Sauce recipes: What's a meatloaf without a flavourful brown sauce to go with it, or a freshly grilled satay without the lip-smacking peanut sauce to dip it in? Can you imagine biting into a chocolate tart or digging into a bowl of ice cream without the drizzle of salted caramel sauce on top? Sauces may not always be the centre of focus when you serve a dish, but without it, various recipes are incomplete, lacking that punch or failing to strike a chord.
While French cuisine stands at the forefront when it comes to sauces with classics like Béchamel, Hollandaise, Veloute and Espagnole, other cuisines like Asian, British and Italian too boost of their amazingly unique sauce recipes that can leave anyone craving for more. Making sauces maybe easy, requiring only a handful of ingredients, but it is important to get it right, with a good balance of flavours.
Most European sauce recipes start with a roux, wherein you need to cook equal parts flour and butter over medium heat before adding the liquid component. The roux helps in thickening the sauce, making you acquire the desired consistency when you reduce it, as well as providing a base, to which you can add stock, dairy, tomatoes, and other ingredients to build flavour. Asian sauces are a play on flavours, where ingredients like soy, oyster, peanuts, chilli peppers and others are used along with thickening starches and jaggery to make a whole range of tantalising sauces. A good sauce is one which is thick and not runny, smooth, holds onto the dish when poured on top, and has a perfect blend of flavours.
So whether you are making your morning eggs, grilling a steak or tossing some veggies, you can team regular recipes with a variety of sauces to spruce it up. Wondering how to get started? Fret not. We have put together a list of our 13 best sauce recipes across various cuisines to help you get started. Once you get the basics right, you can go all out and tweak the recipe to incorporate different flavour profiles.
Here are 13 best sauce recipes that you can prepare in the comforts of your home:
1. Asian Black Bean Sauce
Black bean sauce is commonly used in Asian cooking to dish out noodles and stir-fries. Full of flavour, the sauce is made with black beans, peanuts and rice wine. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: Black bean sauce is commonly used in Asian cooking to dish out noodles and stir-fries
2. Cola BBQ Sauce
A BBQ sauce with a twist! This one has a strong cola flavour along with chillies, jalapeno and Tabasco to turn up the heat. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: A BBQ sauce with a twist! This one has a strong cola flavour along with chillies
3. Salted Caramel Sauce
Nothing like a drizzle of salted caramel sauce to spruce up your favourite dessert! This recipe is easy and will have you licking your fingers clean. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: Nothing like a drizzle of salted caramel sauce to spruce up your favourite dessert
4. Peanut Sauce
Chicken satays are almost incomplete without this lip-smacking peanut sauce. You can also serve it with other chicken or vegetable skewers. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: Chicken satays are almost incomplete without this lip-smacking peanut sauce
5. Sweet and Sour Sauce
This all-time favourite sauce is perfect to toss your veggies, chicken or fish to make a delicious dish. Tune up the heat with a little sprinkling of chilli flakes. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: This all-time favourite sauce is perfect to toss your veggies, chicken or fish
6. Tomato and Basil Sauce
This basic tomato and basil sauce with onions, chilli flakes, balsamic vinegar and pepper smothered over some silky pasta is delicious. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: This basic tomato and basil sauce with onions, chilli flakes, balsamic vinegar, et al
7. Schezwan Sauce
A spicy Chinese sauce that goes well with both fried rice and noodles, or even meat preparations. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes:A spicy Chinese sauce that goes well with both fried rice and noodles
8. Garlicky Tahini Sauce
This classic sauce of Middle East cuisine can be made easily. You can slather it in your shawarma or serve it with hot kebabs. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: This classic sauce of Middle East cuisine can be made easily
9. Walnut Sauce
A yummy walnut sauce with sesame and garlic, which you can serve along with crostini or vegetable crudités. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes:A yummy walnut sauce with sesame and garlic, which you can serve along with crostini
10. White Sauce
This classic sauce is simple to make, and if done right, can transform your dish to an immensely satisfying treat. For the recipe, click here.
Best sauce recipes: This classic sauce is simple to make, and if done right, can transform your dish
11. Aubergine Chermoula Sauce Recipe
Chermoula is a marinade sauce that forms the basis of various Moroccan dishes. This version is made with eggplant, basil, dried herbs, and lime that can be used used as an amazing dip.
Best sauce recipes: Chermoula is a marinade sauce that forms the basis of various Moroccan dishes
12. Mexican Barbeque Sauce Recipe
Hot and spicy Mexican barbeque sauce that you will love to pair with nachos and other chips. All you need is olive oil, onion, garlic, chilli pepper, tomatoes, beer, et al to make this perfect sauce.
Best sauce recipes: Hot and spicy Mexican barbeque sauce that you will love to pair with nachos13. Bolognese Sauce Recipe
Bolognese sauce is an Italian meat sauce that is made from minced meat, grated onion, tomato puree, garlic paste, oregano, olive oil, et al. Go on and make this Italian special sauce and spice your delicacies.
Best sauce recipes: Bolognese sauce is an Italian meat sauce that is made from minced meat
This list of 13 best sauce recipes is sure to make you fall in love. So head to the kitchen and jazz your boring dishes with these amazing sauces.