Calorie-conscious cooks are rediscovering the vinaigrette as a healthy alternative to rich velvety sauces, and are coming up with a variety of imaginative ways to use it.

They included the filet mignon and an even more delicious slow-braised, boneless short ribs of Angus beef in a velvety black currant balsamic sauce.

Beneath, I've settled on a compromise between the traditional, velvety white sauce and the rich, savoury cheffy version.

Its flaky, fluffy wraparound crust, jumbo chunks of chicken, fresh vegetables and rich velvety sauce make it a rustic triumph.

Tip pasta into egg mixture, and fold it all together quickly, so eggs cook and coat pasta with a velvety sauce.

Grilled lamb medallions, with an edge of herb mustard crust on top, rested on a velvety sauce made from lamb demi-glaze.

The oysters were heavenly, and so was the velvety, peppery sauce.

In this polenta variation, the runny egg yolk becomes a golden, velvety sauce, carrying the flavors of cheese, garlic and pepper into each tender mouthful.

The delicate pasta triangles glisten beneath a velvety sauce made of crushed squab liver livened with capers and anchovies.