What is Worcester Sauce? What can be substituted in a Caesar salad or bloody mary?

A traditional and beloved dressing in England is Worcester sauce. It came to Russia together with Caesar salad and Bloody Mary cocktail. Its composition is complex. It has a sour-sweet taste, which perfectly complements almost any dish. In recipes, it can be found as "Worcestershire", "Worcester", "Worcester sauce" or "Worcestershire".

What is Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire was created back in the nineteenth century by two chemists who experimented with different formulations. They ended up with a sauce that didn't taste very good. They put it in a barrel and safely forgot about it. In the meantime it was infusing, and new flavor notes were opening up.

They remembered the barrel with unpalatable sauce only a year later. It tasted great and has been the most popular dressing in England ever since.

Composition

There are various components in the composition. The classic recipe for the seasoning is quite complex, but many housewives and chefs have long figured out how to replace some components without compromising the flavor. Some ingredients can be eliminated altogether.

The main feature of Worcestershire is anchovy - a pre-dried small fish with a special flavor. It is what gives the seasoning that flavor. You can buy anchovies today in almost any supermarket.

According to the classic recipe, the composition includes:

• water;
• anchovies;
• shallots;
• garlic;
• curry;
• hot, allspice and ground black pepper;
• beef broth;
• tamarind;
• lemon juice;
• horseradish;
• celery;
• ginger root;
• granulated sugar;
• salt;
• bay leaf;
• nutmeg;
• asafetida;
• vinegar;
• molasses.

This is the composition of a sauce prepared back in the nineteenth century. Today a simpler recipe is used. In addition, it is possible to purchase a ready-made product.

History of Origin

The story of the appearance of the Worcester is quite interesting. But many consider it only a legend.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Lord Marcus Sandys, already a former governor of Bengal, returns to his native England from his journey across India. He comes to his Worcester, which is in the county of Worcestershire, and after a while he gets tired of eating boring English food. After all, the Englishman's diet then consisted mostly of oatmeal, fish, potatoes and rice. The lord is used to the colorful Indian cuisine, full of many spices. Then he enlisted the help of two apothecaries, William Perrins and John Lea, to prepare for him a sauce of vegetables and fish according to a special recipe. But the apothecaries were unable to accomplish such a task, and the resulting condiment tasted disgusting.

Then it was put in barrels and left in the basement. A year later it was recalled, and it turned out that the sauce had transformed from a strongly odorous slurry into a fragrant substance. It was bottled and sold.

The seasoning was so popular with housewives that they still use it to this day, not only for Caesar salad, but also for meat or vegetable dishes. Its special sour-sweet flavor makes it the perfect accompaniment to almost any dish.

Most likely, Lord Sandys, did not exist. Historians have never found written confirmation of his existence. Perhaps the apothecaries invented it themselves.

They even managed to negotiate with the stewards of British ships so that Worcester sauce would be included on passengers' menus. This brought them not only profits, but also worldwide fame.

In 1839, after arriving in New York from England, bottled sauce became the first condiment to be imported into America. Brand-name producers, keeping with tradition, still wrap the bottle in paper today.

Where to put Worcestershire sauce

The most famous dish where Worcestershire sauce is added is Caesar salad. But today the sauce is used to give different dishes a unique flavor and aroma. It goes well with burgers, meats, nuggets, kebabs. It is used in cooking some kinds of soups. Excellent accompaniment to minced meat or vegetable stew.

The sauce is also used in cooking cocktail "bloody Mary". Thus, Worcestershire can be attributed to the universal seasoning, which will allow you to spice up any dish.

Benefits and harms of the sauce

Worcestershire sauce contains many components, which contain beneficial substances that have positive effects on the body.

1. Calcium. Contributes to the strengthening of bone tissue.
2. Iron. It is essential to the hematopoiesis process. Its lack leads to anemia and anemia.
3. Vitamin C. It supports the immune system, helps to fight colds.
4. Potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. These substances are simply necessary for muscle tissue, contribute to the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
5. B vitamins. They are involved in almost all chemical processes in the body, help maintain the proper functioning of internal organs and systems.
6. Zinc, selenium. They are also necessary for the body because they contribute to the synthesis of many hormones.

This sauce helps to maintain the beauty and youthfulness of the skin, improves the mood, and normalizes the function of the digestive system.

It is always consumed in small portions, so it does not bring harm. The contraindications include the presence of acute stomach diseases, as the composition contains vinegar and lemon juice. They have a negative effect on the mucosa of the stomach. You should not add Worcester to dishes and people who suffer from diabetes mellitus. Store-bought spice contains sugar and molasses, which leads to a significant increase in blood glucose levels.

With caution it should be used by hypertensive people, as Worcester contains a sufficient amount of salt.

How to choose and where to buy

You can buy the product in a supermarket, as well as on the official website of the manufacturer. The only manufacturer of the original sauce according to the classic recipe is the company Lea & Perrins.

The product of the company APPEL is not the original, but only a counterpart. It is cheaper and differs in composition and taste.

