Creamy Dragon Sauce with Tahini, Garlic, and Spicy Flair Recipe

Introduction

Dragon Sauce is a versatile, flavorful sauce that perfectly balances savory, nutty, sweet, and tangy notes. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, it adds a delicious punch to a variety of dishes. Whether you’re drizzling it over roasted veggies or using it as a dip, this sauce is sure to elevate your meals.

A white bowl holds a dark, shiny sauce filled with small bits of red chili flakes, yellow seeds, and tiny green herbs, giving it a textured look. A wooden spoon scoops some sauce, resting on the edge of the bowl with a visible woman’s hand holding the handle from above. The bowl is on a white marbled surface with soft natural light shining on the sauce, highlighting its glossy, slightly oily texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup tahini or nut butter (almond, cashew, or peanut butter)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or agave nectar or date syrup)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes or a few drops of hot sauce (adjust to taste)
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons water, to thin the sauce
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast or 1 teaspoon miso paste

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Combine tahini or nut butter, soy sauce or tamari, garlic, maple syrup, lemon juice or vinegar, ginger (if using), and chili flakes or hot sauce in a blender or food processor.
  2. Step 2: Blend the mixture until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
  3. Step 3: Gradually add water, one tablespoon at a time, blending until you reach your desired sauce consistency.
  4. Step 4: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary—add more sweetness, acidity, or spice to suit your preference.
  5. Step 5: If using, blend in nutritional yeast or miso paste for extra depth and umami flavor.

Tips & Variations

  • For a gluten-free sauce, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
  • Swap maple syrup with agave nectar or date syrup for a different kind of sweetness.
  • Add fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley to brighten the flavor.
  • Use roasted garlic instead of raw for a milder, sweeter garlic flavor.
  • Adjust the spice level by adding more or less chili flakes or hot sauce.

Storage

Store Dragon Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Stir well before each use, as some separation may occur. The sauce can be gently warmed or served chilled depending on your dish.

How to Serve

A close-up image of a round grey bowl filled with dark reddish-brown sauce that has visible yellow mustard seeds, red chili flakes, and small green herb pieces floating in it, held by a wooden spoon above the bowl showing a glossy texture. The bowl is set on a white marbled texture. A woman's hand holds the wooden spoon from the top right corner of the frame. The overall image has bright natural lighting highlighting the sauce’s vibrant colors and textures. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other nut butters besides tahini?

Yes, almond, cashew, or peanut butter all work well and will give the sauce a slightly different but delicious flavor.

How spicy is Dragon Sauce?

The spice level depends on how much chili flakes or hot sauce you add. You can easily adjust it to be mild or fiery according to your taste.

Print

Creamy Dragon Sauce with Tahini, Garlic, and Spicy Flair Recipe

Dragon Sauce is a versatile, creamy sauce with a perfect balance of savory, nutty, sweet, and tangy flavors. Made primarily from tahini or nut butter, combined with soy sauce, garlic, maple syrup, and lemon juice, this sauce can be customized with optional ingredients like ginger, chili flakes, nutritional yeast, or miso paste. It’s quick to prepare by blending all ingredients until smooth, making it an excellent addition to salads, bowls, or as a dipping sauce.

  • Author: Nora
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: Approximately 3/4 cup of sauce 1x
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: Fusion
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tahini or nut butter (almond, cashew, or peanut butter)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free option)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (can substitute agave nectar or date syrup)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice or rice vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes or 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to taste)
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup water (to adjust consistency)

Optional Add-ins

  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (for cheesy umami boost)
  • 1 teaspoon miso paste (for deeper flavor)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Measure all ingredients accurately. If using fresh garlic and ginger, mince and grate respectively to release maximum flavor.
  2. Add to Blender: Place tahini or selected nut butter, soy sauce or tamari, minced garlic or garlic powder, maple syrup, lemon juice or rice vinegar, ginger (optional), chili flakes or hot sauce, and optional nutritional yeast or miso paste into a blender bowl.
  3. Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until it forms a smooth, creamy sauce with no lumps, usually about 30 to 60 seconds depending on blender strength.
  4. Adjust Consistency: Gradually add water, starting with 1/4 cup, and blend again until you reach the desired pourable or spoonable consistency.
  5. Taste and Tweak: Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed—add more maple syrup for sweetness, more soy sauce for saltiness, or extra chili flakes for heat.
  6. Serve or Store: Transfer sauce to a serving bowl or airtight container. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Stir before using if separated.

Notes

  • Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this sauce gluten-free.
  • Adjust chili flakes or hot sauce to control spice level.
  • Maple syrup can be substituted with agave nectar or date syrup for sweetness.
  • Adding nutritional yeast provides a cheesy umami flavor suitable for vegans.
  • Miso paste deepens flavor but increases sodium content; use sparingly.
  • Store sauce in the refrigerator up to 5 days; stir well before use.

Keywords: Dragon Sauce, tahini sauce, nut butter sauce, vegan sauce, dipping sauce, salad dressing, umami sauce

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