These Healthy Sauces Make Everything Taste Better

I think we can all agree that one of the greatest parts of cooking and eating is sauce. Sauces add flavor, texture, and have the power to bring any meal to an entirely new level.

Forget the sauceor dare to underestimate its valueand you can end up with a dry, bland, flavorless dish thats just missing something.

From curries to pizza to salads and grain bowls, here are seven sauces to put on anything and everything.

Almond Sauce

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Move over, peanut sauce. Almond sauce is the next big thing in Asian-fusion cooking. Almonds are extremely nutrient-dense and make an excellent sauce that is not quite as overpowering as peanut sauce.

Try this Spicy Almond Sauce recipe from The Kitchen Paper. Or pick up a bottle of Yais Thai Almond Sauce for noodles, protein, veggies, rice or grain bowls, and more.

Related Reading: 12 Vegan Sauces You Need to Try

Jalapeo Hot Sauce

Chowhound

Hot sauce is a great way to add a lot of flavor without a lot of added sugars or calories. But before you go reaching for any old traditional red hot sauce, you might want to consider opting for one made from everyones favorite green pepper: jalapeo. Jalapeos are just the right amount of spice and also have a nice, smoky flavor. You can put this hot sauce on traditional Mexican dishes but also anything from pizza to omelettes to a turkey sandwich. As we all know, when it comes to hot sauce, almost anything goes.

Watch our primer on How to Make Your Own Green Hot Sauce, or pick up Sietes healthy Jalapeo Hot Sauce (you wont regret it).

Spicy Mustard

Chowhounds Fig Mustard

Mustard isnt just for hot dogs and cheeseburgers. In fact, it can take any number of foods to a totally new level. You can use it in a salad dressing for a nice pop of flavor and spice, add it to a marinade (like our Honey-Mustard Marinade recipe), slather it on roasted veggies, or use it as a dipping sauce for grilled cheese sandwiches.

Related Reading: 7 Rules for Making Amazing Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Try this Homemade Mustard Recipewhich incorporates turmeric, white wine, and horseradishfrom David Lebovitz. Or pick up Trader Joes Deli Style Spicy Brown Mustard for a simple and inexpensive option with no added sugar.

Buffalo Ranch

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If youre looking for the perfect dipping sauce, marinade, and addition to your Super Bowl party menu, look no further than buffalo ranch sauce. Its just like ranch, but with an added kick that is exactly what your guests are craving. This one isnt going to add much nutritional value, but we all deserve to throw out the rules every now and then, dont we?

Whip up some Buffalo Ranch Dressing from Seeded at the Table, or drop some of this (dairy-free) Tessemaes Pantry Dressing & Marinade Buffalo Ranch in your cart at Thrive Market. Pair with buffalo cauliflower bites.

Pesto

Chowhounds Cilantro-Almond Pesto

When it comes to pesto, pasta is just the beginning. You can also add it to egg dishes, tuna or chicken salad, or use it as a dipping sauce for sandwiches or wraps. Heck, you can even use it as a layer in your lasagna (like in our Pesto and Pea Lasagna recipe).

Keep it simple with our Easy Basil Pesto recipe, go the nontraditional route with our Cilantro-Almond Pesto recipe, or try this Gotham Greens pesto. They have a classic and vegan version for those of us wanting to avoid dairy.

See also: chimichurri and aji verde sauce.

Tahini

Chowhounds Tahini Dressing

Tahini is one of natures greatest sauces. Its made with sesame seeds and adds an earthy, nutty flavor to practically anything. Drizzle it on salads (add lemon juice and garlic for a zingier Tahini Dressing), put it on pizza, or spread it on toast. You can even incorporate tahini into baked goods, like they do in this Tahini Brownie recipe from the Mediterannean Dish.

Try this Organic Sesame Tahini from Once Again. To take things to the next level, try this Chipotle Tahini recipe from Pinch of Yum.

Pineapple Salsa

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When it comes to salsa flavors, pineapple probably isnt your first thought. But pineapple is arguably the most versatile type of salsa; it makes the perfect topping for any proteinincluding fish, shrimp, chicken, tofu, or steakand you can add it to just about any salad or grain bowls for a touch of sweetness and spice.

Related Reading: Upgrade Your Taco Tuesday with These Fresh Fruit Salsas

Trader Joes Pineapple Salsa is a great place to start your tropical salsa journey. If you prefer your salsa homemade, check out this Fresh Pineapple Salsa recipe from Cookie + Kate.

Try one, a few, or all of these sauces in 2020. They are versatile, delicious, and are guaranteed to take your dishes from good to great.

Related Video: Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Peanut Sauce