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Espagnole

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sauces & condiments•french•contains meat, contains gluten
95 minutes•about 3 cups•

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces unsalted butter
  • 2 ounces all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup onion – finely chopped (~1 medium onion)
  • 1/2 cup carrot – finely chopped (~1 medium carrot)
  • 1/2 cup celery – finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 cups brown veal stock – unsalted
  • 6 stems parsley stems
  • 3 sprigs thyme
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • 8 peppercorns black peppercorns
  • kosher salt – to taste
Espagnole

Instructions

  1. 1.

    Make a sachet by tying the parsley stems, thyme sprigs, bay leaf, and black peppercorns in a small piece of cheesecloth or wrapping tightly; set aside.

  2. 2.

    Melt the unsalted butter in a heavy 3–4 quart saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the roux is a deep brown color that smells nutty, 6–8 minutes.

  3. 3.

    Add the finely chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the roux. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are well browned and lightly caramelized, 10–12 minutes.

  4. 4.

    Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it darkens slightly and smells sweet and roasted, 2–3 minutes.

  5. 5.

    Gradually whisk in the cold brown veal stock (unsalted), smoothing out any lumps. Bring to a gentle boil, then add the herb sachet.

  6. 6.

    Reduce to a bare simmer, uncovered, and cook 45–60 minutes, skimming foam and fat as needed, until reduced by about one-third and the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon (nappe).

  7. 7.

    Remove and discard the sachet. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing lightly on the solids; discard solids. Degrease any surface fat.

  8. 8.

    Taste and season with kosher salt to taste. Use immediately, or cool rapidly and refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.

Espagnole is the classic brown mother sauce of French cuisine, known for its deep roasted flavor, gentle acidity from tomato, and silky body from a well-cooked brown roux. Built on rich brown veal stock, it layers caramelized mirepoix and a bouquet of herbs to produce a sauce that is balanced, savory, and elegant. Properly made, it coats the back of a spoon without feeling heavy, serving as a versatile foundation for countless derivative sauces.

Codified in the 19th and early 20th centuries by chefs like Carême and Escoffier, Espagnole became a pillar of the French sauce system. Its name likely reflects the Spanish influence of tomato additions popular at the time, rather than a Spanish origin. From Espagnole, chefs traditionally make demi-glace and derivatives such as sauce Bordelaise, Chasseur, Robert, and Bigarade, cementing its importance in classical and modern kitchens alike.