Port And Red Wine Jus Recipes

PORT WINE SAUCE (FOR FILET MIGNON OR PRIME RIB)

Steps:

• First, make the reduction. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the diced shallot and cook untile softened, about five minutes. Then, add all of the port (yes, a whole bottle!), and the thyme sprigs, and bring to a boil over high heat. Watch for the boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a brisk simmer. Cook until the port has reduced to the consistency of corn syrup, about 30 minutes. You should have about 1/2 cup or so including the diced shallot. At the same time, bring the chicken broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Once it's brought a simmer, turn off the heat, and add the package of porcini mushrooms. Here, you're creating a mushroom-enriched stock that will add a nice earthy base to the sauce. Let the mushrooms soak for 15-20 minutes. with a straining or slotted spoon, lift the porcini to a small bowl. Strain the sooaking liquid through a coffee filter, paper towel or cheesecloth to remove any dirt sediment that came from the porcini mushrooms. Save the stock -- that's what you're going to use in the next step. Add the enriched chicken stock and half of the porcini mushrooms (diced) to the port reduction. (You can use the other half of the porcini mushrooms in a beef or mushroom-cap stuffing.) Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat, then reduce to maintain a brisk simmer. Cook until it's reduced to about 1 1/3 cups, which is about 15 minutes. Strain again through a fine strainer, pressing on the solid mushrooms and shallots. Add salt and pepper to taste. You should have a little over 1 cup of the sauce. The sauce can be refrigerated at this point and held for up to 2 days, if you seal it carefully with plastic wrap. Twenty minutes before plating your dinner, bring the sauce back to a low simmer, stir. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and butter into a paste, then WHISK rapidly into the simmering sauce to thicken it. You'll need to whisk for 2 minutes or so to give the sauce a single consistency. Raise the temperature to a simmer, and maintain that while whisking for 2-3 minutes to remove any flour flavor. Add a teaspoon or so of fine balsamic vinegar, and taste a few times. You're done! Serving options: Can be plated first, with filet mignon beef medalions on top, or poured over steak.

RED WINE JUS

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the shallots until golden and caramelised, about 10 mins.
• Add the port, wine and herbs and simmer for 10 mins, or until reduced by half.
• Pour in the stock and continue to cook until reduced by half again, then strain, discarding the shallots and herbs.
• Transfer the sauce into a new pan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, then season to taste.

PORT WINE SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the shallots briefly until translucent (approximately 3 minutes).
• Deglaze with the Port and red wines and reduce until most of the wine has cooked off, (approximately 5 - 6 minutes)
• Add the demi glace, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and thyme and simmer for approximately 5-6 minutes (or until the sauce has thickened).
• Strain the sauce, add the heavy cream (if desired), and return to a simmer for a few minutes and serve.
• The optional heavy cream gives the sauce a richer color and additional flavor.

SHALLOT & RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauté 250g sliced shallots in a medium saucepan with 4 tbsp olive oil over a high heat for about 3 mins until lightly browned, stirring often.
• Season with ground black pepper and add 1 lightly crushed garlic clove and a sprig of rosemary.
• Continue cooking for a further 3 mins, stirring often to prevent the shallots burning.
• Pour in 5 tbsp balsamic vinegar and cook until evaporated away to a syrup, then pour in 400ml red wine and cook until reduced by two thirds.
• Pour in 400ml beef or brown chicken stock and bring to the boil.
• Turn down the heat and simmer until reduced by two-thirds again, to around 250ml. Remove the garlic and rosemary.
• Add a little salt to taste and finally 'monte' (whisk) in a knob of butter. Add any juices from the steaks just before serving.