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Rosemary-Gorgonzola Pan Sauce

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 26, 2011

Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes enough sauce for 4 steaks)

Rosemary-Gorgonzola Pan Sauce

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces and chilled1 shallot, minced½ cup red wine 1 teaspoon brown sugar ½ cup low-sodium beef broth ¼ teaspoon minced rosemary 2 tablespoons Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Before You Begin

Use low-sodium broth and unsalted butter in this recipe or the reduced sauce may be too salty. See related content for a Cooking Lesson on pan-searing steak.

Instructions

  1. COOK AROMATICS Once steaks are cooked, transfer them to platter, tent with foil, and pour off excess fat from skillet. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in empty skillet over medium-low heat. Cook shallot until softened, about 2 minutes.
  2. REDUCE LIQUIDS Add wine and sugar to skillet and simmer over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits, until reduced to about 1 tablespoon, about 3 minutes. Add broth and any juices on plate with resting steaks and simmer until liquid is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 3 minutes.
  3. ADD FLAVORINGS Off heat, whisk in rosemary, Gorgonzola, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks.
Rosemary-Gorgonzola Pan Sauce

Rosemary-Gorgonzola Pan Sauce

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes enough sauce for 4 steaks)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces and chilled
1 shallot, minced
½ cup red wine
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ cup low-sodium beef broth
¼ teaspoon minced rosemary
2 tablespoons Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces and chilled
1 shallot, minced
½ cup red wine
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ cup low-sodium beef broth
¼ teaspoon minced rosemary
2 tablespoons Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces and chilled
1 shallot, minced
½ cup red wine
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ cup low-sodium beef broth
¼ teaspoon minced rosemary
2 tablespoons Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

The first step was to pour off the fat from the steaks before building the sauce; otherwise it would be greasy. To draw out the flavors of red wine in our Rosemary-Gorgonzola Pan Sauce we reduced it with a scant amount of sugar before adding the other ingredients. We finished off the sauce with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese and some minced fresh rosemary. Tasters preferred Gorgonzola, but we found any crumbled blue cheese would work.

Before You Begin

Use low-sodium broth and unsalted butter in this recipe or the reduced sauce may be too salty. See related content for a Cooking Lesson on pan-searing steak.

Instructions

  1. COOK AROMATICS Once steaks are cooked, transfer them to platter, tent with foil, and pour off excess fat from skillet. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in empty skillet over medium-low heat. Cook shallot until softened, about 2 minutes.
  2. REDUCE LIQUIDS Add wine and sugar to skillet and simmer over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits, until reduced to about 1 tablespoon, about 3 minutes. Add broth and any juices on plate with resting steaks and simmer until liquid is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 3 minutes.
  3. ADD FLAVORINGS Off heat, whisk in rosemary, Gorgonzola, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over steaks.

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