Polonaise (sauce)
Polonaise sauce, in English also known as Polish-styled garnish, is a simple vegetarian sauce in the form of garnish, which originated in Poland and became popular in France in the 18th-century. The sauce consists of melted butter, chopped boiled eggs, bread crumbs, salt, lemon juice and herbs such as thyme, basil and parsley. It is poured over cooked or steamed vegetables, most notably cauliflowers, asparagus, wax beans and broccoli. The sauce is not to be confused with velouté à la polonaise or Bolognese.
The sauce was possibly introduced to the French by Polish-born queen, Marie Leszczynska, wife of Louis XV of France. Alongside the Polonaise dance, lit à la polonaise and robe à la polonaise which dominated at Versailles, the sauce is one of Poland's cultural legacies in France and worldwide.
Each preparation method is unique and depends on the chef or cook. The amount of ingredients is also dependent on the consumer. Variations might include adding horseradish, sour cream, yoghurt or kefir.
