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.
- 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
- Prepare Ingredients: Measure all ingredients accurately. If using fresh garlic and ginger, mince and grate respectively to release maximum flavor.
- 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.
- 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.
- Adjust Consistency: Gradually add water, starting with 1/4 cup, and blend again until you reach the desired pourable or spoonable consistency.
- 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.
- 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
