sauce

Sauce is one of those kitchen basics that changes the shape of a meal without asking for much in return. By our assessment, its real strength is that it adds moisture, flavor, and a little structure, whether it is for pasta, meat, vegetables, or a pan finish. The limit is broad and obvious: the word covers many different kinds of sauce, so the usefulness depends entirely on which one is on the shelf. In practice it is a pantry companion more than a destination product, something poured, spooned, or stirred in at the last step. It sits between raw ingredients and finished dishes, doing small practical work rather than starring on its own. Astrina files sauce under Groceries, which is exactly where a basic cooking aid like this belongs.