8 types of sauces you should prepare at least once

It is no secret that a good sauce can transform an ordinary dish into an extraordinary culinary creation. The right choice of ingredients can blend textures and intensify flavors to the maximum. The good news is that you only need to know how to prepare eight different types of sauces to be able to cook all kinds of dishes. Here are the sauces you should learn to prepare: Bechamel: this creamy sauce is one of the stars of famous dishes such as macaroni and cheese or lasagna. To cook it, you just need to mix “roux” (basically some type of fat with flour) with milk or another dairy product. Its flavor is very neutral, so it is usually accompanied by stronger ingredients.Tomato: a good plate of pasta should always be topped with a delicious homemade tomato sauce. The secret of this traditional sauce is not precisely in its ingredients (which are quite basic: tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil), but in the cooking time. You need to let it simmer over medium heat for a long period to reduce it slowly until it reaches a thicker consistency. Hollandaise: if you have never tried this exquisite sauce, there is a very simple way to describe it. Hollandaise sauce is the gourmet version of the mayonnaise you use to prepare your sandwiches. To prepare it, you just need to mix egg yolk with butter and lemon juice. Because the eggs do not undergo a cooking process, it is very important to be careful when storing it.Velouté: the sauce that will help you make the most of your cooking broth is called velouté (or velvet, in Spanish). Although its name sounds very sophisticated, its preparation is very simple. All you need to do is combine butter, oil, or the fat of your choice with a little flour and the broth from the meat, fish, or chicken you have cooked. Espagnole: another classic sauce is “espagnole.” This sauce is a toasted brown color and is made by mixing carrots, celery, and onion with meat broth. Some people add spices, such as bay leaves, and even a splash of sherry. Barbecue: the queen of sauces for grilled meats is undoubtedly barbecue. It is usually used to coat wings or ribs, but it can actually be used in a wide variety of dishes. If you have no idea how to prepare it, here we tell you step by step how to make a homemade barbecue sauce.Sweet and Sour: this type of sauce is typical of oriental cuisine. It is generally prepared with a sweet ingredient, which can be honey or orange juice, and other salty or even spicy elements. Ginger, red chili, and soy sauce are also common components in these sauces. Spicy: of course, we couldn't finish this list without talking about spicy sauces. Although this variety of sauces requires a complete article to explain all the options available, we can categorize them into green, red, raw, and cooked. If you know how to prepare a green sauce with tomatillo or a red one, you’re already halfway there.