Sauces

A sauce is a popular type of condiment. It is a flavorful liquid, cream, or semi-solid food that enhances dishes by adding flavor, texture, and visual appeal. Some of the earliest known sauces include garum, a fish sauce favored by Ancient Romans, and doubanjiang, a Chinese soybean paste referenced in the “Rites of Zhou.”

From the French “sauce,” rooted in the Latin “salsa” meaning “salted,” sauces have been a fundamental component in cooking for centuries. Sauces come in many forms and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. They range from cold options like mayonnaise and warm sauces such as béchamel to those prepared cold but served warm like pesto. In modern kitchens, sauces are freshly made by chefs or conveniently purchased pre-made, like Worcestershire sauce, HP Sauce, soy sauce, or ketchup. For salads, sauces are known as salad dressings, while sauces created by deglazing a pan are called pan sauces.