This Nut-Based Dip Made Me Forget About Ranch
In the classic French culinary tradition, five mother sauces—béchamel, velouté, Espagnole, sauce tomat, and hollandaise—serve as the foundation for countless additional sauces. I’m here today to recognize another sauce with its own esteemed matriarchal domain, and that sauce is Bitchin’ Sauce.
Before you tattle on us for swearing, we should clarify that “bitchin’" in this context is likely the California English adjective meaning awesome (e.g. I just saw a bitchin’ Camaro while drivin’ up here on the 405). It is in no way derogatory or disparaging.
Regardless of variety, each Bitchin’ Sauce has a grounded nuttiness, brightened by lemon juice and nutritional yeast for a savory tang. While it is mostly nuts, it is definitely not a nut butter—its texture is closer to thick ranch dressing. The chipotle flavor is my personal favorite—the spicy, smoky flavors pair well with the creamy, savory base. The original is a little garlicky, but it has a distinct savory flavor all its own. In all, there are 10 varieties of Bitchin’ Sauce, including a tangy buffalo, cilantro chili, and pesto, all distinct and boldly flavored. (They also make three sweet sauces: salted caramel, chocolate, and apple pie.—I’ve never tried these, but I’m guessing they’d make excellent dips for apple slices.)
Bitchin’ Sauce is a Carlsbad, CA-born concoction with a creamy texture that comes entirely from almonds. (The product is completely dairy free.) It’s a sauce by name, but I first encountered it as a dip, served alongside pita chips and crudités. And this speaks to Bitchin’ Sauce’s versatility. It’s thick and luxurious enough to feel like a dip, but it can also go into condiment territory when dolloped onto a bowl of rice and vegetables. Dilute it with a bit of water and you’ve got a robust salad dressing. For any dairy-loving person who cannot stomach dairy, Bitchin’ Sauce is a vegan alternative to tangy, rich dips and dressings that does not in any way feel inferior.
While its vegan-GFDF status is a major appeal, Bitchin’ Sauce is also a fabulous accompaniment to meat. You can use it as a marinade or sauce for an otherwise plainly-seasoned grilled chicken or shrimp and suddenly you’ve got a composed meal. I have spread it on sandwiches, served it alongside mustard and jam on a cheese board, and have also put it on eggs. Can ranch or onion dip do that?
We’ve advanced enough as a society to know that vegan-friendly food is more than just the butt of jokes in beer commercials. If you are one of those people who have passed up a tub of Bitchin’ Sauce because you thought it was somehow less than or inferior to your dairy-based dips, all I can say is that you’re missing out on a bitchin’ time.
Chipotle Bitchin' Sauce
$6.00, Amazon
Original Bitchin' Sauce
$6.00, Amazon
Originally Appeared on Epicurious
