Good Food Reads: Sauces Edition

Welcome back to Good Food Reads Sauces Edition where we are going to talk about my absolute favorite thing-SAUCES!  I have been accused by my husband of ordering food solely for the sauces I can put on top of it!  Want to lure me into ordering something at a restaurant?  Describe the sauce.  Sauces, condiments, salsas…whatever name you prefer.  Buckle up, I’m going to bring you some of my favorites…

Let’s start with my very favorite sauce ever.  Chimichurri Sauce.  A South American sauce made of herbs and oil, it is the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats, plantain chips, vegetables, you name it.  I may have even been known to slather it on bread. Rumor has it I’ve eaten it with a spoon, but I will neither confirm nor deny…  Here is my very favorite chimichurri recipe that I shared with you last year and have made countless times since.  Fresh and flavorful, everyone in my family gives this two thumbs up.  The recipe for Flank Steak and Chimichurri Sauce is simple, uses fresh ingredients and takes minutes to make.  Best of all, if you have leftovers you can use it to make our Chimichurri Panzanella Salad with White Beans. You are welcome.

My second favorite sauce is Cilantro Lime Sauce.(Do other people think like this? Do other people have rankings of sauces?  I do admit I may be just a little odd…) I first tasted this sauce at a local restaurant, Brasa, here in Minneapolis.  If you are ever in the area, run, do not walk, to this little gem.  This amazing, flavorful sauce is the perfect foil for pork, chicken, steak, yuca fries, you name it.  And we were lucky enough to find the original recipe, by my culinary crush, the owner of Brasa, Alex Roberts.

Moving onto Mexico, I adore a good guacamole!  I’m planning on trying this Firehouse Guacamole by Simply Made Recipes this weekend.  I love the idea of the cilantro and the serrano peppers!  And how awesome are these Guacamole BLT Bacon Cups by West by Midwest?  Combining my love of guacamole with bacon seems like a match made in heaven! My absolute favorite guacamole is a little concoction made with ripe avocados, Worcestershire sauce and tabasco, but as I haven’t published the recipe just yet, you’ll have to be patient…

And salsas?  Got you covered.  This Summertime Salsa from our own blog, is a traditional tomato based salsa that is a breeze to whip up in your food processor.  But if you’re looking for something a little different, look no farther.  Fruit is always a great addition to the more traditional salsa.  I can’t wait to try this Blueberry Mango Salsa by Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch, or this Mango Black Bean Salsa from Ethnic Spoon. Or for a double dose of fruit, how about this Pineapple Mango Salsa from Mind”Full” Mom?  Fresh, healthy, tasty and easy for the win!

Another one of my top 5 condiments is BBQ sauce.  So many varieties to try!  From sweet to spicy to smoky to tangy there is a BBQ sauce for everyone.  My recent favorite is a unique sauce from Smitten Kitchen.  Deb’s Homemade Barbecue Sauce is an adaptation of an Ina Garten recipe that is both a little sweet and a little sassy.  But for a different twist, how about Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce from Pook’s Pantry?  I think this is exactly why grilled chicken was invented.  Not interested in a fruit infused BBQ Sauce?  How about this Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce from LemonTree Dwelling?

What is your favorite sauce?  Let us know in the comments below!