How to thicken a sauce that is too runny? Whether it is a tomato sauce, a rosé sauce or an Alfredo sauce, if it is too liquid it risks being less tasty and much less pleasant in the mouth. So what to do?
In this article, I offer you my own tips for easily thickening a sauce, broth or other liquids.
Tips and tricks for thickening a sauce:
1. Simmer the sauce longer to thicken it
The very first thing to do if you notice that the sauce is still too runny is to simmer it over the heat for a bit longer.
Indeed, a sauce that is too liquid actually contains too much water, so bringing it to a boil for a few moments will reduce it and therefore thicken it.
- Leave the sauce on the heat and bring to a boil for 2 or 3 minutes depending on the liquid of the sauce.
- If there is really less sauce (after boiling) you can add a little crème fraiche.
2. Thicken a tomato sauce with flour
Flour is always a very effective trick to thicken a tomato sauce that is too liquid but also other types of sauces and even broths.
Here’s how to use flour in her sauce:
- Add a tablespoon of wheat flour in a little water.
- Mix well and slowly add the mixture to the sauce, stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Repeat the steps if the sauce is still too runny.
You can also use and replace the flour with cornstarch to thicken the tomato sauce even more effectively.
3. Use breadcrumbs to thicken a sauce that is too runny
Another trick to thicken a sauce that is too runny is to add breadcrumbs while cooking. Super simple, here’s how:
- Slowly sprinkle breadcrumbs in the sauce (purchased or homemade breadcrumbs).
- Stir and continue cooking and add more breadcrumbs according to the consistency of the sauce.
Would you like to know how to make breadcrumbs? Well this article explains it to you very well: How to make homemade breadcrumbs?
4. Thicken a stew with butter and flour
This new trick is particularly effective for thickening a stew that is too liquid. Of course you can also use this trick for any other sauce.
Here are the ingredients and steps to make your stew thicker and smoother:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of wheat flour with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Mix until you have a smooth and creamy texture.
- Add the beurre manié to the sauce or stew during cooking when too liquid.
Have you just cooked a good side sauce for dinner but you find it a bit too runny?
If the sauce is eaten cold, here are some tips and ingredients to thicken it:
- Add a little plain yogurt (choose the thickest yogurt possible).
- Add a little ricotta-type cheese to the sauce.
- Add mashed and smooth potatoes.
- Make whipped cream and add it slowly to the sauce.
- Add a little homemade mayonnaise (ideal for a vegetable dip for example)