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 47 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? ›

This is a classic sauce named after the Bordeaux region of France, which is famous for its amazing wine. The sauce is made with a dry Bordeaux red wine, bone marrow, garlic and shallots for a rich, savoury flavour.

What sauce is similar to bordelaise? ›

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.

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.

How to heat up bordelaise? ›

Reheat bordelaise sauce in a saucepan over low to medium-low heat until it heated through, or to at least 165 F.

What mother sauce is Bordelaise? ›

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 hollandaise and bearnaise sauce? ›

It's what happens next that sets them apart: Hollandaise gets its acidity from lemon juice (sometimes vinegar) and is usually seasoned with salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper. Béarnaise, meanwhile, builds upon hollandaise with white wine vinegar, shallots, tarragon, and other fresh herbs.

What are the 3 French sauces? ›

The five French mother sauces are béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. Developed in the 19th century by French chef Auguste Escoffier, mother sauces serve as a starting point for a variety of delicious sauces used to complement countless dishes, including veggies, fish, meat, casseroles, and pastas.

What is the best red wine for making sauce? ›

The single best dry red wine for cooking is Merlot. This is because it is one of the most flexible red wines on the market and can be used for meat, sauce, vegetables, and more. It can be medium to full-bodied with a range of fruity and coffee-like flavors.

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.

Is there alcohol in bordelaise sauce? ›

This wine-enriched sauce is traditionally served over beef steaks or beef tenderloin, but it will also add a luscious finish to veal, pork, or lamb.

Can you store bordelaise sauce in the fridge? ›

To save time, you can prepare the bordelaise sauce a day or two in advance and refrigerate it until ready to serve.

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.

Is Bordelaise made from demi glace? ›

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.

What does Bordelaise 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 does bearnaise sauce taste like? ›

Irresistibly creamy, buttery, and rich, Béarnaise combines an herby, slightly acidic reduction of white wine, vinegar, shallots, fresh tarragon, and lemon juice with hollandaise to make a luscious sauce for spooning over grilled steak, chicken, fish, or vegetables.

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