golden raisins
A raisin sauce can be a sweet and sour addition to a savory dessert or main course. The sauce is usually made from raisins, an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice, and spices that balance the flavor of the raisins. Most sauces are cooked by reconstituting the dried raisins and making them soft and moist, or by dividing them completely into the sauce. Some recipes call for a raisin sauce to accentuate the sweetness of the raisins by combining them with other fruits or sugars. Many types of foods, including meat dishes that include pork or chicken, can go well with this sauce.
Red wine can be added to the raisin sauce to enhance the flavor.
One of the key elements to making a raisin sauce is developing the right consistency. There are dessert recipes that call for the raisins to be pre-soaked to soften them, while others reduce the raisins in a sugary sauce until they completely fall apart. Whole raisins are often used in puddings or breads. Heavy or savory dishes sometimes use a raisin-based sauce that is smooth, achieving this texture by blending the raisins into the sauce or boiling them with other ingredients and straining out the solids from the final reduction.
Grilled chicken can be basted with raisin sauce.
A simple raisin sauce that can be used for dessert starts with raisins, water, and orange or lemon zest. These are placed in a pan and heated until the raisins soften and begin to expand. Cinnamon and nutmeg are added in small amounts to provide a balance of flavors and an interesting tone. The sauce is thickened with a bit of molasses or brown sugar and then reduced until smooth and thick, although bits of the raisins are still visible. Other condiments, such as apple or orange juice, can be used in small amounts to increase acidity.
Savory dishes like ham or chicken go well with raisin sauce. These sauces usually start with the raisins boiled in vinegar and a little water to soften them. Brown sugar is added to balance the flavors and create a sweet and sour aftertaste. Condiments such as dry mustard, allspice, nutmeg, or lemon juice are mixed into the sauce to complement the main course. Finally, to thicken the sauce, cornstarch is added after it has been made into a paste with hot water.
Other ingredients that can help flavor a raisin sauce include reduced red wine with raisins, ginger, and butter. Capers can help make a sauce that works well with fish. Rum or cranberries can add a complex flavor to a dessert sauce. Chicken dishes can be complemented with a sauce that includes diced tomatoes or pineapple.