SECRET TO FABULOUS RAW SAUCES

To create fabulously delicious raw sauces, dressings, and marinades use the following guidelines.

There are five basic flavor categories that each sauce, dressing or marinade should incorporate. In addition to the five basic favors, you'll also need to include a fat ingredient... for a total of six components. Here are some example ingredients for each flavor component.

SWEET - dates, raw honey, agave nectar
SALTY - sea salt, soy sauce, miso
SOUR - lemon, lime, tamarind
SPICY - hot peppers, garlic, ginger
BITTER - herbs/spices... basil, parsley, cumin
FAT - avocado, olive oil, coconut oil

This rule applies to all cuisines because flavor profiles are universal. Each flavor is influenced by the others, and they're all enhanced by the presence of a fat ingredient. Fats balance the flavors while providing depth and richness! Fats can also help tone down sour and spicy ingredients.

Aim to achieve a balanced infusion of all five flavors, rather than emphasizing any one particular flavor. Keep in mind that raw ingredients like garlic and onion, fresh herbs, and hot peppers are much stronger when their flavors haven't been cooked down. So a little goes a long way!

Here’s a tasty teriyaki marinade recipe great for any Asian veggie dish!

Orange Zest Teriyaki

Juice of 1 orange
¼ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp raw honey
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp sesame oil
Pinch orange zest
Pinch grated ginger

In a small bowl add soy sauce and orange juice, and slowly stir in the honey until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients and whisk. Pour the sauce over a large bowl of your favorite veggies and set aside to marinade for 1-2 hours before serving!

In this recipe the six flavor components are as follows.

SWEET - raw honey
SALTY - soy sauce
SOUR - orange juice (acid)
SPICY - garlic, ginger
BITTER - orange zest
FAT - sesame oil