There’s nothing like a flavor-packed sauce to make good-for-you foods even better. Explore these delectable plant-based sauces, all fast and easy to make — from teriyaki and no-cook barbecue sauce to luscious gravies and dairy-free “cheesy” sauces.
Smoky Vegan Cashew Cheese Sauce: This luscious vegan cheesy sauce, based on cashews and carrots, makes fresh vegetables even more appealing for those who love them. It might tempt fussy eaters to eat their veggies, and is great with flatbreads, tortilla chips, and crackers as well. And it’s a fantastic vegan mac and cheese sauce, too!
Bell Pepper Vegan Cheddar Sauce or Spread: Made with red bell pepper, raw cashews, and tofu or white beans, this vegan cheddar spread or sauce is an irresistible treat. No matter how you serve it (see ideas below), it packs a flavorful punch.
Easy Teriyaki Sauce: Bottled teriyaki sauce is easy to come by and usually good. But if you have these kinds of ingredients on hand and are a DIY kind of person, this teriyaki sauce recipe is super easy to make in minutes. It’s also a great marinade for tofu and tempeh.
Shiitake Mushroom Miso Gravy: You may remember this one from last week’s newsletter, “When the shiitake hits the pan.” Serve this versatile shiitake mushroom miso gravy over sautéed tofu or tempeh, or to dress up mashed potatoes, green beans, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and root vegetables.
Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy: Vegan mushroom gravy is so easy to make, enhancing weeknight meals as well as special occasion fare. It’s a fantastic choice when you want something comforting that doesn’t take long to make.
Tangy Tahini Sauce, Salad Dressing, or Dip: As a salad dressing or dip, this tangy tahini sauce makes uncooked veggies shine; it’s also delectable on steamed, roasted, sautéed, or grilled vegetables as a sauce, too. See lots of easy and delicious ways to use it following.
Dairy-Free Arugula or Spinach Pesto: Here’s a bold and fragrant arugula pesto made without the usual Parmesan cheese. Nutritional yeast is optional but highly recommended to give it a hint of cheesy flavor. This versatile pesto sauce can be used in several delicious ways — on pasta, of course, and more.
Jamaican-Inspired Easy Jerk Sauce: Jerk sauce is one of the few sauces for which I haven’t found a bottled equivalent that I absolutely love, so here’s a way to easily make it in the kitchen. I’ll be the first to admit that this Jamaican-inspired super-easy jerk sauce isn’t quite authentic, but it does have the right flavor notes — sweet, savory, citrusy, and spicy.
Sweet and Savory Molasses Barbecue Sauce: This assertive molasses barbecue sauce is sure to please fans of the bold-flavored sweetener. It’s excellent for grilled, roasted, or stovetop preparations of vegan proteins.
Easy No-Cook Vegan Barbecue Sauce: This nearly-instant no-cook vegan barbecue sauce is so easy that it has become my go-to instead of bottled sauces; nothing wrong with them, as a long as they’re vegan and all natural, but I just haven’t found one that I love.
Coconut Peanut Sauce or Salad Dressing: An easy coconut peanut sauce is a useful and delicious staple in the plant-based repertoire. This delectably rich dressing works well on Asian-influenced salads, cold or hot noodles, rice bowls, summer rolls, tofu and tempeh dishes, and simply steamed green veggies.
Vegan Silken Tofu and Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce: This plant-based Alfredo sauce is simple and surprisingly luscious, proof positive of the versatility of cauliflower and silken tofu. What’s even more convincing is the creamy texture.
Leave a Reply