If you’re a food junkie, you may have wondered: How do syrups and sauces differ?
The sauce comes in both thick and thin consistency, which is used to make savory food less dry. While a syrup consists of saturated sugar. It’s important to mention that sugar can be of any type other than artificial sugars.
The presentation and taste of food are the most important factors, regardless of whether you prepare it yourself or go to a restaurant. It’s an undeniable fact that we all request extra sauce on our plates, right?
Interestingly, syrup and sauce both serve the same purpose. They not only make food look desirable but also add some finger-licking flavor to it.
Whether it’s meat, vegetables, bread, or anything savory, you’ll see a wide range of sauces in your local market to give any food a complementary flavor. However, it’s better to use the sauce that resonates with your dish. When you put syrup on a pancake, it can also be considered a sauce.
In this article, I’m going to share some must-have sauces. I’ll also distinguish sauce and syrup in detail.
So, let’s dive into it…
What Is Sauce?
The sauce is a liquid that can be used to give your food a unique flavor. You can either use it to lubricate the sandwiches or add a flavor to the existing taste. The consistency of the sauce is also something you need to consider. Major purposes of sauces include:
- Make savory food less dry
- Add sweet, salty, or spicy flavor
- It is used to keep your dish moisturized during the cooking process
Types Of Sauces
Since there’s a wide range of sauces in the market, it can be confusing to choose the most necessary ones that are used at home. Down below, I’ve listed some must-have sauces everyone should have on their countertop.
| Sour cream sauce | You can use it as a dipping sauce with french fries or fried chicken. |
| Mayo | It can give a creamy layer to the sandwiches and burgers. |
| Sriracha | This sauce gives a kick to soups and stews. |
| Fish sauce | A variety of food such as soups, pasta, rice-based dishes use this sauce. |
| BBQ sauce | Whether it’s pizza, buffalo wings, or salad, this sauce can give a unique BBQ flavor to whatever you eat. |
| Tomato sauce | This sauce can go with any savory food such as pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs. |
| Hot sauce | You can use it for marination and extra hotness. |
Why Do We Add Pasta Water To Sauce?
You may have seen Italian chefs adding pasta water to the sauce. Interestingly there’s a reason behind this. In addition to adding thickening, it also helps avoid lumps in the gravy. It also helps gravy stick to the pasta.
Additionally, You should also keep in mind that pasta water will make your gravy saltier. If you want to add pasta water to the gravy, you should always add less salt initially during the boiling process.
What Is Syrup?
Syrups come in different flavors, but the way they’re boiled down makes them similar. Sugar syrup and maple syrup are two major types. In the case of sugar syrup, you need to add water and lemon to the sugar and you should keep boiling it unless it saturates and thickens.
Types
Sugar Syrup
Sugar syrup is the most common syrup that only requires three ingredients that are always available at your home. These ingredients include;
- Sugar
- Water
- Lemon
Here’s a video showing how you can make sugar syrup at home:
Maple Syrup
You probably have wondered where maple syrup comes from. Interestingly, it comes from the inside of the tree. You simply make a hole in a maple tree and syrup will start flowing out.
The liquid coming out of the tree isn’t the final product, it saps that you boil at a certain temperature to remove the water.
If you live in the U.S., you can find it in online stores or physical stores. While those living in the UK don’t find this syrup worth buying, the sales of maple syrup have increased during COVID.
Drizzling it on pancakes, waffles, and ice cream takes them to another level.
What Is The Difference Between Sauce And Dressing?
There’s a slight difference between sauce and dressing. In most cases, sauces are served warm, while salad dressings are served cold. You would see limited options when it comes to the dressing. Sauces, on the other hand, come in almost every flavor for you to serve them with BBQ, pizza, or burgers.
Conclusion
- Sauces add flavor and moisture to savory dishes. Whereas syrups mainly provide sweetness.
- Consistency: Sauces can vary from thick to thin. Whereas syrups are typically thin and sugary.
- Types: Sauces come in a wide range of flavors and consistencies. Whereas syrups are usually sugar syrup or maple syrup.
- Usage: Sauces are versatile and served warm with various dishes. Whereas syrups are commonly used as toppings for desserts like pancakes and ice cream.
- Homemade Options: Sugar syrup is easy to make at home with sugar, water, and lemon. Whereas maple syrup requires boiling sap from maple trees.
- Dressing vs. Sauce: Dressings are cold and used on salads. Whereas sauces are diverse and accompany various dishes, hot or cold.
- Enhancing Flavor: Sauces add juiciness. Whereas syrups contribute sweetness to food.
- Culinary Versatility: Understanding the differences between sauces and syrups allows for creative culinary experimentation. It also enhances meal preparation techniques.