Sauce Vierge Recipe

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Sauce Vierge is a French fashionable traditional. It’s a splendidly recent, vinaigrette-style sauce that’s notably nice with seafood. I featured and paired this elegant sauce with my Tuna Steak recipe.

Its use doesn’t finish with seafood although! Additionally serve it with chicken, pork or greens. You may additionally use as a salsa dip, or pile it on toasted bread to make easy bruschetta or crostini. Strive it additionally over a omelette or frittata, or corn fritters! Even twirl pasta by means of it!

Sauce Vierge ingredients in a bowl
Sauce Vierge Recipe

I featured Sauce Vierge in my Tuna Steak recipe which I additionally printed right this moment. Nevertheless that is such a terrifically versatile sauce that I made a decision to publish it individually so you’ll be able to discover the fullest extent of its prospects!

Sauce Vierge is a French sauce comprised of finely diced tomatoes, olive oil, recent herbs and a contact of lemon juice for freshness. It’s a no-cook sauce, form of like a salsa, and is gentle and summery in each style and look. Sauce Vierge interprets to “Virgin Sauce”, I suppose a reference to the clear and pure character of the sauce? 😉

Sauce Vierge was popularised by Michel Guérard, a French chef who championed a brand new model of French meals within the 1970’s known as nouvelle delicacies (actually, “new delicacies”). This motion resisted the classical traditions of French cooking, as a substitute emphasising freshness, simplicity, and lighter remedies that flattered elements. This prolonged to the visible with larger consideration given to color, naturalism and chic displays in comparison with conventional haute delicacies. Actually, this sauce couldn’t be a greater expression of this new college of French meals thought!

Tuna Steak with Sauce Vierge, ready to be served
The recent summery flavour of Sauce Vierge makes it good to serve with Tuna Steak!

It’s basically a salsa, with summery Mediterranean elements and flavours. It will get a success of complexity and depth with the addition of anchovy fillets and a mixture of recent herbs. Richness and physique comes from the additional virgin olive oil. For such a easy sauce, attempt to use the most effective oil you’ll be able to afford for the most effective flavour!

Sauce Vierge in a bowl, ready to be mixed
Sauce Vierge Recipe

There are all types of variations round, however basically the core elements in it are recent tomato, olive oil and recent herbs together with a contact of acidity, often from lemon.

This model I’m sharing right this moment is fairly traditional, with a stunning mixture of recent herbs. I additionally add olives and anchovies for a little bit further umami and depth which makes this sauce much more versatile.

Sauce Vierge ingredients
Sauce Vierge Recipe
  • Tomatoes – They’ve bought to be ripe and juicy! They’re a key ingredient right here so be certain that they’re good ones;

  • Anchovies – Although maybe not strictly conventional, it is a key ingredient in mine that provides this in any other case easy sauce a terrific depth of flavour and pure savouriness. With out it, some individuals would most likely take into account this sauce a bit plain, or lacking “one thing”. It’s the principle salt on this dish. It doesn’t style fishy in any respect. In truth, you’ll be able to’t even inform it’s in there and extra provides what the French would name a little bit je ne sais quoi !

    Can’t do anchovy?? Use one of many following substitutions:
    – Greatest different: 1/2 tsp fish sauce + pinch of additional salt (go away Sauce Vierge for 20 minutes to let flavour meld)
    – Different choice: 1/4 tsp Worcestershire + further salt (non-fish substitute)

  • Recent herbs – Herbs add freshness, flavour and color. I like a mix of herbs so as to add curiosity. Parsley, chives and tarragon I discover is an exquisite combine. (Different herbs that may work properly embrace basil and chervil.) If you happen to don’t have all 3, use simply parsley, or half parsley and half tarragon;

  • Olives – Like anchovies, olives are maybe not strictly conventional however carry this sauce an additional dimension that makes it all of the extra versatile. Pretty little pops of salty juicy goodness, the olives give this sauce a extra distinctly Mediterranean really feel and flavour for me, in addition to including putting glistening pops of black all through the crimson;

  • Garlic – Only a trace, not an excessive amount of;

  • Lemon juice – The recent tang within the sauce. If you happen to don’t have lemons, use white or crimson wine vinegar as a substitute. There are variations of Sauce Vierge that go for vinegar, however I really like the recent flavour of lemon; and

  • Additional virgin olive oil – Use the most effective you’ll be able to afford, for the most effective flavour!

