デミ
demi
デミ is the Japanese way to say "demi", referring to a rich brown cooking sauce.
デミ refers to a brown sauce typically made from a rich reduction of beef stock and vegetables. In Japanese menus, you will frequently see this term used as a shorthand for sauce-based dishes, such as curry.
Which one should you use?
While デミ is a common shorthand, the full name for the sauce is デミグラスソース. It is also very frequent to see the term shortened to デミグラス on menus.
How do you pronounce it?
demi
Did you know?
- In Japan, デミグラス sauce is often sweetened with ketchup or sugar, making it significantly sweeter than the traditional French version.
- The term is a staple of 'Yōshoku' cuisine, which refers to Western-influenced cooking styles that have been adapted to suit Japanese tastes.
- Unlike in France where it is a base for other sauces, in Japan デミグラス is usually the final, primary sauce poured over the meat.
Examples in context
- デミグラスソースをかけます。demigurassosūsu o kakemasu.I will pour the demi-glace sauce.
- デミグラスのハンバーグが食べたいです。demigurassu no hanbāgu ga tabetai desu.I want to eat a demi-glace hamburger steak.
- このデミグラスはとても濃厚です。kono demigurassu wa totemo nōkō desu.This demi-glace is very rich.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to order at a western-style restaurant.
- 陽葵 Himari健太くん、何にする？Kenta-kun, nani ni suru?Kenta, what are you going to have?
- 健太 Kentaデミグラスソースのハンバーグにしようかな。demigurassosūsu no hanbāgu ni shiyō kana.I think I'll go with the demi-glace hamburger steak.
- 陽葵 Himari美味しそう！私もそれにしようかな。Oishisō! Watashi mo sore ni shiyō kana.That looks delicious! Maybe I'll have that too.
- 健太 Kentaこの店のデミは絶品だよ。Kono mise no demi wa zeppin da yo.The demi here is superb.
