Five-Star Sauce

Presenting the Five-Star Sauce: A delectable creation that took our patties to a whole new level of culinary excellence! When our testers couldn’t believe how good the patties tasted, Tami decided to pair them with this irresistible sauce. And trust us, it lives up to its name! Upon the first taste, Jim declared it a “five-star” sauce, and we couldn’t agree more. So get ready to elevate your meal with this amazing sauce, specially crafted to complement our patties perfectly.

YIELD: 1 3/4 cups (415 ml)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large shallot, about 2.5 ounces (70 g), peeled, and chopped into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 3/4 cups (415 ml) vegetable broth, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon dried berbere, or more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons (16 g) cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) ume plum vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C, or gas mark 6).
2. In a small baking dish, combine the chopped shallot, sliced garlic, and olive oil. Stir to coat the vegetables evenly, and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until the shallots turn just golden.
3. Transfer the roasted shallot and garlic mixture to a blender. Add 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) of vegetable broth to the blender as well. Process the mixture until it becomes smooth.
4. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat, toast the berbere for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring often, until it becomes fragrant.
5. Pour the blended broth mixture into the saucepan with the toasted berbere. Add the crumbled dried thyme to the saucepan as well. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to simmer for 5 minutes.
6. In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch into the remaining 1/4 cup (60 ml) of vegetable broth until it is well incorporated. Then, slowly whisk the cornstarch and broth mixture into the hot broth mixture in the saucepan. Continue to simmer and whisk until the sauce thickens, which typically takes around 3 to 5 minutes.
7. Finally, whisk in the ume plum vinegar to add a delightful tang to the sauce. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

This Five-Star Sauce is now ready to grace your table and impress everyone who tastes it. Pour it generously over our flavorful patties, and you’ll experience a burst of mouthwatering goodness in every bite. If you want to take it up a notch, try dredging the patties in seasoned flour before panfrying. This sauce is so versatile that you’ll find it perfect for dressing up various dishes in your culinary adventures.

With this recipe yielding 1 3/4 cups of pure deliciousness, you’ll have plenty of sauce to enjoy with our patties or to experiment with in other recipes. So, elevate your dining experience with this Five-Star Sauce and prepare to indulge in culinary delight!