Six Simple Sauce Recipes

No matter the dish or the chef, it’s a hard-to-learn truth of cooking that a sauce can make or break a main course, so it’s always a good idea to have several recipes in your back pocket. Thankfully, PinchofYum has curated a list of sauce recipes that will compliment your various served dishes, regardless of flavor profile.

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This sauce is ideal for complimenting your next sangwich and bringing it to new, savory heights, and it does this while only requiring five ingredients. Fresh garlic, lemon juice, and roasted red peppers build a flavor base and then almonds and olive oil are added to create a silk-like texture that is similar to magic green sauce. This red pepper sauce is colorful, saly, and zesty enough to be placed atop a variety of Mediterranean dishes like vegetarian bowls or fries, as well as the following dishes:

  • Sandwiches.
  • Burgers.
  • Eggs
  • Salads.
  • Grilled chicken.
  • Grilled vegetable

Basic Garlic Butter Tomato Sauce

This sauce is a one-pot wonder that can definitely give a breakfast sandwich a much-needed flavor explosion, but it’s not for those who dislike seeds and tomato skins, as the recipe incorporates a lot of them. You start with approximately two cups of cherry tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic cloves, balsamic vinegar, and butter. For a thinner product, it’s suggested that you add water to the pot, and it’s always a good idea to add fresh basil as well. It’s suggested that this sauce be placed on:

  • Breakfast Sandwiches
  • Flatbread
  • Pasta
  • Garlic Bread
  • Ravioli
  • Sandwich wraps

Honey Mustard Sauce

Leave the branded squirt bottle on the grocery-store shelf and begin making your own honey mustard sauce that’s catered to your particular taste with just five ingredients and five minutes of preparation and mixing time. This recipe produces a creamy, smooth dipping sauce that doubles as a simple, yet delicious dressing. It only requires you to whisk together organic honey, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, white distilled vinegar, and cayenne pepper.

  • Roasted sweet potatoes
  • Chicken tenders
  • Baked tofu
  • Colorful salad
  • Sandwich wrap
  • Baked potatoes

Chipotle Cashew Queso

This recipe goes beyond recipes that are mexican-inspired or tex-mex while being simple to make and vegan-friendly. You’ll need just five ingredients: chili powder, salt, chipotle peppers, cashews, and diced green chiles. It’s a great idea to simply dip a chip into your mixture or drip it on top of a sheet pan fajita gathering, as well as the following:

  • Roasted corn
  • Quesadillas
  • Grilled chicken
  • Rice bowls
  • Nachos
  • Fajitas

Cilantro Vinaigrette

Unless you have the gene that makes you taste soap when eating cilantro sprigs, this recipe is perfect for a summary salad while just having a handful of ingredients. You’ll need cilantro (of course), garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and salt alongside a pinch of red pepper and a splash of water. These ingredients are placed in the blender and ready to serve atop

  • Chicken tacos
  • Roasted potatoes
  • Green rice
  • Quesadillas
  • Cobb salad
  • Sweet corn

Sunshine Sauce

With such an attractive name, this recipe lives up to the uplifting, golden expectation while also being an ideal, complimentary sauce that’s ideal for meal prep. To prepare, you’ll need vinegar/lemon juice, olive oil, salt, dried oregano/basil, and garlic. The beauty of this recipe is that it is quickly concocted with pantry-friendly ingredients, though it’s always made better by adding fresh herbs. Place this tangy, sweet sauce on top:

  • Scrambled eggs
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Roasted Potatoes
  • Sandwich wraps
  • Chicken Fingers
  • French Fries

The above six recipes are ideal for those looking for a last-minute addition to their meal or a meticulously-planned compliment to be served in its own dish, and it’s made all the better by not necessitating too many ingredients.

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Sauce Recipes to Elevate Your Next Meal

It’s often said, “The proof is in the pudding.”  When it comes to creating new, flavorful dishes, we’ve found that the proof is actually in the sauce.  Finding a dip or dressing that can elevate a boring grain bowl or a few pounds of unseasoned meat can be the difference between a regular dinner and an outstanding dining experience.  The right sauce recipe or dip can take a bunch of ingredients and evolve them into a dish that will leave your family and/or friends raving over your culinary prowess.

The beauty of most of these recipes from BonAppetit.com is that regardless of whether you’ve got a well-stocked fridge or just a couple of kitchen staples, it’s entirely possible to create a killer sauce that can provide for a menagerie of delicious meals. Leftover dips can be thinned to make a dressing for salads.  Thicker sauces can be used as sandwich spreads.  We recommend experimenting with all of these sauces at home. Below are tops on our lists – and may you never have to worry about flavorless meats and veggies again.


Chili Crisp

Fair warning!  This tangy, spicy, crunchy, and addictive sauce is so versatile it will give all of your other sauces and condiments a run for their money.  Throw it on eggs, meat, seafood, and salads for a fiery, flavorful kick.  This recipe can also be adapted to suit your tastes – try different chilies and spices and substitute ingredients for different crunches to your heart’s content.

Cilantro Chutney

Earthy, bright, fresh and delicious, This chutney is whipped up in minutes and can be used to step up everything from rice to roasted vegetables and even eggs.  Get creative with garlic, mint and other spices/herbs if you dare!  We can’t wait to try this with Indian appetizers such as Samosa and Pakoras, as sandwich spread, or just a dip for traditional naan.

All Day Every Day Sauce

Talk about simple!  Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice and salt.  Throw it on meats and veggies for a simple boost of flavor.  Too simple?  When you’re ready, toasted nuts, minced herbs, spices (cumin, turmeric, or coriander), and/or finely chopped dried fruit (raisins, apricots, and/or dates) in this sauce will bring vegetables and proteins to a level you’ve never experienced before!

Salsa Macha

Salsa Macha is a very thick and unusual salsa from the state of Veracruz along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.  Described as a chile-spiced peanut butter, you’re going to have to resist putting this sweet and savory sauce on everything from breakfast foods to Mexican entrees.

Coconut-Chile Palapa Sauce

Looking for something to bring a funky sweet and spicy element to boring grilled fish, chicken, noodles, eggs – really anything? Then look no further than this spicy, sweet, earthy, and garlicky Filipino condiment.

Caramelized Shallot Dip

Never use that dried stuff again – welcome to the world of intensely flavorful shallot dip. The taste of real onions brings an earthiness you’ll love, and the crunch of fresh ingredients is perfection.  Use it as a dip for pita chips, throw it on a baked potato, fries/tots, whatever.  And trust us that those “everything” bagels will never be the same!

Tzatziki

Strange name, sure, but if you’ve had Greek food, you know that delicious yogurt and cucumber goodness you can’t get enough of. Use it on grilled meats (homemade gyros?) or roasted vegetables.  This one even stands alone as an appetizer dip, and we certainly wouldn’t judge you for eating it straight from the spoon.

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Easiest Homemade Sauce Recipes

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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