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Red-Wine Caramel Sauce

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 1 1/4 cups

Ingredients

1

/2 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise

1

cup dry red wine

1

1/3 cups sugar

1

/4 cup water

1

tablespoon unsalted butter

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a small heavy saucepan, then add pod and wine. Boil over moderate heat until wine is reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 10 minutes. Discard pod.

    Step 2

    While wine is reducing, bring sugar and water to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil, without stirring, washing down any sugar crystals on side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water, until syrup turns pale golden. Continue to cook caramel, swirling pan, until deep golden.

    Step 3

    Remove from heat, then carefully pour wine down side of pan (caramel will vigorously steam and harden). Simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved and sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in butter and serve warm.