Are you looking for a dessert recipe and come across Melba sauce? Wondering what it is exactly, what it is made of and what you can expect it to taste like? Well, you’ll find out all you need to know here today.
So, what is Melba sauce? Melba sauce is a sweet fruit sauce typically made with raspberries; though other fruit can be used to create a variation. It is commonly associated with the dessert Peach Melba but works great when drizzled over ice cream, frozen yogurt, pancakes, waffles, or other pudding.
As you can imagine, this really is a vibrant and delicious sauce.
And it’s not too difficult to make either, as we shall be finding out.
Its origins are fascinating; ever since it was first specially made for the international classical musician, Dame Nellie Melba at the Savoy Hotel in London, 1892.
While the purpose of her visit was to perform Wagner’s Lohengrin, it was the dessert that ultimately, became the iconic outcome of the trip.
If it was good enough for her, it’s good enough for us, right?
So let us now take a closer look at Melba sauce so you know exactly what to expect should you proceed to make some.
Contents
What Is Melba Sauce Made Of?
Melba sauce is most typically made from puréed and strained fresh raspberries, red currant jelly, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon peel. Sometimes, you will see recipes that include cornstarch too.
At the same time, while traditional Melba sauce is made of raspberries, there is no reason why you could not swap them out for another berry, as a variation of the sauce.
For instance, blueberries and strawberries would work particularly well, even if they are not found nor would be considered, true Melba.
What Does Melba Sauce Taste Like?
Melba sauce is a sweet and a little tart in flavor. If properly prepared and following a typical recipe, the taste of raspberries will really come through.
Although the resulting flavor has a lot to do with the raspberries used.
Generally, the riper the raspberries, the sweeter they will taste and the more intense their flavor will be.
How To Make Melba Sauce
Melba sauce is made by simmering raspberries, straining the juice, and heating the resulting juice with the remaining ingredients (sugar, jelly, lemon juice/peel, and salt).
That’s the gist of it, and thankfully Melba sauce requires minimal ingredients.
Let us now look at a typical recipe and the step by step instructions:
Ingredients
- 6 ounces of Fresh Raspberries
- 1⁄2 Cup of Red Currant Jelly
- 1⁄4 cup of Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon of Lemon Juice
- 1⁄4 Teaspoon of Grated Lemon Peel
- 1 Dash of Salt
- Optional – 1 Tablespoonf of Corn Starch
Method
Step One: To begin, wash your raspberries and add them into a food processor or blender. Blitz until they are finely pureed. If you would like a seedless Melba sauce, use a strainer to remove them.
Step Two: Add the raspberry puree to a saucepan along with all of the other ingredients. Simmer of a low-medium heat and stir to mix it all together.
Step Three: Reduce until you get to your required thickness. You can always add a little water if it gets too thick.
Step Four: Remove from the heat, pour into an airtight container, and leave to cool. Serve thereafter or place in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Use frozen raspberries if fresh are not available, but you will need to thaw them first.
- For a thicker sauce, either add more jelly or consider adding cornstarch.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little water and stir.
- This sauce will thicken once it cools, so do consider this before taking it off the heat!
What To Eat Melba Sauce With
Melba sauce is incredibly versatile, its sweet flavors pair nicely with most dessert dishes. Although, it is best served over ice cream, waffles, and pancakes.
Other than this, be sure to try it with cheesecake, fruit, or even cake.
In fact, I have seen some people even eat it with toast.
Wherever you would like to add a little sweet and thick raspberry-flavored sauce, well give it a try!
Finally
Melba sauce; just one of the best dessert sauces. At least in my opinion.
And thankfully it’s not too challenging to make either.
So if you do like raspberries, be sure to give it a try.
It will make a nice change at the very least!
Hello. I’m Jeremy – an experienced saucier who has worked in some of the top kitchens over the last few decades. With a love for sauces, food, and nutrition, I decided to create WeWantTheSauce. Here I share my knowledge and expertise; from ingredients and recipes to storage all the way through to recommendations for every sauce imaginable.