Balsamic Steak Sauce

Who doesn’t love steak? But preparing perfect steak is a tough task. Balsamic steak sauce can make your steak game one step ahead. So, we are here to tell you the catchiest recipe for homemade balsamic sauce for steak.

Additionally, our experts create an effective time and temperature chart to prepare steak according to your preference. We will also mention which cuts of steak will pair best with the easy Balsamic sauce.

Therefore, you can say that this article will help to prepare steak like a pro. Are you ready to explore? Without wasting time, let’s jump into the main recipe. We will mention useful tips to avoid any hardship while cooking. So, we recommend not skipping any section to be a pro.

Balsamic Steak Sauce Ingredients

Rich and tangy steak sauce requires only a few ingredients. These ingredients make the Balsamic sauce rich, tangy, and flavorful which helps to enhance the flavors of your steak.

1. Balsamic Vinegar – ½ cup

Balsamic vinegar is the key ingredient for steak sauce with Balsamic vinegar. You should select aged and high-quality Balsamic vinegar for Balsamic vinegar sauce recipes.  

2. Olive Oil – 1 tablespoon

Olive oil adds richness and depth to the easy Balsamic reduction.

3. Chopped Onion – 1 tablespoon

Onion gives an amazing flavor to the sauce. Make sure the onions are shallowly chopped. 

4. Minced Garlic – 2 cloves

Garlic delivers a satisfying fragrance that complements the Zesty Balsamic marinate. 

5. Honey or Brown Sugar – 1 tablespoon

Honey or brown sugar balances the tangy flavor of the Balsamic vinegar and assists in preparing sweet and savory steak sauce. 

6. Fresh Thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried) – 1 tablespoon

Fresh thyme gives an earthy tone to the homemade Balsamic sauce for steak. 

7. Bay Leaf – 1 piece

Bay leaf also adds a desirable flavor to the sauce that nicely goes with steak. 

8. Salt – ¼ teaspoon (To taste)

½ teaspoon salt is suggested to prepare Balsamic steak sauce with ½ cup of Balsamic vinegar.

Tips: We recommend using salt according to your taste. So, taste the sauce before using the salt, then add with minimal portion, and repeat if require more saltiness.  

9. Freshly Ground Black Pepper – ½ teaspoon (To taste)

Ground black pepper to make the sauce sharp and slightly spicy. 

10. Beef Broth (Optional) – ¼ cup

You can add beef broth to prepare sweet and tangy sauce for beef. It delivers a meaty base which enhances the flavor.

Tips: You can avoid beef broth. It enhances the flavors of the sauce but is not a mandatory ingredient.  

11. Dijon Mustard (Optional) – 1 tablespoon

Adding Dijon mustard to the sauce is a great savory steak sauce idea. Dijon Mustard makes the sauce tangy and savory. It also works as a thickening ingredient to thicken the Balsamic dressing for steak.

How to Make the Perfect Balsamic Steak Sauce at Home: Easy 5 steps

Preparing the Balsamic glaze for grilled steak is quite simple. We have divided the Balsamic sauce-making process into easy 5 steps.

Step 1: Sauté the Chopped Onion & Garlic

Sautéing onion and garlic into oil helps to make the sauce more flavorful.

• Take a medium saucepan.
• Then, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
• Put the chopped onion and garlic into the saucepan.
• Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrance and stir continuously. Be careful and don’t burn it. 
• It may take 1 to 2 minutes.

Tips: You can avoid sautéing the onion and garlic and directly boil the chopped onion and garlic in the Balsamic vinegar. But, we recommend sautéing because it helps to enhance the flavors of the sauce. 

Step 2: Add the Liquids

After sautéing the onion and garlic, you need to add all the liquid ingredients one by one, in this step.

• Pour the Balsamic vinegar and beef broth into the sautéed onion and garlic.
• Stir them nicely.
• Then cook for 5 – 10 minutes to reduce the volume to one-third.  

Step 3: Season the Sauce

Now, add the seasoning ingredients to season the sauce.

• Add honey, fresh thyme, bay leaf, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the sauce.

Tips: Before measuring honey, you can spray nonstick to the measuring spoon. It will help to avoid sticking honey on the measuring spoon. Or, you can directly put the honey in the saucepan according to your measurement assumption. 

Step: Thicken the Sauce

After adding the seasoning ingredients, it’s time to thicken the sauce into your desired consistency.

• Reduce the heat to a low temperature.
• Simmer the sauce for another 3 – 5 minutes.
• This process will help to meld the flavors nicely together.  

