How to make the perfect sauce for every meal

Whether they’re simple or fancy, sauces are essential in cooking. They can turn a basic dish into something truly delicious. In this article, you’ll find 9 essential sauces, easy recipes to make them at home, and answers to common questions everyone has about sauces!

Basic Sauces in Cooking

What are the basic sauces in French cuisine?

French cooking is based on five “mother sauces”:

• béchamel
• tomato sauce
• velouté, espagnole
• hollandaise

From these, many other sauces are created: Mornay, suprême, gribiche, and more. Once you know the basics, everything gets easier!

Must-Know Sauce Recipes

How to make béchamel sauce?

Béchamel is simple and only needs 3 ingredients: milk, butter, and flour. You can season it with your favorite spices (salt, pepper, nutmeg, cumin, etc.). This is the classic white sauce – perfect for gratins, lasagna, or croque-monsieur.

What are the ingredients for béchamel (from Chef Eric Teyant):

• 50g butter
• 50g flour
• 50cl milk
• Salt, pepper, nutmeg

Béchamel recipe

1. Melt the butter.
2. Add the flour and whisk to make a roux. Cook for 1–2 minutes.
3. Slowly pour in the cold milk while whisking.
4. Let it thicken, season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
5. Use a thicker béchamel for croque-monsieur, and a thinner one for veggie gratins to avoid them drying out.

Tips for béchamel

To avoid lumps, always whisk and add the milk slowly (cold or room temp, not hot).

For a lactose-free version, use plant-based milk and replace butter with oil or margarine.

How to make hollandaise sauce?

Hollandaise is light and lemony, made with egg yolks, butter, and lemon. It goes great with asparagus or eggs Benedict.

What are the ingredients for hollandaise sauce ?

• 6 egg yolks
• 125g melted butter
• 10cl water
• 1 lemon
• Salt, pepper

Hollandaise sauce recipe

1. Whisk yolks, water, and lemon juice over medium heat until it thickens.
2. Slowly add melted butter while whisking.
3. Add lemon zest, salt, and pepper.

Serve warm over grilled veggies or poached eggs—perfect for brunch!

How to make beurre blanc sauce?

This French butter sauce uses white wine, white vinegar (or lemon), and shallots. Great with white fish. It’s sensitive to heat, so make it just before serving.

What are the ingredients for beurre blanc sauce ?

• 2 shallots
• 10cl dry white wine
• 3cl white vinegar (or lemon juice)
• 100g cold butter
• Salt, pepper

Beurre blanc sauce recipe

1. Reduce the wine and shallots.
2. Off heat, add the butter in small pieces while stirring.

Tip: If the sauce separates, it’s too hot. Lower the heat and add an ice cube to fix it.

How to make sauce meurette?

A Burgundy-style red wine sauce with bacon, cornstarch, and veggies—perfect for red meat or eggs.

What are the ingredients for sauce meurette ?

• 1/4 onion
• 1 carrot
• 100g mushrooms
• 20cl red wine
• 150g bacon
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Sauce meurette recipe

1. Sauté the veggies and bacon.
2. Deglaze with red wine, reduce.
3. Simmer and strain, then thicken with cornstarch.
4. Serve with soft-boiled eggs or red meat.

Fun fact: This is the sauce used for boeuf bourguignon!

How to make homemade Bolognese sauce?

Better than store-bought! Use veggies, ground beef, wine, smoked bacon, tomatoes, olive oil, and a splash of cream.

What are the ingredients for Bolognese sauce

• 400g tomato pulp
• 100g smoked pork belly
• 2 large or 5 small mushrooms
• 1 carrot
• 3 shallots
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 garlic clove
• 400g ground beef
• 10–15cl white wine
• 10cl cream
• Olive oil

Bolognese sauce recipe

1. Brown the beef and set aside.
2. Cook chopped veggies and bacon until soft.
3. Deglaze with wine, add tomatoes and beef. Simmer 30–45 minutes.
4. Finish with cream before serving.
5. Serve with fresh tagliatelle or your favorite pasta.

Vegetarian version? Remove meat and bacon. Replace with lentil balls or tofu cubes.

How to make pil-pil sauce?

A traditional Spanish sauce made from poultry carcasses, olive oil, and garlic. Great with meat and seafood.

What ingredients for pil-pil sauce ?

• Poultry carcass
• 1/2 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• Espelette pepper
• 20cl neutral oil
• 10cl olive (or neutral) oil

Sauce pil-pil recipe

1. Roast carcass for 1 hour at 220°C.
2. Boil it with garlic and onion to make a gelatinous broth.
3. Blend with oil to create an emulsion.

This sauce is from the Basque region.

How to make vegan mayonnaise?

A quick plant-based mayo using silken tofu. Ready in under 5 minutes with a hand blender.

What are the ingredients for vegan mayonnaise ?

• About 400g silken tofu
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp mustard
• Salt and pepper

Vegan mayonnaise recipe

1. Blend until thick.
2. Flavor with spices, kimchi, or Espelette pepper if you like.

Taste: Neutral, creamy texture—just like regular mayo. Great with fries or veggie sticks.

How to make cheese sauce?

Use your favorite cheese (Comté, Tomme, etc.), milk, and cream. Delicious on pasta, rice, or grilled veggies.

What are the ingredients for cheese sauce ?

• 20cl semi-skimmed milk
• 20cl heavy cream
• 100g cheese (Comté, Gouda, etc.)
• Salt and pepper

Cheese sauce recipe

1. Heat cream and milk.
2. Grate or chop the cheese.
3. Add to the hot mixture and melt gently.
4. Serve hot. Chef Lucas Tricot likes it with grilled cauliflower steak!

How to make green sauce (salsa verde)?

A fresh Mexican sauce made from herbs, chili, lime, and oil.

What are the ingredients for salsa verde ?

• A handful of herbs (parsley, coriander, chives, etc.)
• 1 chili (or chili powder)
• Juice of 1 lime (or 1/2 lemon)
• 10cl neutral oil

Salsa verde recipe

1. Blend everything until smooth.
2. Use it with tacos, grilled fish, or slow-cooked meats. Adds a fresh touch to any dish!

Fun fact: Italian green sauce uses parsley. Mexican salsa verde uses coriander. Your choice!

Tips for Perfect Sauces

How to thicken a sauce?

Let it simmer uncovered to reduce. In a rush? Mix a spoon of cornstarch with water and boil it in your sauce.

How long do sauces keep?

Store sauces in the fridge for 3–4 days in an airtight container. If they have meat, fish, or cream, don’t keep them longer. Some (like Bolognese) can be frozen for up to 3 months.

What sauces go with what dishes?

You’ll find the best associations between sauces and dishes :

• Beurre blanc with white fish
• Meurette with soft-boiled egg
• Salsa verde with meat tacos
• Cheese sauce with pasta
• Bolognese with tagliatelle
• Hollandaise with poached egg

Now you’re ready to impress friends and family with delicious homemade sauces! Try, experiment, and have fun in the kitchen!