Almost every meal can be improved with a sauce. Whether that’s a marinade to make meat taste better, a dressing to drizzle, a condiment to spread, or a dip to…well, dip, sauces are our favorite way to amp up everyday cooking. We used the four flavor-packed spices from our Shortcut Spice Sampler to make four easy sauces you should keep on hand to upgrade all of your meals, ranging from a fiery chili crisp (ideal for dumpling dipping) to a citrusy, peppery go-to salad dressing.
Cracked Black Pepper & Citrus Dressing
Makes ½ cup
Ingredients
1 tablespoon Cracked Black Pepper & Citrus Seasoning
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
Directions
Add all ingredients to a jar, seal it tightly, and shake until combined. Drizzle over your favorite greens, dip veggies in it, or even try over roasted vegetables and meat.
Shawarma-Style Herby Yogurt Dip
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon Shawarma-Style seasoning, plus more for sprinkling
1 large clove garlic, grated or pressed with a garlic press
¼ cup olive oil
+ Handful fresh parsley, dill, mint leaves, roughly chopped
Directions
In a small bowl add yogurt, seasoning, and garlic. Stir to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with additional seasoning, and top with herbs. Serve with flatbread, pita, crackers, or cut-up vegetables for dipping.
Jamaican Jerk Marinade
Ingredients
2 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk seasoning
2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola
Directions
Combine spice and oil in a large bowl and mix to combine. Add a pound of chicken, shrimp, or meat of your choice and toss well to coat. Let sit at least 1 hour up to overnight before grilling.
Chili Garlic Crisp
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1 shallot
½ cup peanut oil
3 tablespoons Chili Garlic seasoning
¼ teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Directions
Slice the garlic cloves as thinly and evenly as possible (a mandoline works great here). Cut the shallots into rounds that are equally thin. Add to a small saucepan. Cover with oil and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots and garlic are golden brown and crispy, about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, add Chili Garlic seasoning, honey, and soy sauce to a heat-safe bowl. Carefully pour the hot oil into the chili mixture, and stir to combine. , Drizzle onto eggs, mix with soy sauce to dip dumplings, or use as a condiment for noodles, meats, fish, or tofu.
