4

I have been cooking a very light tomato topping for tortellini using dicing tomatoes. I saute them very briefly until the flesh begins to soften, then remove the pieces from the pan leaving whatever juice cooked out of the tomatoes there. This liquid is then reduced until it is a syrup, and recombined with the pieces.

Does this technique have a name? Is it weird?

Improve this question
1

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

You've already given the name for this process in your question. Reduction is the cooking term used for thickening and intensifying the flavor of a food by simmering or boiling away some of the liquid.

Improve this answer
1
  • Would I call this dish sauteed tomatoes in reduced tomato water?
    – le3th4x0rbot
    Sep 1, 2016 at 3:56
3

A'jus is the culinary name for natural juice and sounds much better than water. So, tomatoes in tomato a'jus reduction would be correct. Personally I would leave off the term reduction though(too lengthily)

Improve this answer
1
  • 2
    Do you mean au jus? It's French for "with juice", so while that juice is often reduced and/or thickened into a sauce or gravy, the correct usage is more like "beef au jus" or "served au jus". American English has turned it into a noun, so you'll sometimes also see "sandwich with au jus sauce" - sounds awful to me, but language is ugly so there you are. But "tomato au jus reduction" is an even further reach, not something I've really seen. "Tomatoes au jus" makes sense, though, I suppose.
    – Cascabel ♦
    Sep 1, 2016 at 23:24

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.