THE FESTIVE SAUCES
TEST KITCHEN
APPROVEDILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK/GETTYIMAGES
One for the trolley
Quirky, fun products don’t always
mean tasty, but this brussels sprout
ketchup from the Sauce Shop got
the thumbs up from the husband.
Heathens that we are, we sloshed it on
our plates alongside sausage rolls and
leftover turkey and ham from testing,
but it works just as well with chips.
£2.99 from Sainsbury’s and online at sauceshop.coPlanet saver
We love reducing
plastic in the
kitchen, so we
were keen to try
out Tala’s new
food wrap on a
roll. Deputy food
editor Sophie
found it was great
for covering bowls
while dough rises
and for wrapping
up bits of food.
Like cling film,
you cut the roll to
size, but you re-use
the pieces. And
there’s a vegan
version too. Tala
also sells wax
refresher cubes for
wraps needing a
new lease of life.Tala food wraps, £13.99 for
90cm; refresher cubes,
£6.99 for 60g pack,
talacooking.comBreadsauce
1 Ina pan,heat500ml
milk(wholeorsemi-
skimmed)with5 black
peppercorns,a bayleaf,
a goodgratingofnutmeg
and1 smallonion,
peeled,halvedand
studdedwith6 cloves.
2 Bringalmosttothe
boil,thensetasideto
infusefor 10 minutes.
Afterinfusing,strain
themilkintoa jugand
discardthearomatics,
thencleanthepanand
returnthemilktoit.
3 Stirin200gfresh
breadcrumbsandseason
well.Simmeruntil
thickened.Stirina knob
ofbutterandseasonto
tastebeforeserving.Cumberland
sauce
1 Simmer the finely grated
zest of 1 orange, covered
with water in a small pan,
for 5 minutes to soften.
2 Put the juice of 1 orange,
pared zest of 1 lemon, 50ml
port (vegetarian if need
be), 150ml red wine, 125g
cranberries (or leftover
cranberry sauce), 2 tbsp
caster sugar, 1 tsp ground
ginger, 1 tsp dijon mustard
and 3 tbsp redcurrant jelly
in a pan over a medium
heat and bring to a gentle
simmer. Cook for 5-10
minutes until thickened.
Stir in the reserved orange
zest, then serve.
See also the recipe for
cranberry sauce on p45Veggiegravy
1 Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in
a roasting tin on the hob.
Stir in all the vegetable
trimmings (peelings, ends,
skins, cores etc from your
main meal or side dishes),
½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp sugar.
2 Transfer to a hot oven
(200°C/180°C fan/gas 6)
and roast for 20 minutes
until browned. Put the tin
back on the hob over a
medium heat. Stir in 1½
tbsp plain flour, cook for
1 minute, then add 1½ tbsp
soy sauce and 450ml
just-boiled water. Stir well
and simmer for 5 minutes
or until thickened slightly.
Season, then strain
before serving.
For turkey gravy see p46make life easier.
MAKE IT EASY