Homemade Worcestershire Sauce
What made a person get up one morning and say, “I know, I’ll put stinky fish sauce and tamarind together and make a delicious condiment.” Turns out it was a good idea.
I am a little bit of a scaredy cat, but I am also always looking for depth of flavor. How can I squeeze out a little more flavor for any dish I make. Actually, when I hear someone say “depth of flavor”, just like a hunting dog, my ears perk up. And I can’t believe I said that, but you get the idea.
While joining in on Foodie Friday over at Rattlebridge Farm, Michael’s son Bandwith featured his homemade Worcestershire sauce. What! I could feel my ears perk up. You see, all store products of this nature have soy, my nemesis, so I started ticking off the ingredients, hmmm, no soy. I immediately started gathering my mise en place because I have issues with forgetting ingredients. I had everything but fish sauce and tamarind. Then on Wednesday I had my car serviced, and on the way home I drove right by an Asian market. Whoa, I can do that.
When I went in and looked around I thought this might be harder than I thought, but I asked the clerk where I could find tamarind. She looked at me strangely, but directed me to isle 6. I went up and down the isle, but no tamarind. Then I noticed someone was stocking shelves nearby, so I ask again, He said isle 6. I told him I had already checked with no luck. He took me over like a child, and there right before my eyes was the tamarind. Now I am embarrassed, but I got the goods so I guess I’ll just have to suck it up and hope they don’t remember me next trip.
I gathered my equipment. I even had a couple of red wine vinegar bottles I had saved because I thought they might come in handy. I dropped them in a pot of simmering water to sterilize them. After I inventoried one more time I started measuring. I only made a half-batch because like I said, I am a scaredy cat. Then as it started to warm up in the pot, and the aroma began to waft up, and it started to smell very familiar, I began to wonder why was I afraid. I have several recipes that call for Worcestershire. I am very anxious to try this.
Now I understand those of you that think this is too much trouble when you can just buy a bottle, but for me, there is something very satisfying making my own. I feel like it is a present. I found an ingredient for depth of flavor – soy-free, and the hardest part about it was I only had to look stupid in the Asian market.
I am still wondering who thought of this ingredient combination, and how such smelly strange ingredients miraculously turned out to taste so good. I will definitely make a full batch next time.
I want to thank Michael and Bandwith for my new “find.”
- ¼ cup Tamarind extract or concentrate
- 1 tablespoon Thai Fish Sauce
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- fresh lime juice (1 lime)
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- Mise en place ~ Gather ingredients
- Add all ingredients into a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly
- Simmer for three minutes.
- Cool.
- Strain sauce through a sieve into a sterilized jar.
- Cap and refrigerate.
I am taking this to
Susan’s at Metamorphosis Monday
Yvonne’s at On The Menu Monday
Sarah’s at Make The Scene Monday
Jane’s at Melt In Your Mouth
Chandra’s at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!
Kayla at Sweet Sharing Monday
Linda’s at Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Marty’s at Inspire Me Tuesday
Lauren’s at Off The Hook Link Party
Stephanie’s at Back For Seconds Social
Wanda Ann’s at Tuesday Trivia
Maria’s at Tuesdays At Our Home
Kathe ‘s at Your Gonna Love It Tuesday
Kim’s at Wow Us Wednesday
Ashley’s at What’s In The Kitchen
Dana’s at Two Girls and A Party
Sherry’s at Home Sweet Home
Lindsay’s at Show And Share
Sherry’s at Home Sweet Home
Miz Helen’s at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
Liz at The Brambleberry Cottage
Becky’s at Beyond The Picket Fence
Debra’s at Be Inspired Friday
Cindy’s at Show and Tell Friday
Michael’s at Foodie Friday
Ruthie’s at Show and Tell
Leigh Anne’s at Finding the Pretty and Delicious
Linda’a at What To Do Weekend
Paula’s at Saturday Dishes
Ms. Scaper’s at The Tablescaper
Aimee’s at Twigg Studios
The Tablescaper says
Interesting, but I just don’t use Worcestershire sauce enough to even contemplate making it myself. How can you call yourself a scarredy cat??? LOL!
– The Tablescaper
Ms. Lemon says
Thank you so much for visiting. I was just over at your site to see your beautiful camellias – absolutely gorgeous. I made this worcestershire sauce strictly for myself and in hope someone else would appreciate it. I am always looking for flavor boosters or something that will bump up the flavor, and on top of that I have food sensitivities so I found my way around that obstacle and it was just fun to think I could make it.
Rattlebridge Farm --Foodie Friday says
I’m so glad you made it! Bandy will be delighted!!
Miz Helen says
I just love homemade sauces, this looks awesome. Your recipe is fabulous and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Have a great weekend and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Emily says
Lemons, and limes are always in my kitchen. I love adding them to recipes, using them for centerpieces and of course eating them. So, that makes your blog very special! I love sauces and I use worcestershire a lot. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
~Emily
The French Hutch
The Café Sucre Farine says
How fun, I’m sure this is infinitely better than anything you can buy. You are so smart!
Ms. Lemon says
Chris, thanks for stopping by. I don’t know about being smart, but I totally enjoyed making this. btw, I saw your cupcakes and they are so tempting.
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
I love homemade sauces and this is one I havn’t tried. I will definitely do this one. Thanks for the recipe. and thanks for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Ms. Lemon says
Marty,Thank you so much for visiting. This recipe was about controlling my diet. I just have to find my way around my soy issues and this recipe helped me do that. Worcestershire sauce is a flavor booster – another goal.
Joy @ Yesterfood says
I had no idea you could make your own Worcestershire Sauce! Amazing job!
Thanks for linking up with Let’s Get Social Sunday! I am now following you on Pinterest!
Love, Joy
Yesterfood.blogspot.com
debra@ HOMESPUN says
Well I never even THOUGHT about what was in Worcestershire Sauce let alone making my own. LOL I just love Blog Land and a post like this is why! 🙂
Ruthie says
Oh wow… you are awesome! Who knew you could make it like that… Thanks so much for coming to share at Super Saturday Show & Tell last week… I hope you’ll come back to party with me again tomorrow! http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com Have a great night! xoxo~ Ruthie
Ms. Lemon says
I did not know either, but thanks to Michael and her son I can now make this without soy. She said they have used theirs up on burgers and steaks, or anything on the grill. I wanted it for the something, something that kicks up the flavor of the sauces and soups where you ask what is that?
Samantha @ Five Heart Home says
I never would have thought to make my own Worcestershire sauce…brilliant! I can’t wait to try this.
Ms. Lemon says
Thank you for visiting. I did not expect others to appreciate this recipe. I made this because I am soy-sensitive, but when it warmed in the pot it was just wonderful. I have been sneaking it into many of my savory dishes.