Hit Me With Your Best Sauce
September 11, 2022 4:33 PM Subscribe
Looking for a variety of sauce recipes for grain bowl dinners!
This comment by OrangeDisk led me to this recipe - which is amazing.
So - now I've prepped a number of lovely ingredients for different grain bowl dinners this week. I made a cilantro sauce to use some nights, and the sauce from the recipe above is fab (it uses lots of nutritional yeast, soy sauce , apple cider vinegar).
I'd love some other sauce options to add to my repertoire - especially sauces with a spicy note.
I prefer vegan recipes (mainly because we rarely have dairy ingredients around). I tried just winging it earlier today and my cilantro sauce turned out well, but the free-form chili crisp sauce turned into sort of a curdled looking mess.
Any sauces you love on grain bowl sorts of things?
This comment by OrangeDisk led me to this recipe - which is amazing.
So - now I've prepped a number of lovely ingredients for different grain bowl dinners this week. I made a cilantro sauce to use some nights, and the sauce from the recipe above is fab (it uses lots of nutritional yeast, soy sauce , apple cider vinegar).
I'd love some other sauce options to add to my repertoire - especially sauces with a spicy note.
I prefer vegan recipes (mainly because we rarely have dairy ingredients around). I tried just winging it earlier today and my cilantro sauce turned out well, but the free-form chili crisp sauce turned into sort of a curdled looking mess.
Any sauces you love on grain bowl sorts of things?
I think something along the lines of a raspberry habanero sauce would be delicious. Make as much as you want and freeze the extras in sizes that work for you.
Teriyaki is an easy sauce to make, and you can make it spicy if you like.
posted by hydra77 at 5:03 PM on September 11, 2022
Teriyaki is an easy sauce to make, and you can make it spicy if you like.
posted by hydra77 at 5:03 PM on September 11, 2022
a different magic green sauce -- a vegan-but-creamy-textured jalapeño-garlic sauce from Mexico via Central Texas
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:39 PM on September 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:39 PM on September 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'm so glad you liked that recipe! When I read your question, I clicked through to suggest it! Ha! I love using sauces to switch up simple recipes. Here are a few other favorites:
Sauce Gribache
South Indian Curry Sauce
Summer Sauce
Best Stir Fry Sauce (not just for stir fry)
Peanut Sauce
Onion Sauce
Soy sauce & sriracha: mix equal parts
Tamarind Sauce (squirt some sriracha in for some zazz)
Spicy Parsley Sauce (The recipe says you can use cilantro or parsley -- but I don't like cilantro so I use all parsley)
posted by OrangeDisk at 5:40 PM on September 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Sauce Gribache
South Indian Curry Sauce
Summer Sauce
Best Stir Fry Sauce (not just for stir fry)
Peanut Sauce
Onion Sauce
Soy sauce & sriracha: mix equal parts
Tamarind Sauce (squirt some sriracha in for some zazz)
Spicy Parsley Sauce (The recipe says you can use cilantro or parsley -- but I don't like cilantro so I use all parsley)
posted by OrangeDisk at 5:40 PM on September 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Pesto(you can omit cheese, I use pecans instead of pine nuts), guacamole, tomato salsa, peanut sauce, Pan-Asian sauce - soy sauce, ginger, garlic, toasted sesame oil. These are my basics. I love a good Italian dressing or vinaigrette on rice. Spend some time in the condiment aisle; even my provincial town's grocery stores carry a variety of sauces and if I like something, I start looking for a recipe..
posted by theora55 at 6:33 PM on September 11, 2022
posted by theora55 at 6:33 PM on September 11, 2022
I love just a plop of hummus, with or without a few shakes of sriracha/tabasco/hot sauce to spice it up.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:45 PM on September 11, 2022
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:45 PM on September 11, 2022
Thai Satay (Peanut) sauce -- can be found in Asian stores
Shacha sauce -- can be found in Asian stores, use sparingly, very savory, NOT VEGAN (dried shrimp or dried fish), can be used as sauce base to flavor other stuff, sometimes called Chinese BBQ sauce
Korean Chile paste, aka Gochujang -- mixed with other stuff, adds a different dimension of spiciness than your regular spice stuff.