Step 5: Serve

Lastly, remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the tangy balsamic glaze into a bowl. Now spread the sauce on the cooked hot steak. Then enjoy the pan-seared steak with Balsamic drizzle.

Tips: If you want a smooth consistency, you can strain the thyme and bay leaf from the sauce. 

Time & Temperature Chart for Preparing the Perfect Steak

Preparing the perfect steak is quite difficult. So, we have come up with a precise time & temperature chart. After following the chart, you can easily prepare the perfect steak according to your preferences.

Time & Temperature Chart (1 Inch Thick Steak) 

Steak Type	Cooking Time (Each Side)	Internal Temperature
Rare	2 – 3 minutes	120 – 125°F (49-52°C)
Medium Rare	3 – 4 minutes	130 – 135°F (54-57°C)
Medium	4 – 5 minutes	140 – 145°F (60-63°C)
Medium-Well	5 – 6 minutes	150 – 155°F (66-68°C)
Well Done	6 – 7 minutes	160°F+ (71°C+)

What Cuts of Steak Work Best With Balsamic Sauce?

The Balsamic steak sauce is versatile enough and can be paired with various cuts of steak. However, there are a few cuts of steaks that suit the Balsamic steak glaze the most. Let us tell you the top 5 cuts of steaks that work best with the Balsamic sauce.

1. New York Strip

The thickness of the New York Strip is about 1 to 1.5 inches. It is very tender and juicy which goes nicely with the Balsamic sauce. 

2. Ribeye

Ribeye cut is also thick around 1 to 1.5 inches and it has high-fat marbling that nicely complements the Balsamic dressing for steak. 

3. Flank Steak

Flank steak is thinner than all the mentioned cuts. The thickness of this cut is about 0.5 – 1 inch. It is lean, fibrous, and flavorful. So, you can pair your Balsamic sauce with this cut of steak. 

4. Filet Mignon

Filet Mignon is thicker than all the mentioned cuts with 1.5 to 2 inches thickness. It is extremely tender with low fat. So, enjoy the light tangy Balsamic steak sauce with Filet Mignon cut.

5. Sirloin 

Sirloin is about 1 to 1.5 inches thick, lean, and moderately tender. Besides, this one is affordable too. Pair Sirloin cut with rich Balsamic sauce.

Conclusion

The Balsamic steak sauce is an amazing sauce to elevate the taste and flavors of steak. The tanginess of Balsamic sauce, the sweetness of honey, and the savory seasoning ingredients make the steak delicious and burst with flavors.

We have provided an overall guideline with all the necessary tips for our recipe. So, why do you waste your time? Follow our recipe and try to prepare the flavorful Balsamic sauce and elevate your steak game. Be with us to gather knowledge to improve your culinary experience.

FAQs

What Ingredients Pair Well With Balsamic Vinegar in Steak Sauce?

Balsamic vinegar is tangy which makes it versatile to pair with sweet and savory ingredients. Here is a list of ingredients that pair well with Balsamic vinegar in steak sauce.

• Chopped onion & garlic
• Honey or brown sugar
• Thyme
• Bea leaf
• Beef broth
• Olive oil or butter
• Black pepper
• Dijon mustard

Can You Use Balsamic Glaze as a Steak Sauce Substitute?

Yes, you can use Balsamic Glaze as a steak sauce substitute. But the Balsamic glaze is concentrated and sweeter than the Balsamic steak sauce.

Therefore, you need to add beef broth to the Balsamic glaze to get the desired concentration. Moreover, you can add Dijon mustard to make the Balsamic glaze tangy. 

How to Thicken or Reduce Balsamic Steak Sauce?

There are many ways to reduce or thicken the Balsamic steak sauce. Here, we mention 3 effective ways.

• Simmering

Simmering is a natural way to reduce the volume of the Balsamic steak sauce. Reduce the heat to the lowest heat and simmer until the volume reaches one-third of the initial volume. 

• Adding Cornstarch Slurry

Adding a thickening agent is an easy way to thicken the sauce. Add 1 tablespoon of water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and make a cornstarch slurry. Then, add the slurry to the sauce and heat for 2 additional minutes. You will get thickened Balsamic steak sauce. 

• Adding Cream

Adding 1 tablespoon of heavy cream is another way to thicken the consistency and give a rich texture to the sauce. The cream also helps to balance the tanginess of the Balsamic vinegar.

Tips: If you want a dairy-free version, you can add coconut cream instead of high-fat cream.