Ideas for Spicing Up Your Food

Mint Sauce

Mix 4 Tbsp of fresh mint with 1 Tbsp super fine sugar, 1 Tbsp boiling water and 2 tsp wine vinegar. Drizzle over vegetables or rice.


Easy Curry Sauce

1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 tsp salt
1 Cup soy or rice milk

Mix together butter and flour until mixed. Stir in curry powder. Melt this slowly in milk, stirring until dissolved to avoid lumps (if lumps happen, process in a blender until smooth). Use this very basic and easy sauce on cooked poultry, shrimp, tofu, cooked veggies, pasta, rice, or leftovers.

Basic Salad Dressing

Blend together in blender: 1 cup chopped basil, 1/3 cup olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, 1 garlic clove grated, 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2-3 Tbsp of honey or agave nectar and 1 1/2 tsp salt.

Quick Salad Dressings

Indian Curried Grapefruit Dressing

• 3/4 cup unflavored soy yogurt (could also use plain yogurt)
• 2 Tbsp coconut milk
• 4 Tbsp grapefruit juice concentrate
• 2 Tbsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Thai Peanut-Orange Dressing

• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp chopped fresh chilies

Retro Green Goddess Dressing

• 3/4 cup soy sour cream or silken tofu (could also use regular sour cream)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp shredded nori (dried seaweed)
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh tarragon

Italian Sun-dried Tomato-Rosemary Vinaigrette

• 8 sundried tomatoes, minced
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, minced

Chinese Sesame-Soy Dressing

• 3/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp fresh orange zest
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp fresh orange juice

New England Thanksgiving Vinaigrette

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 Tbsp cranberry sauce
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vinegar

Healthy Chopped Veggie Vinaigrette  

• 6 Tbsp red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 4 Tbsp chopped Roma tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp chopped bell pepper
• 2 Tbsp chopped celery
• 2 Tbsp chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp minced fresh oregano
• 1 tsp minced fresh basil

Continental Shallot and Caper Dressing

• 6 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp chopped shallots
• 1 Tsbp drained capers
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp black pepper

Southwestern Chili Pepper Dressing

• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh chili peppers
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 Tbsp minced onion
• 2 Tbsp tomato puree
• 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

*each combination makes about a cup of dressing


recipe source: Vegetarian Journal Volume XXXIII No 2