Awesome Sauce

Discover the secret to elevating your meals with our awesome sauce, a versatile blend that combines sweetness, saltiness, umami, and a hint of smokiness. Perfect for drizzling over noodles, soups, or marinating tofu, this recipe is a must-try for any vegan kitchen.

Discover the versatility of our awesome sauce, a recipe that’s as simple as it is transformative. With a balance of sweetness, saltiness, umami, and a hint of smokiness, it’s designed to elevate nearly any dish you can think of. Whether you’re looking to add depth to soups and noodles or seeking the perfect marinade for tofu, this sauce is your go-to solution.

If you’re new to tofu, check out my guide on how to press tofu and how to cook tofu. This awesome sauce can act as a marinade or can be thickened up with a cornstarch slurry to create a flavorful drizzle for tofu. Use it in this stir-fry and omit the other sauce for a spicy twist. Use it as a dip for these crispy tofu cutlets, and drizzle it into vegan ramen for a touch of heat.

Making this recipe is a breeze, requiring only a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of your time. It’s the kind of recipe that allows for variations that suit your taste with ingredients you likely already have in your refrigerator and pantry. Make a batch large enough for the week, and you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again, adding a flavorful touch to meals with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Discover the charm of our awesome sauce, a versatile condiment that enhances any dish with its balanced flavors. Whether you’re dressing a salad, marinating tofu, or adding a zesty touch to noodles, this sauce is a game-changer in the kitchen. Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Effortless to Make: Whip up this sauce in just 15 minutes, making it a quick solution for elevating weeknight dinners.
• Versatile Use: Perfect as a marinade, a glaze, or a drizzle, it’s your go-to for a variety of dishes.
• Customizable Heat: Adjust the spiciness to your liking with optional Thai chilis or a milder alternative, ensuring it caters to everyone’s taste.
• Made with Easy-To-Find Ingredients: Featuring easy-to-find ingredients, this spicy recipe isn’t only easy to make, it’s ingredients are easy to source!
• Long Shelf Life: Store it in the fridge for up to a week, allowing you to savor its flavors meal after meal.

Key Ingredients

Let’s go over the ingredients in this awesome sauce, highlighting what makes this blend not just flavorful but a staple for any kitchen.

Toasted Sesame Oil: This oil sets the foundational flavor with its rich, nutty aroma. It adds a depth and a subtle hint of toasty warmth.

Fresh Ginger: Ginger brings a vibrant, spicy kick that cuts through the richness. It offers a fresh and slightly zesty note that brightens the overall taste.

Garlic: Essential for its pungent, earthy flavor, garlic adds complexity and a robust base. This ensures the sauce has a memorable punch.

Mirin or Vegetable Broth: Mirin, a sweet Japanese rice wine, contributes a mild sweetness and tang. This helps create a beautifully balanced profile. Alternatively, vegetable broth can be used for a less sweet, savory depth, catering to different preferences or dietary needs.

Soy Sauce: This indispensable ingredient provides the umami backbone, delivering saltiness and a rich, fermented complexity. Pick a good soy sauce to elevate for an amazing flavor!

Rice Vinegar: With its mild acidity, rice vinegar subtly cuts through the umami and sweetness. This ensures it has a refreshing edge.

Brown Sugar or Raw Agave Syrup: Either option introduces a touch of sweetness that rounds out the flavors. It balances the saltiness and acidity with its caramel notes (brown sugar) or neutral sweetness (agave).

Thai Chilis or Red Pepper Flakes (optional): For those who enjoy a bit of heat, Thai chilis adds a fiery dimension. Red pepper flakes offer a more controlled, evenly distributed warmth, allowing customization to your heat preference. If you just want a dab of heat, add a little sriracha!

Together, these ingredients meld into an awesome sauce that’s remarkably versatile. It proves that simplicity, when done right, leads to the most flavorful outcomes.

How To Make This Awesome Sauce

Follow these easy steps and you’re on your way to making this amazing awesome condiment.

• Start with Sesame Oil: Heat the sesame oil in a small saucepan on low. This gently infuses the oil with flavor without overheating.
• Infuse with Ginger and Garlic: Add ginger and garlic to the oil, stirring to combine. Let them soften and do not let them brown or the sauce will become bitter.
• Add Liquids and Sweetener: Increase the heat to medium and pour in the mirin (or broth), soy sauce, rice vinegar, and your choice of sweetener. Simmer briefly until the sweetener dissolves.
• Cool Down and Add Heat (Optional): Remove from the heat, and let it cool down. For a spicy kick, mix in Thai chilis or sriracha.
• Refrigerate: Transfer the sauce to a glass container and refrigerate. This stays fresh for about a week in the refrigerator.

Optional Thickening: For a thicker sauce, mix cornstarch with cold water, combine with half the sauce, and simmer until thickened. This is perfect as a finishing glaze for tofu, soy curls, tempeh, and any dish that loves a kick of heat with Southeast Asian flavors.

Ways To Use This Awesome Sauce

I love the flavor combination so much that I found myself throwing together slight variations of it week after week to drizzle over soup or noodles or to marinate tofu in. Although whipping this up is quick and easy, there’s no reason it can’t be made in a larger batch, and then used throughout the week as needed. It has an array of uses, including:

• Tofu Transformation: Marinate blocks of pressed tofu in awesome sauce before baking or grilling for a savory, umami-packed main dish.
• Veggie Bowl Booster: Drizzle over roasted vegetable bowls, featuring sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and quinoa for an instant flavor upgrade.
• Noodle Nirvana: Toss with rice noodles, fresh veggies, and crispy tofu for a quick and flavorful stir-fry or cold salad.
• Vegan Sushi Secret: Use as a dipping sauce or glaze for vegan sushi rolls, adding depth to fillings like avocado, cucumber, and tempura sweet potato.
• Buddha Bowl Bliss: Elevate your Buddha bowls by mixing the sauce into your grain base or drizzling over the top for a tangy finish.
• Grilled Goodness: Brush over grilled vegetables or vegan kebabs as they cook for a caramelized, smoky flavor.
• Dip Delight: Serve as a side dip for spring rolls, dumplings, or tempura veggies for a touch of sweetness and heat.

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