6 Sauces to Refresh Your Homemade Meals

Cooking at home is having a moment right now. Thanks, COVID...? 

Regardless of what it is that motivates you to cook at home, it’s likely you’ll still hit a wall at some point and feel like you’re making the same meals over and over again, or at least an iteration of them. When this happens, it’s instinct to go searching for a whole new routine - maybe go out more (if you can), maybe buy a new cookbook, maybe try a whole new round of recipes that are extremely difficult and unfamiliar to you?

In our opinion, one of the best and easiest ways to refresh your homemade meal routine is not to focus on changing the main course but simply change the flavor of it. A homemade sauce is your answer. The best part is if you make a batch, you can keep it in the fridge for several days and likely enjoy it with other dishes or as a dip for your favorite cracker, raw vegetables, and more!

Here are a few sauces we dug up from various corners of the internet. What are some of your favorites?

Maple-Mustard Onion Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 medium Vidalia or sweet onion, unpeeled
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 teaspoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Full recipe:

https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-maple-mustard-onion-sauce-245438

Best with: chicken or pork

Fermented Buffalo Sauce

Ingredients

• 10 ounces (300g) red cayenne peppers
• 1/2 cup (120ml) white rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
• 1/4 cup (60ml) water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp butter flavor (optional)

Full recipe:

https://fullofplants.com/homemade-buffalo-wings-sauce-from-scratch/

Best with: chicken wings

Oh My Steak Sauce

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 small shallot, finely minced
• 5 chives, finely minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2-3 tablespoons prepared horseradish (the fresh kind in refrigerated section)
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
• pinch of cayenne pepper, to taste
• salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Full recipe:

https://thenovicechefblog.com/oh-my-steak-sauce/

Best with: steak

Classic Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 medium cloves garlic
• Coarse sea salt, as needed
• 3 ounces basil leaves (from about a 4-ounce bunch), washed with water still clinging to the leaves
• 2 tablespoons (30g) pine nuts
• 3/4 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• 3/4 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) Pecorino Fiore Sardo
• 3/4 cup (175ml) mildly flavored extra-virgin olive oil

Full recipe:

https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/07/best-pesto-recipe.html

Best with: everything 

Coconut Curry Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp curry powder
• 1 13.5 ounce can of coconut milk
• 2 tsp ground turmeric
• 2 Tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 Tbsp fish sauce
• juice of 1/2 lime

Full recipe:

https://www.scratchtobasics.com/5-minute-coconut-curry-sauce/

Best with: chicken or pork

Sriracha Aioli

Ingredients

• 1 cup store-bought mayonnaise*
• 1 to 2 tablespoons Sriracha
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated
• Kosher salt

Full recipe: https://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2020/04/sriracha-aioli-recipe

Best with: everything, but we especially love it on burgers