Classic Sauce Making Flashcards

A chef is making a classic béchamel sauce, one of the five mother sauces. The recipe calls for a roux to thicken the milk. What are the two primary components of a traditional roux?

Answer: Equal parts flour and fat by weight

A classic roux is a thickening agent made from equal parts of fat (commonly butter) and flour by weight. The mixture is cooked together before the liquid is added to remove the raw, starchy taste of the flour and to prevent lumps.

In classic French cuisine, which of the following is NOT one of the five mother sauces codified by Auguste Escoffier?

Answer: Allemande

The five mother sauces established by Auguste Escoffier are Béchamel, Velouté, Espagnole, Hollandaise, and Sauce Tomate. Allemande sauce is considered a 'daughter' or derivative sauce of Velouté, typically enriched with egg yolks and heavy cream.

A culinary student is preparing a Hollandaise sauce but finds that the melted butter and egg yolk mixture is separating. What is the culinary term for the process of combining two ingredients that do not ordinarily mix, such as oil and water, into a stable mixture?

Answer: Emulsification

Emulsification is the process of mixing two immiscible liquids, like fat (melted butter) and a water-based liquid (lemon juice/egg yolk), into a stable suspension. In Hollandaise, the lecithin in the egg yolk acts as the emulsifier to create a smooth, stable sauce.

A chef wants to create a richer, more velvety version of a classic velouté sauce for a chicken dish. To achieve this, they whisk a mixture of egg yolks and heavy cream into the warm sauce at the end of the cooking process. What is this specific thickening and enriching mixture called?

Answer: Liaison

A liaison is a mixture of egg yolks and heavy cream used to enrich and slightly thicken sauces and soups. It adds a rich flavor and a smooth, velvety texture. It's crucial to temper a liaison by slowly adding some of the hot liquid to it before incorporating it into the main pot to prevent the eggs from scrambling.

A pastry chef is creating a vibrant, uncooked sauce to accompany a cheesecake. They blend fresh raspberries with sugar and a little lemon juice, then press the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the seeds. What is this type of smooth, puréed fruit sauce called?

Answer: Coulis

A coulis is a thin sauce made from puréed and strained fruits or vegetables. It is often used in desserts and can be made with or without cooking the fruit. The key characteristic is its smooth, seedless consistency achieved by straining.

Which of the following sauces is a direct derivative of Hollandaise, famously flavored with tarragon, shallots, and vinegar?

Answer: Sauce Béarnaise

Sauce Béarnaise is a classic derivative of Hollandaise. It is made by creating an emulsion of egg yolk and butter but is flavored with a reduction of vinegar, wine, shallots, and fresh tarragon.