Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (2024)

by Erin

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Learn how to make Bordelaise sauce with this easy recipe. A classic French sauce that is tangy and flavorful. Perfect to drizzle on top of grilled steak or beef tenderloin.

Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (1)

Interested in more sauce recipes? Try out my Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe, Bearnaise Sauce Recipe or Butter Roasted Tomato Sauce.

Bordelaise sauce is a classic French sauce, much like Bearnaise sauce, usually made with red wine and shallots. Traditionally, this sauce uses dry red wine from the Bordeaux region in Southwest France. Bordeaux tend to be some of the most expensive wines in the world, however, and can be subbed with cabernet sauvignon or merlot.

This tangy and savory sauce is perfection drizzled on top of sous vide ribeye steak, Traeger smoked steak or filet mignon. (Just a small portion goes a long way!) It is also an excellent addition to roasted or crispy smashed potatoes.

This particular recipe does not go the traditional route with bordelaise sauce – using veal or marrow. Preferring to use beef bone broth or stock instead. This makes the recipe not only quicker to make but it also does not lose any flavor.

Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (2)

What is needed for bordelaise sauce?

  • Dry red wine – Here are my 13+ favorite red wines for cooking.
  • Minced shallots
  • Dried thyme
  • Bay leaf
  • Beef bone broth or stock
  • Melted butter
  • All-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt and pepper
Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (3)

How to make bordelaise sauce:

To a small saucepan, add wine, shallots, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reduces by half, about 10 minutes.

Add the broth and bring to a boil again. Continue cooking until this mixture reduces by half, 15-20 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. Return the strained sauce to the saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and flour until smooth. Add this mixture to the saucepan and whisk until thickened. Enjoy immediately.

Recipe notes:

  • This recipe is non-traditional, since we are not using veal or demi glace.
  • Sauce can be reheated over medium-low.
Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (4)

What to serve with bordelaise sauce:

  • Sous Vide Ribeye Steak
  • Air Fryer Filet Mignon
  • Sous Vide Filet Mignon
  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
  • Traeger Steak

What to serve with steak:

  • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
  • Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
  • Glazed Carrots
  • Roasted Miso Cauliflower
  • Easy Arugula Salad
  • MORE —> 50+ of the best sides for steak

Wine pairings for steak with bordelaise sauce:

  • Bordeaux
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot

If you loved this bordelaise sauce recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

More homemade sauce recipes:

  • MORE —> steak sauces
  • Romesco Sauce
  • Mustard Sauce for Steak
  • Creamy Peppercorn Sauce
  • Creamy Mushroom Sauce
  • Steak Diane
  • Red Wine Sauce
  • Chimichurri Sauce
  • Bearnaise Sauce Recipe

Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (5)

Learn how to makeBordelaise sauce with this easy recipe. A classic French sauce that is tangy and flavorful. Perfect to drizzle on top of grilled steak or beef tenderloin.

5 from 45 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • To a small saucepan, add wine, shallots, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reduces by half, about 10 minutes.

  • Add the broth and bring to a boil again. Continue cooking until this mixture reduces by half, 15-20 minutes.

  • Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. Return the strained sauce to the saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.

  • In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and flour until smooth. Add this mixture to the saucepan and whisk until thickened. Enjoy immediately.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

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Easy Classic Bordelaise Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Bordelaise sauce made of? ›

Bordelaise sauce is a classic French sauce named after the Bordeaux region of France, which is famous for its wine. The sauce is made with dry red wine, bone marrow, butter, shallots and sauce demi-glace. Sauce marchand de vin ("wine-merchant's sauce") is a similar designation.

What is bordelaise typically served with? ›

It's imense roasty depth flavor makes it ideal to pair with red meats. A small drizzle of boardelaise sauce goes a long way. This sauce is generally served on beef tenderloin, filet mignons, or sirloin steak. The sauce can also be enjoyed with other types of meat that compliment the wine.

