sauté

American  

[soh-tey, saw-] / soʊˈteɪ, sɔ- /

adjective

1. cooked or browned in a pan containing a small quantity of butter, oil, or other fat.

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verb (used with object)

sautéed, sautéing

1. to cook in a small amount of fat; pan-fry.

noun

1. a dish of sautéed food.

sauté British  

/ ˈsəʊteɪ /

verb

1. to fry (food) quickly in a little fat

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noun

1. a dish of sautéed food, esp meat that is browned and then cooked in a sauce

adjective

1. sautéed until lightly brown

   sauté potatoes

Etymology

Origin of sauté

1805–15; < French, past participle of sauter to jump (causative: to toss) < Latin saltāre, frequentative of salīre to jump

Explanation

To saute is to cook food over high heat, usually in butter or oil. Many recipes begin by instructing you to saute onions and garlic in olive oil. You can saute vegetables, meat, fish, or tofu. The quick, hot method of cooking browns the outer layer of food and keeps the inside flavorful. Sometimes saute is used as an adjective — you might buy your friend who loves to cook a fancy saute pan for his birthday. In French, the word sauté means "jumped" or "bounced," which also describes the way food jumps around the pan when you saute it.

Example Sentences

You’re going to start by making what I think of as cheater refried beans: Saute onions and garlic, add beans, seasoning and a splash of water, and use a fork to mash them.

From Washington Post • Sep. 15, 2022

Saute or roast the mushrooms with the pine oil, then add other root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots.

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2021

Set your Instant Pot to "Saute" and pour the olive oil into the pot.

From Fox News • Sep. 7, 2021

Saute the vegetables until they are a little tender, remove from the stove, and put in a casserole.

From The Guardian • Mar. 26, 2016

Saute drumsticks and thighs in hot oil until lightly browned on all sides, about 15 minutes.

From The Perdue Chicken Cookbook by Perdue, Mitzi