8 Sauces to Amp Up Any Meal
Mushroom-Red Wine Sauce
You don't need to have cooked a beef roast ot make this full-bodied sauce. The richness comes instead from sautéed mushrooms and red wine. Spoon the sauce over steak or a baked potato topped with blue cheese.
View Recipe: Mushroom-Red Wine Sauce
Buttermilk-Dill Sauce
Think of this no-cook sauce as your put-it-on-everything sauce. Spoon over baked fish or chicken. Beyond a main, use it to dress a potato salad or as a veggie dip. We prefer 2% Greek yogurt over nonfat for a milder tang that complements the buttermilk.
View Recipe: Buttermilk-Dill Sauce
Quick Peanut Sauce
The warmth and zing of fresh ginger and garlic put bottled versions of this sauce out of the running. For heat, stir in a generous pinch of crushed red pepper. Drizzle the sauce over grilled chicken or shrimp skewers. You can also use as a dip for spring rolls or toss with a soba noodle salad.
View Recipe: Quick Peanut Sauce
Spinach-Walnut Pesto
An evergreen, everyday pesto will perk up pastas and pizzas when fresh basil is no longer in season. The warmth from the toasted walnuts will help the sauce emulsify; don't skip this step. Try the sauce on seared salmon or chicken.
View Recipe: Spinach-Walnut Pesto
Miso-Chili-Garlic Sauce
Just four ingredients deliver big umami flavor with a hint of heat thanks to the chili garlic sauce. It pairs well with most proteins—we like it with shrimp, chicken, or tofu. Thin leftover sauce with a little sesame oil for a quick salad dressing.
View Recipe: Miso-Chili-Garlic Sauce
Cilantro-Caper Sauce
Herby, garlicky, and briny, this easy food processor sauce is a loose combination of classic Italian salsa verde and Argentinian chimichurri. Use it to brighten up seared pork chops, grilled steak, or grilled chicken skewers.
View Recipe: Cilantro-Caper Sauce
End-of-Summer Tomato Salsa
Late-season cherry tomatoes and woodsy thyme bridge the seasons in this versatile condiment. Try it on everything from grilled chicken breasts to sautéed salmon and roasted pork tenderloin.
View Recipe: End-of-Summer Tomato Salsa
Quick Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
A quick whir in the blender brings this romesco-style sauce together in seconds. The ingredients are also easy to keep on hand for a a last-minute sauce that's delicious on mild fish fillets or simple baked chicken breasts.
