International Sauces - Savory Caramel, Tahini, Tamarind, Yogurt-Based Sauces | The Nibble Webzine Of Food Adventures - The Nibble Webzine Of Food Adventures International Sauces - Savory Caramel, Tahini, Tamarind, Yogurt-Based Sauces | The Nibble Webzine Of Food Adventures
 
 
 
 
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TIP OF THE DAY: International Sauces On Everyday Favorites ~ Part 3 Of 3

March is National Sauce Month. Here’s the finale to our three-part review of international sauce options that will shower new flavors upon your everyday chicken, fish and other main courses.

Thanks again to Flavor & The Menu, a resource for restaurant chefs nationwide, offers 12 global sauces for you to try.

They range from mild to spicy—and of course, you control the level of heat in your own kitchen.

Some are thin like marinade, others are pastes that can be thinned with broth, oil or water.
 
THE 12 SAUCES

  • Part 1: Chermoula, Makhani, Fruit Sauce, Mediterranean Hot Sauce
  • Part 2: Nuoc Cham, Nut-Based Sauces, Peri Peri, Sambal
  • Part 3: (below) Savory Caramel, Tahini, Tamarind, Yogurt-Based Sauces
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    9. SAVORY CARAMEL

    Of the 12 flavors in this article, savory caramel was the newest concept to us. We’ve always known caramel as a very sweet dessert sauce or candy.

    But there’s more than one kind of caramel, we discovered, depending on how long it is cooked and how much sugar is added.

    In fact, salted caramel, which has become a standard sauce and candy flavor over the last decade, has led to the fusion of savory Asian caramel: both miso caramel and soy caramel.

    Adding umami flavor to the savory caramel, both of these can be used in savory preparations as a dip, glaze and sauce.

    They can be added to sweet preparations as well—cookies, cakes and other desserts—to add a toasty, nutty flavor.

    An addition you might like in your savory caramel: chile heat.

    Flavor & The Menu spotted these preparations:

  • Miso Caramel Crab Roll with cream cheese and tempura at Lime House in Buffalo, New York.
  • Crispy Spiced Summer Squash with local tofu, wild rice, soy caramel at The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia.
  •  
    Here’s more about using savory caramel.

    And try this Savory Citrus-Caramel Sauce recipe.
     
     
    10. TAHINI

    Familiar to every hummus lover, tahini, made from toasted, ground sesame seeds, is moving beyond hummus and other Eastern Mediterranean dishes.

    Tahini is plant-based and nut-free, making it attractive to use in these trending cuisines. Think creatively, and use tahini like these chefs do:

  • Miso-glazed Eggplant with edamame, spicy greens, toasted peanuts and tahini yogurt at Trade in Boston
  • Grilled Romaine Salad with tahini-Caesar dressing, capers, chives and sourdough breadcrumbs at Bagel Uprising in Alexandria, Virginia.
  •  
    We’ve also spotted:

  • Tahini and maple syrup glaze on doughnuts
  • Tahini marinades for chicken
  • Tahini in pumpkin bundts, spice cakes and cookies
  • Tahini in vinaigrettes and yogurt sauce (see #12, below)
  •  
    You can even drizzle tahini on avocado toast!

    Beyond hummus: Check out these 18 modern recipes with tahini.
     
     
    11. TAMARIND SAUCE

    The tamarind tree produces pod-like fruit that contains a brown, edible pulp used in cuisines around the world (photo # 11b).

    Its flavors are pungent, sour and sweet: a complex layering with an exotic touch. Tamarind paste is used broadly, in beverages, chutneys, curries, dips, rice dishes, stews and more.

    Cooking tip: Tamarind paste is and often combined with dried fruits to achieve a sweet-sour tang.

    In the U.S., tamarind is most frequently found in Indian and Thai cuisines.

    Tamarind sauce, made from tamarind paste* is being used by U.S. chefs here as a high-impact ingredient for global mash-up versions of applications like glazes for chicken wings or ribs, drizzles for tacos and sauces for seafood dishes.

    Flavor & The Menu spotted:

  • Coconut Shrimp Toast drizzled with housemade tamarind sauce at The Bamboo Club in Long Beach, California.
  • Baby Back Pork Ribs with soy-tamarind glaze and sesame seeds at Wayan in New York City.
  •  
     
    12. YOGURT-BASED SAUCES

    And now, the conclusion to our 12-sauce global adventure.

    Yogurt-based sauces have been common in the U.S. for decades: in Greek, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines, and more recently into vegetarian preparations and cuisine moderne.

    Think of tzatziki and raita, two simple-to-make, low-calorie sauces and dips.

    Yogurt-based sauces was included in the article because Flavor & The Menu noticed an increase of preparations by chefs nationwide.

    Chefs are putting new spins on classic yogurt sauces, adding heat with sriracha or harissa, adding heat and smoke with chipotle or guajillo chiles.

    They’ve found dishes like:

  • Char-Grilled Broccoli with yogurt-based teklai garlic sauce, pickled shallots and nigella seed, at Lyra, Nashville.
  • Fried Cauliflower with caper-yogurt sauce at Kismet in Los Angeles.
  • Spanakopita stuffed with spinach, artichokes, dill and feta cheese with ouzo yogurt sauce, at Nerai in New York City.
  •  
    The message is that you can mix just about any condiment into yogurt to make a sauce, from sweet or savory chutney to fruit, mustard, relish and any herb or spice you like.

    Just look in your fridge or pantry for inspiration.
     
     
    ________________

    *Tamarind sauce is typically a blend of tamarind pulp or paste with fresh ginger, garlic, sugar, sambal, Thai fish sauce and soy sauce.

     


    [9a] Chicken drumsticks with savory caramel glaze. Here’s the recipe from Bon Appetit (photo © Bon Appetit).


    [9b] Candy Pork, Vietnamese-style with savory caramel. Here’s the recipe from Epicurious (photo © Epicurious).


    [10a] Chicken Fingers With Tahini Dipping Sauce. You can use the sauce to dip anything, including French fries. Here’s the recipe from Cooking Light (photo © Hector Manuel Sanchez | Cooking Light).


    [10b] Tahini-Carrot Soup With Pistachios. Here’s the recipe from Cooking Light (photo © Cooking Light).


    [11a] Tamarind grilled shrimp. Use the sauce as a glaze and a dipping sauce (photo © Maya Kaimal).


    [11b] Tamarind pods (photo © The Indian Vegan).


    [12] Bluefin tuna crudo with cucumber and spicy candied walnuts, accented with yogurt mint sauce, from Chef Adrianne (photo © Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant & Bar).

     

      

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