Steak Sauce Recipe: Easy Homemade Food Gift

My dad is the master of adding a bold flavor kick to any dish. So, I’ll be adding a special food gift to my Father’s Day checklist: homemade steak sauce. This dark brown sauce is rich and peppery, making it ideal to dress up steak, chicken or burgers. The homemade version also beats the store-bought kind as it uses everyday ingredients like Worcestershire sauce and ketchup, plus is easy to bottle for gifting. Here’s how to whip up a batch of steak sauce as a DIY food gift!

The ingredients in steak sauce

Steak sauce typically consists of Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, brown sugar and other ingredients. While it contains similar ingredients to those you’d find in BBQ sauce, Brian Theis, recipe developer and food blogger, says “tomato sauce is the main difference between the two — the former will include [a significant amount], while the latter won’t.” Using less tomato sauce or ketchup gives steak sauce a flavor that’s mostly savory with hints of tang and sweetness.

Why homemade steak sauce is the perfect food gift

Anyone who loves adding extra oomph to their dishes will appreciate freshly made steak sauce as a food gift. It beats the store-bought kind because it doesn’t contain any additives or preservatives. Also, you can adjust the flavor by using a low-sodium soy sauce for less saltiness or adding more sugar for a sweeter taste. What’s better is this sauce can be used to flavor up other foods besides steak. Slather it on stuffed burgers, toss it into satuéed mushrooms or drizzle it over tender pork chops. Before you know it, your loved one’s everyday favorites will be a whole lot more delicious with very little effort!

Easy trick to bottle DIY sauce without mess

Pouring the cooked sauce directly from the saucepan into a bottle can get messy. Luckily, a plastic or metal funnel eliminates as its wide cup and narrow sprout collect and deliver the sauce into the bottle — sans any spills. Simply place the funnel over the bottle’s opening and fill the vessel with sauce, leaving ½ inch of empty space at the top. Then, you can screw on the cap and get ready to gift it.

How to make steak sauce

For easy-to-prep steak sauce, try Theis’ recipe below. “Glorious on steak, my sauce is tangy and sweet, in the spirit of A.1., but without the preservatives,” he says. Enjoy it with cooked steak or other proteins to boost their taste! (Another easy food gift idea is our Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning, which you can place into clean spice jars or shakers.)

Steak Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup raisins
½ cup chopped onion
¾ cup soy sauce (low-sodium if preferred)
½ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup ketchup
3 Tbs. dijon mustard
2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
Zest of 1 large orange
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. celery seed

Directions:

Yield: 2 cups

Place ingredients into medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.
In high-powered blender or food processor, blend until smooth mixture forms. Allow to cool completely before pouring into separate clean bottles or jars.
Once filled, gently tap container on flat surface to remove any air bubbles and seal top. Store in fridge up to 2 weeks for maximum flavor and freshness.