The Washington Post once published an article containing the Top 10 favorite recipes of their readers and surprisingly, several sauce recipes made the list!  A good sauce, whether it be a marinade, dipping sauce, glaze, or even gravy, can turn your meal from a zero to a hero, offering layers of complexity, perfect pairings working as foils for their complement, juxtaposing eccentric flavors, and making a meal a masterpiece.  In other words- you could have a terrible piece of meat but with the right sauce, your dinner guests will still rave about your chefdom.

Read on to find out how to up your cooking game with just a few ingredients, 2 minutes time, and a whisk.

1.    Stir Fry Sauce

Salty, tangy and lightly spicy, this is a great sauce to have in your repertoire when you need to pull together a fast meal out of whatever’s in the refrigerator. Toss it with leftover rice or noodles, vegetables and any kind of protein for an impromptu dish of fried rice or lo mein, or use it as a marinade for chicken, beef or tofu.

There are so many variations to this sauce staple- add it to Basic Coconut Curry Sauce with some Cashew Cream.  Add a squirt of lime juice and Sriracha to give it a Thai-inspired flavor. Substitute it for that packet of dried seasoning the next time you mix up a late-night bowl of ramen.  Dredge some leftover fried chicken in it for your own version of General Tso chicken.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup no-salt-added vegetable broth
1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced

DIRECTIONS
Combine the soy sauce, broth, honey or agave nectar, vinegar, ginger and garlic in a mason jar. Seal and shake well, until incorporated. Use right away, or refrigerate for up to 4 weeks.

2.    Roasted Red Pepper Tahini Sauce

The flavor of this roasted red pepper tahini dressing is seriously delicious and even better, you know every ingredient in it when you make it at home. Check out how easy this dressing is to make…All you need is a food processor or a blender, tahini, roasted red peppers, garlic, lemon, olive oil, honey and sea salt.  Simply add all the ingredients to your blender or food processor and blend until mixed. This dressing is delicious on anything: salads, tossed with veggies, as a marinade for the meat of your choice, even spread on a sandwich or wrap.

INGREDIENTS

¼ C tahini
juice of 1 medium lemon
½ C roasted red peppers
¼ C good quality olive oil
2 tsp honey
kosher salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

Using a food processor or high speed blender add all ingredients except for salt. Process on high until smooth. Season with kosher salt to taste. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 7-10 days.

3.    Horseradish Sauce

The zesty flavor of horseradish is a perfect complement to any steak or other beef dish. This Horseradish Sauce is cool and creamy with just enough kick, and it helps balance and enhance the richness of the meat.  It is very easy to make – just mix all of the ingredients in a bowl. But it’s best served chilled so be sure to prepare this sauce in advance – while your prime rib cooks – and refrigerate it until ready to serve.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup well-drained prepared horseradish
½ cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Few drops Tabasco sauce

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended.  Refrigerate until chilled.

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