Before buying the sauce, it is important to carefully inspect the bottle and pay attention to:

1. The integrity of the packaging. Violation of tightness leads to rapid deterioration of the product.
2. Expiration date. You should not use condiment, the shelf life of which has expired.
3. Manufacturer. The original sauce is produced only by one company. Others are analogues.

Store the product in the refrigerator, in a tightly closed container for no more than 2 weeks after opening.

What you can replace the Worcester sauce

Worcestershire can be replaced with a mixture of balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. Many people use olive oil with lemon as an alternative.

The best substitutes for Worcester sauce:

1. Fish sauce. - Since it is made from fermented anchovies, it has similar flavor notes to the original Worcester sauce.
2. BBQ sauce. - A good substitute for grilled meats and a variety of dressings. It is better to choose spicy and sweet varieties of sauce.
3. Oyster sauce - This seasoning is a good substitute for cooking sauces and fried potatoes.
4. Coconut amino acids - A vegetarian substitute for Worcestershire. Suitable for sauces and marinades.
5. Sherry vinegar. - Tastes similar to "Worcester sauce" (sweet and sour, but less spicy). The ratio for substitution is 1:1.

Sometimes in recipes, "Worcestershire" can be substituted for: A1 steak sauce, Shaoxing wine, Tabasco (suitable for replacement in Bloody Mary) or anchovy paste.

This is interesting! Many chefs have tried to replicate the worchester. That is why today there are many recipes for its analogues. But to achieve the same flavor and aroma was not possible. It is impossible to prepare a real spice on your own at home.

How to cook Worcester sauce at home

For almost 200 years, chefs and experienced hostesses have been trying to replicate the sauce, but they haven't been able to do it yet. There are a large number of recipes for making the condiment. Each of them is special in its own way. The most popular are:

Classic .

You need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 2 anchovies;
• 2 heads of onions;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• 3 tbsp. 9% vinegar;
• 50g ginger;
• 5 dates;
• 1.5 tbsp. soy sauce;
• 300 ml water;
• 1 tsp. dried clove flowers and ground cinnamon;
• 2 tsp. curry;
• 1.5 tbsp. granulated sugar;
• 1 tsp. cardamom;
• 1.5 tsp. black pepper;
• one-third tsp. red pepper and salt.

Garlic, spices, fish, onion and ginger are placed in a bag of gauze, tie it. Pour water into a small saucepan or ladle, put the bundle with spices and put on the heated stove, bringing it to a boil. Then pour the soy sauce, add sugar, salt, pre-grated dates. After the mixture comes to the boil, turn down the heat to low, and cook for 35 minutes.

Insist the resulting mixture for 2 weeks together with the pouch. At the end of this time, remove it, and stir the resulting sauce thoroughly.

Sauce without cooking

For it you will need:

• 5 tbsp. spoonfuls of dark liquid honey;
• 1.5 tbsp. dried onions;
• Tbsp. lemon juice;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• Tbsp. apple cider vinegar;
• 2 anchovies;
• 0.5 tsp. ground red and black pepper;
• one-third tsp. salt and cinnamon;
• cardamom on the tip of a knife.

Pour honey in a container, add crushed garlic and fish, spices, lemon juice. Put the mixture into a glass container, close tightly, shake and leave in a cold place for 12 hours.

Homemade Worcestershire

The following ingredients will be required:

• 1 tbsp. vinegar (table vinegar);
• 2 anchovies;
• 2 tsp. mustard grains;
• onion;
• 3 tsp. granulated sugar;
• 1.5 tsp. prepared horseradish;
• tbsp. lemon juice;
• 0.5 tsp. cloves and ground cinnamon;
• 1 teaspoon each of paprika and curry;
• couple of cloves of garlic;
• half a glass of water;
• half a tsp. cardamom;
• one-third cup soy sauce;
• 0.5 tsp. peppercorns mixture.

Pour the water and vinegar into a saucepan and place on the fire. While they boil, chop garlic, anchovies, onion, put in a gauze bag, adding there spices and horseradish. Dip it into boiling water with vinegar and cook for half an hour. Then pour the sauce and lemon juice. The resulting mixture cool, pour it into a jar. At the same time the pouch does not need to be removed. All insist a week, shaking daily.

How to Make a Caesar Salad Without Worcestershire Sauce

The salad can be made without using Worcestershire. The dressing will require:

• Tbsp. soy sauce;
• chicken egg;
• 20 g of sweet mustard;
• 100 ml of olive oil;
• One-third of a lemon;
• 50g of hard cheese.

Boil one and a half liters of water, then remove from the heat. Carefully pierce the shell of an egg from the blunt side and drop it into boiling water for 3 minutes, after which break it, and put the egg into a suitable container. Beat it with a blender so that the volume has increased about twice.

Add lemon juice to the mass and beat again. Then put grated cheese, mustard and soy sauce. Blend again. While beating, add oil in small portions. Cover the mixture with cling film and leave in the fridge for 2 hours, after which you can add it to your favorite Caesar salad.

Worcester sauce is the pride of England. It was invented in the 19th century, but is still very popular today. It is used as a condiment for many dishes and even cocktails. Thanks to its rich composition, the classic sauce has a positive effect on the body. But it should be used only in small portions. This way it will not cause harm, but will give a dish a special taste and flavor.