Red Wine Sauce
Red wine, shallot and beef stock reduced for 20 minutes and finished with butter into a glossy sauce for steak. Four servings in 25 minutes.
Before You Start
Reduce the wine properly before adding stock.
Whisk in the butter off the heat.
If your hob runs hot, check at 15 minutes.
Taste before the butter goes in.
Cooking Red Wine Sauce
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Soften the shallots in the oil for 4 minutes. Add the wine and boil for 10 minutes until reduced by half.
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Add the stock, thyme and redcurrant jelly and boil for 10 minutes more until syrupy.
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Remove the thyme. Off the heat, whisk in the cold butter a piece at a time and season with the salt.
Why It Works
Most home versions come out thin or harsh, and the fix is time. Red wine has to boil down by about two thirds before the sharpness softens and the flavour deepens.
Soften the shallot in a little butter, add the wine and let it bubble hard. Do not hurry this step, since the wine loses its raw edge as it reduces. Add the stock and thyme and reduce again.
Taste it before the butter goes in. The sauce should taste slightly too strong, because the butter and the steak both soften it.
Whisk in cold butter, a piece at a time, off the heat. This gives a glossy, velvety finish that holds for a few minutes. If your hob runs hot, check the sauce at 15 minutes. Spoon it around the steak, not over the crust, to keep it crisp. Use a wine you would be happy to drink, since a poor wine reduces to something sour and harsh that no butter can rescue.
Leftovers, Reheating and Keeping
Best made fresh. Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently.
What to Serve Alongside
- Grilled steak
- Roast beef
- Mashed potato
- Roasted mushrooms
Still Wondering?
How long does Red Wine Sauce take to make?
About 25 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Red Wine Sauce?
Reduce the wine properly before adding stock. Whisk in the butter off the heat. If your hob runs hot, check at 15 minutes. Taste before the butter goes in.
What should I serve with Red Wine Sauce?
Grilled steak; Roast beef; Mashed potato; Roasted mushrooms.
How should Red Wine Sauce be stored?
Best made fresh. Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently.
Is Red Wine Sauce suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
Red Wine Sauce Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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