mignonette

noun mi·gnon·ette \ ˌmin-yə-ˈnet \

Definition of mignonette

1 :any of a genus (Reseda of the family Resedaceae, the mignonette family) of herbs; especially :a garden annual (R. odorata) bearing racemes of fragrant whitish flowers

2 :a sauce made typically with vinegar, pepper, and herbs and served especially with oysters

Recent Examples of mignonette from the Web

There’s no denying the magic of what a dozen oysters with a beautiful accompanying mignonette can do for your soul, even if not devoured oceanfront.

— jenn rice, Vogue, "Unexpected Drink Pairings for the Oyster Aficionado," 18 Aug. 2017
Make Mignonette: Combine red wine vinegar and finely chopped shallot in a bowl.

— dawn perry, Country Living, "Beer-Battered Seafood," 19 June 2017
Dress them with a rosé mignonette — a bit of the wine mixed with cracked black pepper and shallots.

— victoria james, Cosmopolitan, "10 Reasons to Drink Rosé Right This Second," 9 June 2017
The shellfish are drizzled with a modern take on mignonette; Shulman swaps the vinegar and black pepper traditionally used in the sauce for yuzu and finely grated jalapeno, adding heat and bright citrus notes.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "10 standout seafood dishes," 9 June 2017
Another current offering is borage sprouts and oyster leaf dressed in turnip juice mignonette with shallot and chive, meant to be eaten in just one bite.

— sam dangremond, Town & Country, "The Secrets to Eating at America's Fanciest Restaurants for Under $50," 17 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mignonette.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.