What is Remoulade Sauce? Biologically active substances included in its composition. Useful properties and potential contraindications. How to prepare the sauce, which dishes are the best to add?
Remoulade is a mayonnaise-based sauce in French cuisine. It includes ingredients such as pickled cucumbers, mustard, capers, anchovies, garlic, various herbs, vinegar, spices. In France, the sauce is served primarily with fish and seafood dishes; it is believed that it is in harmony with them best of all. However, the popularity in other countries has turned remoulade into a universal "seasoning" - in each country the sauce has found its own special application. So, in Belgium, he accompanies fries, in Denmark it is served with a roast, and in Iceland they cook hot dogs with it. Remoulade is a very tasty sauce with a memorable taste, and if prepared with homemade mayonnaise, it will also turn out to be healthy.
Composition and calorie content of remoulade sauce
Since remoulade is a sauce popular in many countries, the national characteristics of certain regions make their own adjustments to its recipe. However, ingredients such as mayonnaise, pickled cucumbers, capers and mustard are universal - they make the sauce recognizable even when supplemented with other ingredients.
The calorie content of remoulade sauce is 89 kcal per 100 grams, of which:
- Proteins - 0.2 g;
- Fat - 9 g;
- Carbohydrates - 1, 1 g;
- Dietary fiber - 0.4 g;
- Water - 89, 1 g;
- Starch - 3, 4 g;
- Ash - 1, 6 g.
The addition of various herbal components to mayonnaise, as you can see, greatly facilitates the remoulade sauce in terms of calories. However, it is still better not to get carried away with remoulade in the dietary diet, preferring dressings based on cold-pressed vegetable oils.
Minerals per 100 grams:
- Sodium - 411 mg;
- Potassium - 25 mg;
- Phosphorus - 83 mg;
- Magnesium - 6 mg;
- Calcium - 14 mg;
- Iron - 0.2 mg.
In addition, the composition of remoulade sauce contains vitamins, especially it is rich in tocopherol and niacin - 1, 2 and 0.2 mg per 100 grams of product, respectively, as well as B vitamins.
Useful properties of remoulade sauce
The beneficial properties of remoulade are a combination of the beneficial properties of the ingredients that make up it. However, we emphasize once again that in order for the product to have a beneficial effect on the body, mayonnaise for its base must be done independently. In turn, for its preparation, you need to use high-quality cold-pressed vegetable oil.
The benefits of remoulade sauce made with quality ingredients are as follows:
- High nutritional value … Mayonnaise is a high-calorie, fat-rich food. This contributes to the fact that dishes seasoned with mayonnaise and sauces based on it, saturate better. This fact helps to control appetite.
- Prevention of thyroid diseases … Pickled cucumbers, which are always part of the sauce, contain iodine compounds in an easily digestible form, this helps prevent iodine deficiency, which is currently widespread in Russia, as well as prevent thyroid diseases.
- Beneficial effect on the digestive tract … At the time of fermentation of cucumbers, lactic acid is produced, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive tract. In addition, we must not forget about the fiber included in their composition, which improves peristalsis and helps prevent constipation and increased gas formation.
- Neutralizing the effects of alcohol … Pickled cucumbers are also famous for their ability to neutralize the effect on the body of drinks containing ethyl alcohol. That is why they are always present on the table as a snack.
- Antioxidant effect … Capers contain special antioxidants that have been proven by Italian scientists to help the body neutralize the oxidation that accompanies the digestion of meat.
- Anti-cancer effect … Also recently, the compound stachydrin was discovered in capers, which helps to treat prostate cancer. The substance works at the genetic level and is capable of both preventing the development of the disease and effectively performing its therapy.
- Improving the condition of blood vessels … In the composition of capers there is another specific substance - rutin, it strengthens blood vessels and makes them more elastic. Thus, this product is a good remedy for atherosclerosis, arthritis, varicose veins.
