The key to any meal is adding the right sauces. I want to help you with a grocery list of basics to buy, and my favorite ways to use them. This page also has recipes for sauces you can make yourself! I am not putting anything in that will take more than 5-10 minutes. I understand your patience may be as thin as mine when it comes to cooking.
the basics: what you always need
- Soy sauce or Tamari
- Sriracha
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Peanut sauce and/or teriyaki
- Hummus (LOTS!!!)
- Nutritional yeast (I always buy Braggs)
- Salt (I like pink Himalayan)
- Pepper
With these basics, you can go anywhere. I would make sure you always have these things in your house, especially when you are just too lazy to make any actual sauces. Its safe to say you could enhance any meal with these basics.
When it comes to making my own sauces, I ALWAYS have two ready to use. One being a hummus dressing, and the other is a cashew cheese sauce.
Dressings
For all of my sauces and dressings, these measurements are just estimates. You may like your sauces a different consistency or flavor, I have added optional add ins to help you get creative!
creamy hummus cesar
- 1/2-1 cup hummus (I usually use plain sabra, any kind will work)
- squeeze half a lemon
- 1 tablespoon of capers (I don’t chop them, and I like adding the capers in with the juice)
- 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil (I usually add much more because I love olive oil, but this is pretty standard)
- 2-3 tablespoons of water
- 2 pinches of salt
- as much pepper as you would like
- 2-3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
optional add:
- 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Braggs vinaigrette
honey dijon
- 1 tablespoon dijon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
optional add:
- nutritional yeast for thickness
- salt and pepper
This is a good dressing if you want something thin and easy. Not always my go to, but good to use if you wanna shake things up.
ranch
- 1 1/2 cup vegan mayo (I like to use follow your heart brand)
- 1/4-1/2 non dairy milk
- 3 cloves crushed garlic (or use garlic powder)
- 1/2 tablespoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried dill.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- pepper to taste
- salt to taste
If you don’t have all of these ingredients, it should still turn out fine. Just add all that you have.
Goes great on salads and for dipping chips!
bragg’s vinaigrette
This stuff is amazing. There is no added sugar and it goes well on just about anything! Salads, bowls, marinating tofu or veggies.
Sauces
cashew cream
ingredients
- 2 cups cashews (I prefer raw unsalted cashews, but they are harder to find and more expensive than just Planters brand nuts)
- 1 cup water
- 1 garlic clove
- dash of olive oil
- half squeezed lemon
- dash of Chile powder
- pepper
- dash of salt
- 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
Blend all of this together until it is creamy! Add more flavor as you need. Can also add more cashews to make thicker, or more water/oil to thin it out.
Trader Joe’s vegan kale, cashew, + basil pesto
This is so amazing with pasta, or mixed in with a bowl! Great to just have around, or put in the freezer for later
grace monshausen 