With its slightly sweet and meaty taste, demi-glace sauce is something we all love! Whether you are having some steaks or some stuffed mushrooms, demi-glace sauce is all you need to go with it. But if you do not have it, look for some demi-glace substitutes.
Demi-glace is a popular French sauce. It is made by cooking beef stalks with Espagnole. The dish requires a lot of simmering and reducing. Hence cooking this sauce requires little preparation.
Gravy, mushroom gravy, red wine sauce, and bechamel sauce are some of the best demi-glace substitutes. Demi-glace performs as a sauce and is often used as a base for cooking so many other sauces.
So if you don’t have a demi-glace sauce at home, knowing about its alternative will help you finish the dish you are cooking without compromising on its flavor. So without wasting much time, let’s look at some of the best demi-glace substitutes.
12 Best Demi Glace Substitutes
If you love French cuisine, then demi-glace must be one of your favorite sauces. It goes well with most dishes, especially with chicken and beef! However, if you are out of it, try any of the below demi-glace substitutes.
1. Thickened Vegetable Stock
Thickened vegetable stock is a great demi-glace substitute. It comes with a lot of flavors and compliments most dishes that use demi-glace.
To make the vegetable stock, take some vegetable stock in a saucepan and mix it with two tablespoons of corn flour.
When the mixture starts to thicken, switch off the flame. Your demi-glace sauce substitute is ready to use. You can have it as it is or make it as a base for other sauces.
2. Condensed Stock
Condensed stock is another ingredient that works well as a demi-glace substitute. Condensed stock is widely available in grocery stores, often made with beef stocks, and comes in the form of paste.
If you have them, mix them with water or red wine. Simmer for some time until the sauce becomes thick. The condensed stock will have a strong meat taste similar to that of demi-glace and can be used as a standalone sauce or as a sauce for other dishes.
However, it will have a stronger taste than that of demi-glace. Hence when making it as a base, use less amount.
3. Beef Gravy
Beeg gravy is another easily available demi-glace substitute. Beef gravy has a similar color, taste and texture to demi-glace. You can either use store-bought beef gravy or even beef gravy in powdered form.
However, if you dislike the strong taste of this sauce, chances are high that you will not like the taste of this gravy.
4. Beef Stock
If you have some leftover beef stock, then you can use it as a demi-glace substitute. The beef stock has a strong meat taste which is similar to that of demi-glace sauce. However, beef stock isn’t as thick as demi-glace sauce.
So while using beef stock as a demi-glace substitute, make sure to thicken it a little bit. You can use it as a standalone sauce, and it can also be added as a base for other dishes. However, beef stock isn’t as flavorful as demi-glace sauce.
5. Demi Glace Concentrate
Demi-glace concentrate is available in the markets. They have a similar taste and texture as demi-glace and can be used as a substitute. Demi-glace concentrate comes in two forms – high-end concentrate and low-end concentrate.
The high-end concentrate uses real beef, celery, red wine, tomato paste, and veal stock mixed with carrots as its main ingredient. The ingredient used in low-end concentrate is similar to that of high-end concentrate.
However, the quality and quantity of ingredients used in low-end concentrate are less than that of high-end concentrate. Both these are available on both online and offline platforms.
6. Mushroom Gravy
If you are a vegetarian and are looking for a suitable demi-glace substitute, mushroom gravy is the best option. It is flavorful and thick, just like demi-glace sauce compliments a lot of dishes. Also, the taste of mushrooms isn’t overpowering.
Hence, the mushroom sauce could be your go-to dish if you want a mild substitute for demi-glace! That being said, the mushroom sauce has a very distant taste as that of demi-glace sauce and might not work well with certain non-vegetarian dishes.
7. Bechamel Sauce
Made with just milk, butter, and flour, bechamel sauce is another popular French sauce that could be used as a demi-glace substitute. Bechamel sauce is easy to make and blends well with most dishes.
However, unlike the demi-glace sauce, it has a very mild flavor. Hence, if you are using it as a demi-glace substitute, mix it with some herbs to add more flavor.
8. Red Wine Sauce
Red wine sauce is nothing but a sauce made of red wine, beef or chicken stock, and beef or chicken broth. Red wine sauce is an apt demi-glace substitute if you are looking for a stronger flavor sauce.
Red wine sauce has a strong red wine taste to it. You can correct the thickness of the dish by adding corn flour according to your needs.
9. Beef Bouillon
This is another great demi-glace substitute. It is made by dissolving beef bouillon stocks in water or red wine. It has a strong beef taste similar to demi-glace sauce and works well in most dishes.
To make this sauce, just dissolve two or three bouillon cubes in water or red wine. Stir until they are completely dissolved. Add some corn flour and adjust its thickness. This can be used as a standalone dish or as a base for other sauces.
10. Beef Consommé
Beef consomme is a clarified version of beef stock. It won’t have any residue and will have so many beef flavors. So if you have some beef consomme with you, you can use it as a demi-glace substitute.
It is intensely flavored and has a much lighter color than the regular beef stock. Beef consomme tastes very similar to demi-glace and is an excellent demi-glace substitute for making sauces and dips.
11. Gravy
Gravy has an intense taste and appetizing aroma similar to that of demi-glace and can be used as a demi-glace substitute. Gravy is an easy alternative to demi-glace as it looks so much like demi-glace yet is so easy to make.
Gravy might not be great for making the base for other sauces. However, gravy adds flavor to dishes like roasted potatoes or beef steaks.
12. Canned Soup
The canned soup comes in different flavors like standard beef, chicken, and veggie, and has a very intense taste. It can be used as a demi-glace substitute in a pinch. However, it is not an apt substitute as it has an intense sugar and salt taste.
Canned soup can be used as a demi-glace substitute in dishes like vegetable soups and mushroom soups. However, it is not suitable for making meat-based dishes.
Short Recap Of Demi-Glace Substitutes
Now that we have seen almost 12 substitutes for demi-glace, you must choose one according to your convenience. If not, here is a little token of help from my side!
Easily Available Demi Glace Substitutes –
- Beef Stock
- Condensed Stock
Most Suitable Demi Glace Substitutes –
- Demi Glace Concentrate
- Beef Stock
Substitute Options To Consider Last –
- Canned Soup
How To Use Demi Glace Substitutes In A Recipe
12 Best Demi Glace Substitutes You Should Try!
Ingredients
- Canned Soup
- Gravy
- Beef Consomme
- Beef Bouillon
- Red Wine Sauce
- Bechamel Sauce
- Mushroom Gravy
- Demi Glace Concentrate
- Beef Stock
- Beef Gravy
- Condensed Stock
- Thickened Vegetable Stock
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Conclusion
Demi-glace is a brown sauce widely used in French cuisine. It has a thick texture and a strong beef flavor. It is used as a standalone sauce or as a base for other sauces. However, if you are out of demi-glace, use a demi-glace substitute to finish your cooking.
So even if you cannot find a demi-glace sauce, make sure you find its alternative! Cook and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use gravy instead of demi-glace?
Gravy works great as a demi glace substitute.
What flavour is demi-glace?
Demi glace has a meaty taste to it with a slight sweetness.
Can I use stock instead of demi-glace?
Yes. Both beef stock and vegetable stock can be used as a demi glace substitute.
What color is demi-glace sauce?
Demi glace has a rich brown color to it.
