Nantua sauce

Nantua Sauce is a classic French sauce named after the city of Nantua, located in the Ain department in eastern France. The sauce is renowned for its rich, creamy texture and delicate flavor, derived primarily from the use of crayfish.

Ingredients and Preparation

The primary ingredient in Nantua Sauce is crayfish. The crayfish are first cooked in a court-bouillon, a flavored broth, then shelled. The shells are then crushed and cooked with a mirepoix, a mixture of diced vegetables, and tomato paste. This mixture is then moistened with fish stock and white wine, and simmered until it has reduced to the desired consistency. The sauce is then strained, and the crayfish meat is added back in. Finally, the sauce is finished with cream and butter, giving it its characteristic rich and creamy texture.

Uses

Nantua Sauce is traditionally served with quenelles, a type of dumpling made from creamed fish or meat. However, it can also be used as a sauce for other seafood dishes, or as a base for soups and stews.

History

The city of Nantua, after which the sauce is named, is known for its abundance of crayfish. The sauce was likely developed in this region due to the availability of this ingredient. The exact origins of the sauce are unclear, but it is thought to have been created in the 19th century.

See Also

• List of sauces
• French cuisine
• Crayfish as food