​Exploring the world of homemade sauces

When we think of homemade preserves, we tend to concentrate on jams and chutneys, then move on to marmalades, jellies, pickles and relishes. The humble sauce, whether sweet or savoury, often gets forgotten, so it’s our mission in today’s blog post to right that wrong! From lip-smacking barbecue sauces and ketchup to sumptuous dessert sauces like cherry sauce or raspberry coulis, we’re going to show you that sauces deserve just as much attention as those jams, jellies, pickles and preserves.

Our range of glass sauce bottles

Before we get started with some recipe ideas for sensational sauces, we’d like to talk about our fabulous range of glass sauce bottles. When you make your own sauces, they somehow look even more professional and awesome if you present them in the right style of bottle - ketchup and barbecue sauces go in traditionally shaped sauce bottles, whilst salad creams go in bottles that remind you of the world’s most famous salad cream brand. We have tall, thin bottles with long necks that suit dessert sauces like raspberry or cherry sauce, and we even have a bottle that is a perfect match for the traditional shape of a Worcestershire sauce bottle. We can’t quite put our finger on why the shape of the bottle you use makes such a difference in terms of professional appearance, but it certainly does - after all, there’s a reason why that well-known sauce brand has stuck with its traditional designs for decades!

So, read through our fabulous ideas for sweet and savoury sauces, decide which sauces you plan to make, and then select the glass sauce bottles you need to present your creations in the very best light. Don’t forget labels too - as we’ve said in the past, a good label can really lift the presentation of homemade preserves.

Savoury sauce ideas

We’ve published a fantastic recipe for tomato ketchup in the past, so do check that out if you have a tomato glut to cope with at the moment. Another great savoury sauce is barbecue sauce - as you’d expect, it’s the perfect accompaniment to barbecued meats, such as burgers, chicken wings, sausages and ribs. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

500gms fresh tomatoes, chopped and pulped 100g brown sugar

1 onion, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

5 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp tomato purée

1 tbsp olive oil

Method

Heat the olive oil and add the onion, cooking on a gentle heat until soft.

Add all of the other ingredients, along with a pinch of salt and pepper, and combine thoroughly.

Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent it sticking or burning. When the mixture has thickened, pour it into clean, sterilised glass sauce bottles and seal.

We like this sauce to have a chunky texture, but if you’d prefer a super smooth sauce, simply blitz it in the food processor before pouring into bottles. This sauce will keep for a few weeks in the fridge.

Other savoury sauces you might like to try may include hollandaise sauce, mayonnaise, salsa for dipping, teriyaki sauce, or a hot and sweet chilli dipping sauce.

Sweet sauce ideas

When it comes to sweet sauces, the world really is your oyster. Sweet sauces can be used to pour over ice cream or to stir into yoghurt. You can flavour water with them for a refreshing drink, or make thick milkshakes or smoothies with them for a blast of summertime fun. Here’s a great recipe for a sensational raspberry sauce that is just amazing on pancakes, waffles or as a complement to a rich and indulgent chocolate cake.

Ingredients

750gms raspberries

50gms sugar

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

splash of water

Method

Wash and pat dry the raspberries, making sure you remove any leaf pieces or debris Put all the ingredients in a pan and heat on a moderate setting until the raspberries turn to pulp and the sugar has dissolved. This should take around 8-10 minutes.

Pass the sauce through a strainer to remove the seeds, and then pour into clean, sterilised glass sauce bottles, and seal. Again, this should keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks - if it lasts that long without being devoured!

You can adapt the raspberry sauce recipe for whatever soft fruit you have to hand, making it perfect for using up a glut from the garden or a punnet of fruit that is a little over-ripe. Blueberry sauce is another sure-fire hit, and a mixed berry sauce is delicious for late summer puddings and desserts.

Are you a fan of sauces? Whether you like a dollop of sauce in a burger, a big splash of mayonnaise in a homemade sandwich or a good dipping sauce for breadsticks and carrot and cucumber sticks, we’d love to hear about your favourite recipes. Share your ideas with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, with photos if possible!