What's the difference between bordelaise and demi-glace? ›

Demi glace is usually used as a base to make other sauces, it can also be used by itself. Demi glace is used to make Bordelaise sauce. Roux is not used in either cases.

What does rich bordelaise taste like? ›

Bordelaise sauce is a classic of French cooking. Originating from the Bordeaux region in France, the Bordelaise sauce is a rich and luxurious creation that marries the depth of red wine with the subtle sweetness of shallots and the indulgence of butter.

What mother sauce is Bordelaise made from? ›

Espagnole

Espagnole is the basis for demi-glace, sauce Robert, and bordelaise sauce. Like the other mother sauces, espagnole starts with a roux. In this case, the flour paste is cooked until the flour browns. It's important that cooks stir the roux while it browns so the paste does not scorch.

What is the difference between Bordelaise and beef bourguignon? ›

Bourguignon. Similar to Bordelaise, but the difference is in the type of wine used; Bordelaise uses Bordeaux whereas Bourguignon uses Burgundy wine. Bourguignon is a red wine sauce with onions. Typically used in Boeuf Bourguignon.

What wine goes with bordelaise sauce? ›

Brown Sauces

EXAMPLES: Bordelaise, Demi-Glace, Poutine Sauce, Red Wine Sauce. PAIRINGS: Seek out more earthy, bold red wines including Bordeaux, reds from the Languedoc-Roussillon, and Northern Italian reds such as Barbera and Dolcetto.

What does a bordelaise sauce taste like? ›

The name 'bordelaise' literally means "from Bordeaux". The sauce is known for its rich, wine-forward flavour and is traditionally served with red meat steaks. The classic Bordelaise sauce recipe calls for a reduction of Bordeaux dry red wine and brown veal stock which is flavoured with shallots, thyme and bay leaf.

What is a Bordelaise sauce? ›

: a sauce consisting of stock thickened with roux and flavored typically with red wine and shallots.

What are the six French sauces? ›

To the original four sauces (Velouté, Béchamel, Allemande, and Espagnole) enshrined by his predecessor, royal chef Marie-Antoine Carême a century earlier, Escoffier added Hollandaise and Sauce Tomate, and reclassified Allemande. (Mayonnaise, one of his essential cold sauces, is now considered the sixth mother.)

What are the five main sauces? ›

The five mother sauces are hollandaise, tomato (sauce tomat), bechamel, Espagnole, and veloute. French chef Auguste Escoffier identified the five mother sauces, forever associating them with French cuisine. However, mother sauces are relevant in all modern cooking practices.

What wine is good for steak reduction? ›

Red wines like merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir are the most common to use for a red wine reduction sauce because they are woody, slightly sweet, full-bodied, and on the drier side. A red zinfandel tends to be too sweet for a red wine sauce, but it can come down to personal preference.

Can you freeze Bordelaise? ›

Refrigerate bordelaise sauce in a covered, airtight container for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze bordelaise sauce in airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat bordelaise sauce in a saucepan over low to medium-low heat until it heated through, or to at least 165 F.

What is the steak sauce that starts with AB? ›

Béarnaise Sauce is a stunning French sauce usually served with steak at fine dining restaurants and high-end steakhouses. Traditionally it's made by hand. Yolks are combined with a herb-infused vinegar reduction over a double boiler, then melted butter is carefully and slowly drizzled in while whisking.

What does Bordelaise sauce taste like? ›

The name 'bordelaise' literally means "from Bordeaux". The sauce is known for its rich, wine-forward flavour and is traditionally served with red meat steaks. The classic Bordelaise sauce recipe calls for a reduction of Bordeaux dry red wine and brown veal stock which is flavoured with shallots, thyme and bay leaf.

What is hillbilly sauce? ›

Hillbilly Hot BBQ Sauce – The proper BBQ sauce you've all been looking for. It's flavorsome, smokey and hot with a subtle sweetness. The sauce's main ingredient is the Ghost Pepper, which was the first chilli tested to hit over 1 million Scoville Heat Units... It's not longer in the top spot but it still a belter!

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