- Strengthens bones, improves skin condition … Scientists also talk about the benefits of capers for bones due to their high mineral content. It is also noteworthy that caper extract is included in many skin care products, with a very different spectrum, ranging from standard moisturizers to those that eliminate specific skin problems.
- Anti-inflammatory properties … Mustard is another indispensable component of remoulade sauce, it has pronounced antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. The pathogenic flora that lives in the digestive system is especially "afraid" of mustard. Also, with regular use, it will help to avoid getting sick during colds.
- Improving the state of the nervous system … Mustard has a good effect on the blood circulation in the brain, due to which memory improves, concentration increases.
- Aphrodisiac … Finally, it should be said about the stimulating property of mustard - it works as a powerful aphrodisiac. For men, this seasoning helps with violations of potency, and for women with reduced fertility.
Note! Many sources claim that homemade mayonnaise, due to the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the vegetable oil on the basis of which it is prepared, has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, helping to get rid of bad cholesterol. However, it is important to remember that mayonnaise also contains eggs, which contain saturated fatty acids, which, on the contrary, increase the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. That is why it is impossible to talk seriously about improving the condition of the heart with the use of mayonnaise.
Contraindications and harm of remoulade sauce
If you have prepared remoulade based on homemade mayonnaise, in the recipe of which, in turn, unrefined oil was used, we can say that such a product will not harm a healthy person if consumed in moderation.
Caution should be used in the use of sauce for vulnerable populations - small children, women during the period of childbearing and lactation, as well as the elderly.
Due to the presence of capers in the composition, which have a blood-thinning effect, it is not recommended to eat the sauce in the postoperative period, regardless of the type of operation, since internal bleeding can be provoked. And due to the presence of mustard in the remoulade, it is better not to eat it before bedtime.
For people with certain health problems, sauce is generally prohibited. At risk are people who have:
- Heart disease … Here it is worth recalling the content of saturated fatty acids, the use of which in the presence of problems in the work of the heart and blood vessels is best avoided in every possible way.
- Diabetes … Also, in view of the presence of animal fats in the composition, mayonnaise and sauces based on it are prohibited in diabetes, since when they enter the body, insulin cannot work effectively enough.
- High blood pressure … Pickled cucumbers contain a lot of salt, and therefore dishes containing them are prohibited for hypertensive patients.
- Kidney dysfunction … Pickled cucumbers also retain water, which can negatively affect painful kidney function.
- Allergies … Capers - a rather exotic product for our country, and therefore its use can cause a negative reaction in people prone to allergies. This is why this population group needs to try remoulade sauce very carefully.
- Digestive system diseases … In this case, restrictions on consumption are imposed by the mustard used in the recipe, which irritates the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. If there are no problems with the gastrointestinal tract, this effect is beneficial or neutral, otherwise it can provoke an exacerbation of the disease.
As you can see, the group of people for whom the harm of remoulade sauce is quite real is wide. This means that the use of the product in the diet, despite the presence of a considerable range of useful properties, should be done with great care.
How to make remoulade sauce?
The process of making the original French sauce is very simple - in essence, it boils down to chopping and mixing its constituent components. However, if you do decide to make a healthy remoulade, you will first have to make homemade mayonnaise, which will somewhat complicate and prolong the process, but the result is worth it.
So, the classic recipe for remoulade sauce is as follows:
- Break 1 egg into a deep bowl, immediately add a pinch of salt and sugar.
- We begin to beat the egg with a mixer for about 30 seconds, then gradually pour in the oil (150 ml). The sauce will begin to thicken pretty quickly, and in a couple of minutes you will see a real homemade mayonnaise - it remains to add lemon juice (1 tablespoon) and turn on the mixer for another 5-15 seconds. Now you can try how balanced the mayonnaise is in taste and, if there is not enough salt, sugar or sourness, add the appropriate ingredient and beat again.
