Skip to content

Sides, Sauces & Spice Mixes

Collection of sauces, sides & spice mix recipes.

Undercover Tuna Dipඞ

Sneak this next to the chips in a small bowl and watch as people unsuspectingly try and start loving it. Works best without telling people that it has tuna inside to avoid suspicions and hesitation, because the concept doesn't seem super appetizing, but will surely be devoured if anyone gets a taste.

Ingredients

  • 1 can of tuna fillet in oil
  • 2-3 tsp Hellmann's (or other neutral) mayonnaise
  • Juice of half of a lemon

Instructions:

  1. Combine everything and season with salt to taste.
  2. Et voilà!

Guacamoleඞ

From Babish - Nachos

Ingredients

  • 3 small ripe avocados
  • 1 clove fresh garlic
  • 1/2 small red onion, minced
  • 1 lime
  • 1 tsp toasted and freshly ground cumin
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 jalapeño, finely choped
  • 2 Tbsp cilantro, finely chopped

Notes:

  • Feeling funky? Add some banana, about 1/4 to 1/3 of a banana per 3 avocados depending on the size (Thanks, Ere!).

Instructions:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine 3 small ripe avocados, 1 clove of crushed garlic, 1/2 of a small minced red onion, the juice from 1 lime, 1 teaspoon of toasted and freshly ground cumin, a pinch of kosher salt, a few twists of freshly ground pepper, 1/2 of a finely chopped jalapeño, and 2 finely chopped tablespoons of cilantro.
  2. Using a fork, mash the combination together until it is relatively smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and cover with plastic wrap, making sure to press it down directly onto the surface to prevent browning. Place in the refrigerator for later.
  3. Et voilà!

Pico de galloඞ

Ingredients

  • 453.59 g tomatoes, (3-4 medium), diced
  • 1/2 medium onion, (1 cup chopped)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced (optional)
  • 8 g cilantro, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp lime juice, from 1 lime

Mix everything and season to taste.

Miso soupඞ

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp dashi granules
  • 1 tsp miso (white, red, or mixed)
  • Optional: a splash of mirin for sweetness
  • Optional: a drop of vinegar for acidity
  • Optional: dried seaweed, fish flakes, or a pinch of spice mix

Instructions:

  1. In a shiruwan (small Japanese soup bowl), add 1 teaspoon of dashi and 1 teaspoon of miso.
  2. Pour in hot water and stir until dissolved.
  3. Adjust flavor with mirin for sweetness or a drop of vinegar for acidity, if desired.
  4. Add dried seaweed, fish flakes, or a little spice mix to taste.

Frijolesඞ

Ingredients

  • Beans of choice
  • Stock
  • Onion
  • Cumin
  • Chili of choice
  • Paprika butter
  • Garlic butter

Instructions:

  1. Cook the beans in stock until they are nice and soft.
  2. Fry the onion with cumin and whatever chili you are enjoying at the time.
  3. Add the cooked beans and mix everything together.
  4. Drench with paprika butter and garlic butter just before serving.

Notes:

  • Works with any sort of bean, but black beans are a classic.
  • Adjust the spices to taste.
  • Butter beans cooked in beer with fennel seeds and ginger are a nice variation.

Soy Butter French Friesඞ

From Chefs Labo

Ingredients

  • 200 g frozen French fries
  • 15 g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) soy sauce
  • 1/2 sheet nori
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Melt the butter.
  2. Blend the nori sheet in a food processor or crumble it finely by hand, then mix with the soy sauce.
  3. Toss the freshly cooked, hot fries with salt, black pepper, the nori-soy mixture, and melted butter.

French Fries with Cheesy Curry Sauceඞ

From Chefs Labo

Ingredients

  • 200 g frozen French fries
  • 2-3 pinches salt

Curry sauce: - 1 g kombu (or 0.5 g MSG) - 25 g Japanese curry roux - 100 g onion, finely chopped - 25 g mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

  1. Add 1 g of kombu or 0.5 g of MSG to 220 ml of water.
  2. Heat oil in a pan and cook the onion until browned.
  3. If using kombu, remove it. Gradually add the kombu or MSG water as needed to keep the onion from drying out.
  4. Once the onion is ready, add all the remaining water and the curry roux. Stir until the roux dissolves.
  5. Add the mozzarella and season to taste.
  6. Transfer the sauce to a mixer and blend until smooth and uniform.
  7. Cook the fries according to the package directions, then pour the sauce over the fresh, hot fries.

Feta & Cream Cheese Dipඞ

Ingredients

  • 200 g feta, softened
  • 200 g cream cheese, softened
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
  • (optional) chili
  • Optional: parsley, dill, or mint, finely chopped

Instructions:

  1. Blend or mash the feta and cream cheese together until smooth.
  2. Stir in the garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil until creamy.
  3. Season with chili and a little black pepper.
  4. Spoon into a bowl and finish with more olive oil and herbs, then serve with chips, vegetables, or warm flatbread.