-on recipe, but doesn’t take too long to make.
FAQs
How do you make au jus gluten free?
You can simply swap the all-purpose flour for any gluten free flour blend. Make sure your Worcestershire sauce is also gluten free, as some brands contain wheat.
Do you have to use meat for au jus?
You do need meat stock to make good au jus, even if you skip the beef drippings. The sauce will still be edible if it is made with vegetable stock rather than meat stock, but it will lack flavor. You should add other herbs and spices to make up for this if you really want to make a vegetarian version of this sauce.
How was au jus invented?
Au jus means “with juice,” and it’s likely that it was invented as a means of using up the meaty juices that are produced when meats (especially beef) are cooked. These juices, which are brimming with flavor, would otherwise be wasted.
Where did French Dip Sandwiches come from?
These sandwiches were supposedly invented by a chef, who accidentally dropped a roast beef sandwich into a pan of drippings. This sandwich was so popular that it became the basis for the French Dip Sandwich, which is dipped in au jus before being eaten. Note that despite its name, this sandwich was invented in Los Angeles.
How long will au jus keep for?
As long as it is in an airtight container in the refrigerator, au jus should last for about 3 or 4 days. If you aren’t going to use it up within that amount of time, consider freezing it instead to reduce the risk of waste.
Conclusion
Au jus may sound and taste super fancy, but it’s amazingly simple to make at home. All you need to do is cook some meat broth, butter, flour, and flavorings, and you’ll have a rich, succulent sauce to slather over meat or use for dipping.
