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What sauces and dressings can I make to rejuvenate weekday meals?
Enhancing everyday dinners can be as simple as incorporating flavorful sauces and dressings. According to Gurdeep Loyal, the author of Flavour Heroes, the key elements are “a really good fat and a really good sour.” While oil is a common choice for fat, alternatives like egg yolks or avocados can also work well. Loyal recommends using flavored oils or innovative acids like gherkins, capers, or preserved lemons. For instance, a blend of preserved lemon with its brine, garlic-infused olive oil, and maple syrup can elevate a dish. Alternatively, combining avocado with gherkins and some fresh herbs creates a delectable dressing. These sauces can enhance a variety of meals, from kale salads to baked beans or even a dip for pizza.
William Gleave, chef-patron of Sargasso in Margate, emphasizes the versatility of anchovies in sauces. He shares a simple yet flavorful dressing inspired by the River Café, made with chopped anchovies, garlic, red-wine vinegar, and chili flakes. This bright and umami-rich concoction pairs excellently with grilled fish or roasted meats, proving that you can impress with minimal effort.
Marc Summer, founder of Bubala, suggests creating zhoug, a herby sauce blending various herbs like coriander and parsley with oil, garlic, and hawaij — a spiced blend from Yemen. This sauce can enhance pasta dishes or be stirred into sautéed vegetables for a quick flavor boost.
Summer also enjoys crafting a crunch condiment using fried shallots, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorns, combined with hot oil, dried apricots, and harissa for a distinctive smoky-sweet touch. This can be drizzled over carrots or noodles mixed with tahini. Additionally, he highlights the effectiveness of marinating vegetables with a blend of harissa and honey before roasting, offering a quick way to shake up typical weekday recipes.
Meanwhile, Xanthe Ross, author of Stay for Supper, swears by tahini sauce for its ability to enrich roasted vegetables and salads. With easily accessible ingredients like tahini, lemon, and olive oil, this sauce adds both indulgence and flavor to meals. Additionally, she recommends preparing a classic vinaigrette, suggesting that experimenting with different vinegars can keep things fresh. Having a batch on hand can effortlessly enhance a range of dishes, from salads to more innovative options like tomatoes on toast.
Source
www.theguardian.com