Mushroom Sauce: Serve as Appetizer or Over Beef, Lamb, Duck or Chicken

By
Kevin D. Weeks.
Kevin D. Weeks.
Kevin D. Weeks is a personal chef, cooking instructor, and food writer.
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Updated on 02/16/23
Mushroom Saute as appetizer or atop of the main course.
Credit: Roberto A Sanchez
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This Mushroom Sauce is an easy and an ideal complement to so many meats: roast beef, steaks, lamb, duck, chicken, salmon and even meatloaf (if you forgo topping the meatloaf with ketchup). In fact, it's mighty tasty simply spooned on some toasted baguette as an appetizer. The secret to the depth of flavor is the dried mushrooms. They, and the liquid you rehydrate them in, give the sauce an unusual flavor not found in fresh mushrooms alone. It's the mix of fresh thickly chopped crimini mushrooms mixed with the dried mushrooms that will provide a unique mouthfeel rich with various textures. For the wine, you can substitute a dry port for the red wine, which will make the sauce just a tad sweeter. The port will also thicken the viscosity of the sauce. 

Edited by Joy Nordenstrom, Romantic Meals' and Cooking for Two Expert

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. dried mushrooms (morel, porcini or an assortment)
  • 1 cup red wine (or dry port)
  • 1 tablespoon butter (unsalted)
  • 1/4 lb. mushrooms (crimini; thickly sliced)
  • 2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 shallot (peeled and sliced thinly)
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup beef broth ( low-sodium)
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste (see note)

Steps to Make It

  1. Heat the wine to a simmer in a small (2-cup+) sauce pan.

  2. Add dried mushrooms and soak for 30 minutes or longer.

  3. Drain wine through a filter (I use a dedicated kitchen handkerchief, but a coffee filter works) reserving wine.

  4. Finely chop mushrooms and set aside.

  5. Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium heat.

  6. Add butter and swirl to melt.

  7. Return skillet to stove, increase heat to medium-high and add mushrooms.

  8. Cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned for about 6 to 8 minutes.

  9. Add shallots, thyme and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for two more minutes.

  10. Add reserved wine and cook until reduced by half.

  11. Stir in beef broth and tomato paste.

  12. Mix arrowroot with a tablespoon of cold water and stir into sauce.

  13. Cook, stirring rapidly until thickened for about 1 minute. Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste.

    *Note: I used to buy those stupid 6 ounce cans of tomato paste and then throw away almost all of it. But if you look around you should be able to find tomato paste in a tube, which permits you to easily use only as much as you need and store the rest in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
91 Calories
3g Fat
4g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 91
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 170mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 2g
Calcium 25mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)