Simple Port Wine Reduction Recipes

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.

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.

PORT WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until thickened and reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve; let cool to room temperature before serving.

PORT WINE BALSAMIC FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Bring the port and white wine to a boil in a medium saucepan, lower the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced to 2/3 cup.
• Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper and lightly dust with flour on both sides. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. When the oil is hot, add the steaks to the skillet and top them with a few sprigs of thyme (just to get the essence). Cook for 4 minutes per side, or until they are cooked to your liking (see Cook's Note).
• Remove the steaks from the pan and set them aside on a plate to rest. Remove the thyme and discard. Add the wine reduction to the same skillet (do not clean the skillet) and bring to a simmer over medium heat, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and simmer until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon, 2 to 5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the steak and garnish with microgreens.
• For the grilled asparagus: Toss the asparagus with 3 tablespoons olive oil, the juice from 1/2 a lemon and some salt and pepper. Heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, grill the asparagus, turning occasionally, until it is tender and lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Season with more salt and a squeeze of lemon. Serve with the steak.

RED WINE REDUCTION SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook shallot in hot oil until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Pour wine into saucepan; cook, stirring regularly, until reduced in volume by half, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir beef broth with the wine. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook at a simmer until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir butter and Italian seasoning into the sauce; cook until butter is completely melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt.

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.