posted by kschang at 12:46 AM on September 12, 2022
Shacha sauce -- can be found in Asian stores, use sparingly, very savory, NOT VEGAN (dried shrimp or dried fish), can be used as sauce base to flavor other stuff, sometimes called Chinese BBQ sauce
Korean Chile paste, aka Gochujang -- mixed with other stuff, adds a different dimension of spiciness than your regular spice stuff.
posted by kschang at 12:46 AM on September 12, 2022
If you're feeling particularly adventurous, see if you can get (fresh) Ganjang Gejang (Soy sauce marinated (raw) blue crab) in your inland Washington state area.
A HK staple is scrambled eggs with chunked tomatoes. Typical upgrades are with shrimp or prawn or bbq pork. There is a huge range of preferences and preparations.
If you want to go sauce - sauce, there's the roux path, and you can add just about anything savoury to roux. Cream and cheese makes for an authentic mac'n'cheese.
Otherwise, dissolve a tbsp of corn starch/ tapioca starch in four tbsp of cool water. Mix well, slowly add, a little at a time, to a simmering whatever you want to thicken into a sauce until desired consistency. Corn starch is commonplace, will give an opaque gravy. Tapioca starch will cook clear. Creamed Corn is another HK cafe staple topping on a fried protein on rice/ pasta.
Chinese "brown sauce" are various mixtures of soy sauce (dark, light), soy paste, various bean pastes, oyster sauce (there's 'abalone' sauce now too), sesame oil. Diluted with shiaoxing wine. Regional additions include ground sundried fish, peanuts, fish sauce, etc.
Cantonese steamed fish is finished with an oil sauce - sliced/ minced garlic in cold oil (several tablespoons), heat to high, stir when bubbles start to form, add shredded ginger, fry until ginger is fragrant. Green onions, shallots, cilantro as to your taste. Splash (or two or three) of fish sauce. Mix, drizzle as a flourish on steamed fish as soon as the cover is removed - so the hot oil sizzles the skin a little.
posted by porpoise at 1:56 AM on September 12, 2022
A HK staple is scrambled eggs with chunked tomatoes. Typical upgrades are with shrimp or prawn or bbq pork. There is a huge range of preferences and preparations.
If you want to go sauce - sauce, there's the roux path, and you can add just about anything savoury to roux. Cream and cheese makes for an authentic mac'n'cheese.
Otherwise, dissolve a tbsp of corn starch/ tapioca starch in four tbsp of cool water. Mix well, slowly add, a little at a time, to a simmering whatever you want to thicken into a sauce until desired consistency. Corn starch is commonplace, will give an opaque gravy. Tapioca starch will cook clear. Creamed Corn is another HK cafe staple topping on a fried protein on rice/ pasta.
Chinese "brown sauce" are various mixtures of soy sauce (dark, light), soy paste, various bean pastes, oyster sauce (there's 'abalone' sauce now too), sesame oil. Diluted with shiaoxing wine. Regional additions include ground sundried fish, peanuts, fish sauce, etc.
Cantonese steamed fish is finished with an oil sauce - sliced/ minced garlic in cold oil (several tablespoons), heat to high, stir when bubbles start to form, add shredded ginger, fry until ginger is fragrant. Green onions, shallots, cilantro as to your taste. Splash (or two or three) of fish sauce. Mix, drizzle as a flourish on steamed fish as soon as the cover is removed - so the hot oil sizzles the skin a little.
posted by porpoise at 1:56 AM on September 12, 2022
Came for teriyaki which is a whole spectrum of sauces just using different proportions and tossing in other random things. I usually make it like 3/4 of a sriracha bottle for it's squirtyness, then sometimes use it like that and sometimes reduce a bit in an itsy bitsy little like 2 cup pot with garlic or curry or hot sauce or sriracha or a bit of whatever. Usually pretty yummy.