To make, merely mix all elements and blend! Typically Sauce Vierge is barely warmed to serve with sizzling meals. To do that, gently warmth the sauce in a small pot for a couple of minutes to only heat by means of and encourage the flavours to marry. Don’t boil it otherwise you’ll lose all that fantastic freshness!

Pouring olive oil over Sauce Vierge in a bowl
Sauce Vierge Recipe

This gentle and recent, no-cook sauce is especially good with seafood, however don’t cease there! Listed below are some extra options:

  • Fish and shellfish – Spoon it over like a salsa;

  • Chicken or pork – Pan-sear meat with simply salt and pepper, then spoon over Sauce Vierge;

  • Greens – Nice served over flippantly barbecued or steamed greens.

  • Salsa-type dip – For scooping up with corn chips or do-it-yourself crostini!

  • Spooned over omelettes or a frittata. Or attempt it with an Egg White Omelette!

  • Pile onto toasted bread to make bruschetta or crostini;

  • With corn fritters! This may be 100% sensational.

  • With pasta – What the Italians would name an “raw” pasta sauce. Easy boil pasta, toss by means of the Sauce Vierge.

So there’s just some concepts to get you began! If you happen to make it, let me know what else you used it for – share it with everybody within the feedback beneath!

Just a bit snack – munching on the grass on the park!

Dozer eating grass
Sauce Vierge Recipe
Sauce Vierge Recipe

Sauce Vierge Recipe

Print
Serves: 4 Prep Time:
Nutrition facts: 205 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

  • 5 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tomatoes , seeded and diced into 0.8cm (1/3") cubes (Note 1)
  • 12 black olives , pitted and cut into strips (Spanish, kalamata, or other)
  • 2 anchovy fillets , very finely minced (Note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic , very finely minced
  • 1 tsp parsley , finely chopped (Note 3)
  • 1/2 tsp chives , finely chopped (Note 3)
  • 1/2 tsp tarragon leaves , finely chopped (Note 3)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Mix: Mix ingredients in a bowl. Taste and add more salt if you want (depends how salty the food you are putting it on is).
  2. Uses: Use at room temperature as a salsa / sauce, piled onto fish (such as Tuna Steak), other seafood, grilled or steamed vegetables, chicken, pork, over pasta, piled onto bread, or even as a dip for scooping up with crostini or corn chips! You can also warm the sauce if you wish: Gently heat in a small pot and warm to blood temperature. Do not simmer or boil or you'll lose the freshness!
  3. Storage: Use immediately on making, or the next day. Keep in a very airtight container and allow to come to room temperature before serving.

Notes

1. Tomato – Halve then use a teaspoon to scrape out the watery insides and seeds. Dice finely.
2. Anchovy fillets – This gives the sauce an extra complexity and umami that makes it that much more delicious.
Substitutions:
1/2 tsp fish sauce + pinch of extra salt (leave Sauce Vierge for 20 minutes to let flavour meld) – best alternative
1/4 tsp Worcestershire + extra salt (non fish sub)
3. Herbs – This is a really great combination of fresh herbs that gives the sauce an elegant and fresh flavour, with the tarragon giving it a distinctly French touch. But if you don’t have them, you can use:
All parsley (flatlet best, curly ok too);
Half parsley, half chives
Alternatively: Basil and chervil also are great to include / substitute
Every Sauce Vierge recipe is different so don’t feel this is dogma!
4. Fish for Sauce Vierge – try:
Pan fried fish
Tuna Steak (Sauce Vierge is featured in this recipe)
5. Nutrition per serving, assuming 4 servings.

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Sarah Miller
Sarah Miller

Hi, I’m Sarah Millar!
I’m a food blogger who loves creating quick and easy recipes that bring big flavor without the fuss. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated — and I’m here to share simple, fast food ideas that anyone can make at home. When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll usually find me tasting new dishes, exploring cafés, or coming up with fresh food hacks to make everyday meals more fun.

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