- The basis is ready - there is little left to do. Finely chop the cucumbers (30 grams) and capers (20 grams), add them to the base, send Dijon mustard there (0.5 teaspoon).
- That's all, it remains only to mix all the ingredients and send the remoulade to the refrigerator for half an hour, so that all the flavors merge together.
By the way, the product can always be diversified by adding additional ingredients to the remoulade recipe. Especially often garlic, parsley, green onions, anchovies, black pepper, balsamic vinegar are used as the latter.
Note! Many people are afraid to make homemade mayonnaise due to the use of raw eggs. To minimize the chance of contracting salmonellosis, the egg should be immersed in boiling water for a minute and then transferred to ice water. Another level of protection against risk is the use of fresh village eggs, the fact is that Salmonella does not immediately penetrate through the shell into the egg itself, which means that if it was laid yesterday or today, the risk that pathogenic microorganisms have already infected it is very short.
Recipes with remoulade sauce
French chefs invented remoulade sauce as a dressing for fish and seafood dishes, however, as we said at the beginning of the article, the popularity around the world made it completely universal. It is added with pleasure to meat dishes and salads, and even flavored with various sandwiches and hot dogs with remoulade.
Let's take a look at some interesting recipes:
- Fish cakes … Finely chop the onion (80 grams), send it to sauté in a pan until golden brown. Fish fillet (500 grams) thoroughly cleaned of bones, chopped coarsely and passed through a meat grinder. Add an egg (1 piece), onion, parsley (2 tablespoons), sour cream (30 grams), hot Tabasco sauce (a few drops), salt to taste to the minced meat. Mix all the ingredients properly and leave to infuse for half an hour. In the meantime, prepare the remoulade sauce. While it is infused, you can fry the cutlets - we form neat meatballs from the minced meat, bread in breadcrumbs and send them to the pan. Fry for about 10 minutes on each side - do not close the lid so that the breading is crispy. Serve cutlets with sauce, mashed potatoes and pickled cucumbers.
- Tongue with remoulade sauce … A simple but delicious dish. We wash the pork tongue thoroughly, cook for 1, 5-2 hours in slightly salted water with carrots, onions, celery root. Cooking remoulade. We cool the finished tongue, peel the film from it, cut into slices 5-7 ml thick. We spread the tongue on a plate, pour over the sauce.
- Remoulade salad … Boil potatoes (700 grams), eggs (4 pieces), cut into cubes. We also chop bell peppers (1 piece), onions (1 piece), ham (200 grams), celery (4 stalks) - by the way, you can replace it with a fresh cucumber. Mix all the ingredients with remoulade sauce, serve on lettuce leaves and decorate with olives.
- Danish sandwich … Cut off a piece of rye bread, spread with a little butter. Top with a few slices of thinly sliced roast beef, arugula and remoulade sauce. The finishing touch is pickled cucumbers and fried onions.
As you can see, the sauce is very versatile indeed. If you like its taste, you can complement any dishes with it. Remoulade will be very appropriate on the festive table: men will like it, as it has a hearty mayonnaise base, and will be appreciated by women, since the calorie content of mayonnaise is well "diluted" with additional ingredients. However, we remind you that it is often not worth using it in large quantities.
Interesting facts about remoulade sauce
The sauce is credited with a respectable age - it is believed that it appeared in the 9th century, at about the same moment when mayonnaise and mustard were "discovered". However, remoulade gained particular popularity in France only in the 19th century.
Often, alcoholic beverages are added to the sauce as an additional ingredient - this gives it a special piquant flavor. However, since remoulade is not subject to heat treatment, notes of alcohol are especially felt in it, which means that only top quality drinks can be used in this case.
If remoulade is planned to be served with meat dishes, it is better not to add an ingredient such as anchovy to it. But if you are preparing a sauce for fish, anchovies will be very appropriate. However, if you cannot find them, keep in mind that they can be replaced with ordinary salted sprat without much damage to the taste.
How to make remoulade sauce - watch the video:
