The term sauce comes from the Frenchsauce of the same meaning, from Latinsalsa also of the same meaning, from sal, "salt". Related words: "saline", "salad".
A sauce is a thick liquid which can be used to add flavour to food, to moisten it and/or make it look more attractive on the plate.
British cooking: Gravy is a traditional sauce used on the traditional roast dinner, comprised of roast potatoes, roast meat, boiled vegetables and optional Yorkshire puddings. Apple sauce and mint sauce are also used on meat. Salad Cream is used on salads. Ketchup and brown sauce are used on more fast-food type dishes. Strong English mustard (as well as French or American mustard) are also used on various foods, as is Worcestershire sauce. Custard is a popular sweet sauce. Some of these sauce traditions have been exported to ex-colonies such as the USA.
Asian cooking uses an entirely different range of sauces.
Sauces can also be sweet, and used either hot or cold to accompany and garnish a dessert.
Another kind of sauce is made from stewed fruit, usually strained to remove skin and fibers and often sweetened. Such sauces, including applesauce and cranberry sauce, are often eaten with specific other foods (applesauce with ham; cranberry sauce with poultry) or served as desserts.
