Heart-Healthy Classic Red Wine Sauce
Elevate your cooking with this **Heart-Healthy Classic Red Wine Sauce**, a sophisticated yet simple recipe brimming with bold flavors and nutritious ingredients. Crafted with extra-virgin olive oil, aromatic shallots, garlic, and fresh herbs like thyme and bay leaf, this sauce achieves a deep, complex profile from the delicate reduction of red wine and low-sodium stock. A touch of balsamic vinegar adds tangy sweetness, while a small swirl of unsalted butter delivers a luxurious finish without compromising its health-conscious appeal. Perfect for pairing with lean proteins, roasted vegetables, or whole grains, this versatile sauce is ready in under 40 minutes and makes any meal feel indulgent yet wholesome. Ideal for fans of healthy gourmet cuisine, this recipe is a must-try for bringing restaurant-quality flavor to your table.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium, finely chopped shallot
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
Instructions
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the extra-virgin olive oil.
Add the finely chopped shallot to the pan and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
Add minced garlic to the shallots and continue to cook for another minute until fragrant.
Introduce the fresh thyme sprigs and bay leaf to the pan, allowing the herbs to release their aromas over the next minute.
Pour in the red wine, stirring to deglaze the pan and incorporate the shallots and garlic.
Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the wine to a boil. Allow the wine to simmer briskly and reduce by half, approximately 10 minutes.
Add the low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock to the pan, along with black pepper, and continue to simmer until the mixture reduces by about half again, which should take 10-12 minutes.
Once reduced, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf from the sauce.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the balsamic vinegar, which will enhance the sauce's depth of flavor.
Just before serving, add the teaspoon of unsalted butter to the sauce and whisk until melted, giving the sauce a shiny finish.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving warm over your preferred dish.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
418 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 18.1 g | 23% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.2 g | 21% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 10 mg | 3% | |
| Sodium | 159 mg | 7% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 18.3 g | 7% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.1 g | 8% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.6 g | ||
| Protein | 2.7 g | 5% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 85 mg | 7% | |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 13% | |
| Potassium | 511 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
