We all know that steak goes brilliantly with a peppercorn sauce, tartare is lovely with fish, and chili sauce tastes delicious with french fries and cheese. But if you want to impress your guests at your next dinner party, why not try mixing it up. Here are some sauces that you might not think of adding to your next meal but have the potential to become your new favorite way to leave your taste buds tingling in delight. Here are a few meals and sauce combinations that will add the element of surprise the next time you are dishing up a feast.
Teriyaki Sauce
Suppose you want to demonstrate truly magnificent culinary skills, then learn how to make teriyaki sauce from scratch. Once you have that mastered, it is time to pair it up. Teriyaki is an extremely versatile sauce that goes well as a marinade on meat, fish, and vegetables, so you might think there is little left as a surprise mixer. But teriyaki can also be a great dessert sauce, which you could dip with chocolate or pineapple chunks. The deep flavor works well with chocolate and is an excellent balance to the sharp acidity. This would undoubtedly raise a few eyebrows, but once everyone has had a taste, they will quickly be reaching for more.
Tartar Sauce
This condiment comprises mayonnaise, pickles, capers, and olives as a base, but many people have their own recipes with extra ingredients thrown in to boost the flavor. Tartar will most commonly be found accompanying fish and chips or really any white fish dish in need of a flavourful sauce. They also go well with hushpuppies, which for those of you who don’t know, are a small deep-fried ball made from cornmeal. The sauce can also be great in a hamburger, but the taste is strong, so you want only to put a small amount on, so it does not overpower the meat.
Barbeque Sauce
The clue is really in the title for this delicious sauce that is mostly used on those hot summer days mixed with grilled meat of any variety. Barbeque sauce has also become a great addition to pizzas in recent years. It works exceptionally well as a glaze, marinade, or dipping sauce. However, a great way to use up any leftover BBQ sauce you might have is to make cookies.
Peppercorn Sauce
Peppercorn sauce is of French origin and was created as an addition to traditional meat cuts such as lamb or tenderloin beef steaks. The sauce is often used in steak au poivre as a cooking ingredient and occasionally is mixed with liqueurs to add more decadent and complex flavors. It has also become an excellent addition to chicken dishes and fish dishes, notably salmon and tuna. The sauce can accompany most meals without much comment. It might be a conversation starter with your guests if you serve it with your cheese course. However, the peppery and creamy nature makes it perfect for oatcakes or crackers and can give an additional kick for those seeking a more potent flavor from some milder cheeses.
Chili Sauce
Chili sauce is so ubiquitous that it is served with a starter, main course, and even dessert dishes. The sauce can give almost any dish a little kick of heat that is palatable and pleasant. Chili sauces can range from the very mild to the scorchingly hot, allowing most people to get some enjoyment from the sauce no matter their tolerance level for spiciness. Did you know that some people even have it with ice cream? Ice cream and chili sauce is an original dessert bound to intrigue any friends or family you have invited around for dinner. The balance of ice cream to sauce needs to be right, but the ice cream’s cooling flavor does curtail the heat, so you can afford to reach for a spicier chili sauce when making this dish.
Remember that experimentation is always allowed in the kitchen. If it tastes terrible, no one is forcing you to finish it. Be inventive and try as many different sauce combinations with your favorite meals and snacks. Maybe chili sauce on toasted marshmallows will be the next big hit, or maybe they will taste disgusting, but there is only one way to know for sure. Do not be afraid of your sauces. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to the tried and tested formulas. If you think you have an original idea, then throw it together and have a taste. It might just be your new lip-smacking delight that you never knew you needed in your life.
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