Au jus facts for kids
French dip beef sandwich, with bowl of jus for dipping
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| Type | Sauce, broth |
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| Place of origin | France |
Au jus is a French cooking term. It means "with juice." When you hear "au jus," it usually refers to meat dishes. These dishes are served with a light sauce or broth. This sauce is made from the natural juices that come out of the meat as it cooks.
In French cooking, using au jus is a simple way to make dishes taste even better. It's often used with chicken, veal, and lamb. In American cooking, "au jus" often means a light sauce for beef dishes. This sauce can be poured over the food or served on the side for dipping. A popular example is the French dip sandwich, which comes with a side of jus for dipping.
Making Au Jus: Ingredients and Steps
Making a natural jus is quite simple. After cooking meat, you'll find juices left in the pan. To make jus, you just need to skim off any extra fat from these juices. Then, you can bring the remaining meat stock and water to a boil. This creates a simple, flavorful jus.
You can freeze jus for about six months or even longer. However, its flavor might not be as strong after a very long time.
American Style Au Jus
In the United States, au jus recipes sometimes add other ingredients. These might include soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, or a little sugar. Chefs might also add garlic, beets, carrots, or onions. These additions can make the jus taste more like a rich gravy.
Sometimes, American jus is made separately from the meat. For example, a beef jus can be made by cooking down beef stock. This makes it very concentrated and flavorful. This thick sauce is also known as Glace de Viande. It's often served with beef dishes.
Jus can also be made by taking the juice from the cooked meat and mixing it with another liquid. For instance, you could add red wine to create a "red wine jus."
You can even buy powdered products called jus. These powders can be rubbed onto meat before cooking. Or, they can be added to the juices after the meat is cooked. These powdered versions usually get their flavor from salt, dried onion, and sometimes sugar.
The Term "Au Jus" as a Noun
In the United States, people often use "au jus" as a noun. This means they treat it like a thing, not just a description. For example, instead of saying "a sandwich au jus" (which means "a sandwich with juice"), you might see a menu that says "sandwich with au jus." This is a common way the phrase is used in American restaurants.
