Best Martini Sauce Recipes

PARCHMENT-STEAMED GROUPER WITH MARTINI RELISH, CRISPY HERBED COUSCOUS AND SOUR ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sour orange sauce: Bring the orange juice to a boil in a small nonreactive saucepan (nonstick is best) over high heat. Cook, whisking occasionally and skimming any foam that rises to the top, until very thick, about 20 minutes. Lower the heat as the orange juice reduces to avoid burning. Whisk in the honey about 15 minutes into cooking, or whenever the foaming subsides.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and let cool slightly. Whisk in the lime juice, olive oil and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Taste -- it should be sour but balanced; whisk in a bit more honey if needed. Let sit at room temperature while you make the rest of the dish. (The sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• For the martini relish: Combine the olives, peppers, shallots, jalapeno, dill, parsley, olive oil, vinegar and some salt and pepper in a small bowl. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. (The relish can be made up to 1 day in advance without the dill and parsley; store in the refrigerator. Add the herbs just before serving.)
• For the crispy herbed couscous: Put 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the couscous, remove from the heat, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Heat the oil in a medium nonstick pan until it shimmers. Add the cooked couscous and press into an even layer. Cook without stirring until the couscous becomes lightly golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Flip the couscous with a spatula; it will break up, but that's OK -- you want to get as much of the crispy bottom on top now. Cook, pressing occasionally, to crisp the second side, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss in the pan to break up the crispy bits, then remove from the heat. Toss with the dill and parsley.
• For the parchment-steamed grouper: Remove the fish from the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cut four large parchment paper circles or hearts. Place each piece of fish slightly off-center on a piece of parchment. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, scatter with parsley leaves and torn dill, and drizzle with olive oil and white wine.
• Fold the parchment over the fish and crimp the edges tightly in 1/4-inch folds to create a half-moon shape. Make sure you press as you crimp and fold to seal the packets well; otherwise, the steam will escape. Arrange the packets on a baking pan and bake for exactly 7 minutes.
• Using oven mitts, place each packet on a dinner plate. Let sit for 1 minute, then carefully open the parchment. Drizzle with sour orange sauce and top with martini relish, followed by a touch more of the sauce. Sprinkle couscous around and on top of the fish. Serve immediately.

BIG CITY SALMON WITH MARTINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Season each piece of salmon with salt and pepper and sprinkle with a little chopped parsley. If sautéing, heat the olive oil in a wide skillet and cook the fish, about 3 minutes on the first side, then about 2 minutes on the second side to achieve a medium-rare temperature. (Increase the cooking time by about 90 seconds on each side if you want the salmon to be cooked through.) You may also grill or broil the salmon, as desired.
• Spoon the Martini Sauce over (or alongside) the cooked salmon and serve immediately. This salmon is delicious with boiled new potatoes or rice.
• Martini Sauce
• Place the shallots, gin, vermouth, juniper berries, and green peppercorns in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until reduced to about 3 tablespoons liquid. Add the cream and reduce to 1/4 cup.
• Strain and return the liquid to the saucepan (discard the solids). Whisk in the butter. Add the olives and season to taste with lemon juice, salt, and a little pepper. Cover and keep warm while you prepare the salmon.

GROUPER STEAMED IN PARCHMENT WITH SOUR ORANGE SAUCE AND MARTINI RELISH

Steps:

• For the sour orange sauce: Put the orange juice in a small nonreactive saucepan, bring to a boil over high heat and cook until thickened and reduced to about 1/4 cup. Whisk in the honey and transfer to a bowl. Whisk in the lime juice, vinegar and season with salt and pepper and more honey if needed.
• For the relish: Combine the olives, peppers, shallots, jalapeno, oil, vinegar, parsley and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• For the grouper: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Sprinkle both fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Place 1 grouper fillet in the center of each piece of parchment paper. Top each fillet with 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon wine. Fold the edges together, and then tightly fold in the edges, crimping around all sides to seal the packets completely. Place the packets on a baking sheet or in a large oven-proof saute pan. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Place each packet on a dinner plate and let sit for 2 minutes. Then open the parchment and drizzle with some of the sour orange sauce and top with some of the martini relish. Garnish with parsley leaves.

SALMON WITH MARTINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine vermouth, shallots, juniper berries, and peppercorns in heavy small saucepan. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup, about 12 minutes. Add clam juice and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add cream and boil until mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 8 minutes. Add butter 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until melted before adding more. Strain sauce through fine-meshed strainer. Return sauce to saucepan. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Keep at room temperature.)
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salmon with parsley, then salt and pepper. Add salmon to skillet and sauté until just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, rewarm sauce. Stir in olives, gin, and lemon juice. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Place salmon on plates. Drizzle sauce over. Garnish with chives and serve.
• *Juniper berries are available in the spice section of most supermarkets.

STEAK MARTINI/ASPARAGUS RISOTTO/BRAISED TOMATO WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in braising pan or Dutch oven on medium heat.
• Add garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and cook 3-4 minutes or until garlic is lightly browned.
• Add mushrooms and cook 5-6 minutes.
• Deglaze pan with wine and add tomatoes.
• Cover tight-fitting lid, reduce heat to medium and gently simmer 40 minutes.
• Heat additional olive oil in heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven.
• Saute shallots and pancetta 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add risotto and cook 2-3 inutes or until risotto begins to brown.
• Combine broth with cream in a small saucepan and heat until simmering.
• Add broth mixture to hot risotto cup by cup, adding more liquid only when the previous cup is absorbed into the rice.
• The final 1-2 cups will not be completely absorbed but will give the risotto a creamy texture.
• Stir in oregano and asparagus and keep warm for service.
• Brush steaks with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat grill on high and reduce to med high; grill steaks to desired doneness.
• Serve steaks with risotto and sauce.
• Serve with Louis M Martini Cabernet Sauvignon!

MARTINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the shallots, gin, vermouth, juniper berries, and green peppercorns in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until reduced to about 3 tablespoons liquid. Add the cream and reduce to 1/4 cup.
• Strain and return the liquid to the saucepan (discard the solids). Whisk in the butter. Add the olives and season to taste with lemon juice, salt, and a little pepper. Cover and keep warm while you prepare the salmon.

GROUPER OR HALIBUT STEAMED IN PARCHMENT WITH SOUR ORANGE SAUCE AND MARTINI RELISH

Steps:

• Make the sour orange sauce: Put the orange juice in a small nonreactive saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until thickened and reduced to about 1/2 cup, 12 to 15 minutes. Whisk in the honey and transfer to a heatproof bowl.
• Whisk in the lime juice and zest, orange zest and vinegar then season with salt and pepper. Taste and add more honey, if needed. The sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• Make the martini relish: Combine the olives, peppers, jalapeno, shallot, vinegar, oil and parsley in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir and let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. The relish can be made up to 1 day in advance without the parsley and refrigerated. Stir in the parsley just before serving.
• Make the fish: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Season the fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Cut 2 large parchment paper circles or hearts. Place 1 fillet in the center of each piece of parchment. Top each fillet with 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of wine. For each packet, bring the edges of the parchment together, then tightly fold in the edges, crimping around all sides to seal the packet completely. Place the packets on a rimmed baking sheet or in a large ovenproof skillet.
• Bake the packets for 15 minutes. Using oven mitts, place each packet on a dinner plate and let sit for 2 minutes. Carefully cut open each packet and drizzle the fish with some of the sour orange sauce and top with some of the martini relish. Garnish with parsley leaves. Serve immediately.