Expert Sauce Recipes

A good sauce is at the heart of a meal's flavor.  Sauce can turn an everyday dinner into a true masterpiece and are easier to prepare than it seems.  From Alfredo to gravy to mushrooms, try one of our top sauce recipes to juice up your favorite dishes.

Sauce is generally prepared to complement a meal, and not consumed on its own.  Ingredients range from meat and poultry juices to fresh fruits and vegetables.  Asian dishes rely on soy-based sauces, Italian dishes on tomato or cream, Mexican dishes employ fresh vegetables in their salsas, while British gravy is created from meat and vegetable juices naturally produced during the cooking process.   A well-prepared sauce adds distinction, flavor, and aroma to a meal, complementing the dry flavors.

Gravy.  Although gravy is typically attributed to British cuisine, it is an international favorite, and many traditionally American dishes rely on gravy as garnish.  Gravy has a fatty and smooth consistency, and is used to complement meat and poultry dishes.  A popular dish is "mashed potatoes and gravy," a side dish as American as apple pie.  Like most sauces, gravy is served hot.  A signature way to serve gravy is in a boat-shaped miniature pot with a snout on one side and handle on the other.

The Italian kitchen relies heavily on sauces, with most dishes requiring either tomato or milk-based liquids.  Alfredo is a creamy and rich sauce that uses a mix of cream, butter and cheeses flavored with garlic to top a plate of pasta.  Italian tomato sauce has quite a few variations, but almost always includes tomato paste, finely diced or grated tomatoes, garlic and the basil and oregano herbs typical of Italian cooking.

Chinese and Japanese dishes rely heavily on soy-based sauces.  Soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic are the main ingredients in most Chinese sauces.  Japanese sauces, such as that used for Teriyaki chicken, are soy-based sauces that are generally cooked with ginger and sake, a Japanese rice wine.   Most popular Chinese and Japanese meat and poultry dishes are presented drenched in semi-thick sauce.

Salsa is a Mexican term that literally means "sauce," and most Mexican and Latin American dishes are served with salsa as garnish.  Salsas are tomato or avocado-based sauces spiced with chili peppers, onions and cilantro.  These colorful condiments are made of fresh ingredients, and provide a range of health benefits along with their superb taste.  Salsas can be used as dips, garnishes and fillings.

Fruit-based sauces add an exotic, fresh flavor to any meal. Cranberry sauce is a must-have for roasted turkey dinners, especially on special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Its fresh flavor adds just the right amount of juice and sweetness to roasted turkey meat.  A more exotic fruit sauce, mango sauce is a deep yellow-colored sauce that is spicy in flavor and made using fresh mangoes, and spices such as turmeric, cumin, and fenugreek.  Commonly known as "amba," this tangy condiment is popular in Iraq, Israel and India, and is often used to top fried meats, as in meat and vegetable sandwiches.