It's also not that hard to whip up things like honey mustard or sweet and sour.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:48 AM on September 12, 2022
It's also not that hard to whip up things like honey mustard or sweet and sour.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:48 AM on September 12, 2022
Get yourself a little tub of gochujang. It will last forever in the fridge and adds the perfect spicy savory note. If I’m using it in a sauce I’ll typically whisk it with a tiny bit of hot water just to warm it up and thin it out, and then combine with other flavors. You could also toss it with any vegetables or protein you want to sauté or roast and then do a non-spicy sauce like a yogurt or (nut or coconut) cream thing so you get a nice balance. It has a fairly high sugar content so it caramelizes fast and adds a whole level of complexity.
Gochujang is very flexible in what other ingredients can be added for a sauce. One that is my go-to is toasted sesame oil, lime juice, anchovy based fish sauce, and scallions. I also like to do grated ginger and tamari for a super salty tingly thing. Honey and garlic plus gochujang and lots of sesame seeds is an awesome paste/dip that you can thin out with black vinegar for a big punch. If you eat eggs, gochujang with a runny egg yolk is amazing just by itself and even better on top of grains and veg.
posted by Mizu at 3:23 AM on September 12, 2022
Gochujang is very flexible in what other ingredients can be added for a sauce. One that is my go-to is toasted sesame oil, lime juice, anchovy based fish sauce, and scallions. I also like to do grated ginger and tamari for a super salty tingly thing. Honey and garlic plus gochujang and lots of sesame seeds is an awesome paste/dip that you can thin out with black vinegar for a big punch. If you eat eggs, gochujang with a runny egg yolk is amazing just by itself and even better on top of grains and veg.
posted by Mizu at 3:23 AM on September 12, 2022
This red hot tahini from post punk kitchen is so yummy. Also, Hope makes a thai coconut curry hummus that works very well as a sauce.
posted by amarynth at 5:24 AM on September 12, 2022
posted by amarynth at 5:24 AM on September 12, 2022
2:1 soy sauce and tahini. add lime and chilli flakes and stir. I am eating this right now for lunch with chicken, green beans and noodles, but it definitely works with grains too.
posted by sedimentary_deer at 5:55 AM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by sedimentary_deer at 5:55 AM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Tali sauce of Portland’s Whole Bowl fame is excellent
posted by knownassociate at 9:59 AM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by knownassociate at 9:59 AM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: After some trial and error, this is my favorite 'amazing bowl' variation. We call it Awesome Sauce:
2 T miso
2 T tahini
1 small garlic clove, mashed
1 T grated ginger root
1 T honey
2 T rice vinegar
I want to go make some quinoa and steam some broccoli right now.
posted by Lookinguppy at 2:03 PM on September 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
2 T miso
2 T tahini
1 small garlic clove, mashed
1 T grated ginger root
1 T honey
2 T rice vinegar
I want to go make some quinoa and steam some broccoli right now.
posted by Lookinguppy at 2:03 PM on September 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I cannot wait to try all of these - marked a few as best but deeply appreciate all! Thank you for making my dinner better. 😊
posted by hilaryjade at 5:39 PM on September 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by hilaryjade at 5:39 PM on September 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
This broccoli and sweet potato bowl is just ok, but the miso-sesame sauce is delicious: creamy and a bit sweet, a bit savory.
posted by lunasol at 1:55 PM on September 15, 2022
posted by lunasol at 1:55 PM on September 15, 2022
« Older What is it about dance? It's all "dance". | What kind of retreat is right for me and what has... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
- Tahini thinned with lemon juice and water to taste. You can add hot chili flakes, paprika, or ground hot peppers to this.
- "Ranchero dressing" - ranch mixed with Tapatio hot sauce
- A mashed avocado with olive oil and/or an acid like lemon juice mixed in. When you mix up the grain bowl well it creates a kind of creamy sauce (I like this on salads as well).
posted by Red Desk at 4:51 PM on September 11, 2022