Bold Nutty and Spicy Vegan Dragon Sauce Recipe
Dragon Sauce is a bold, creamy vegan sauce that perfectly balances savory, nutty, sweet, and tangy flavors. Made from simple, wholesome ingredients like tahini or nut butter, soy sauce, garlic, maple syrup, lemon juice, and optional spices, it’s incredibly versatile and easy to prepare. This sauce is perfect for drizzling over bowls, wraps, roasted vegetables, or using as a dip, elevating everyday meals with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 3/4 cup 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Vegan, Plant-Based
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Core Ingredients
- 1/2 cup tahini (or almond, cashew, or peanut butter as alternatives)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (use tamari for gluten-free)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup (can substitute agave nectar or date syrup)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (optional)
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup water (to adjust consistency)
Optional Add-ins
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (for a cheesy umami boost)
- 1 teaspoon miso paste (for deeper flavor)
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: Place tahini or chosen nut butter, soy sauce or tamari, minced garlic, maple syrup, lemon juice or rice vinegar, grated ginger (if using), chili flakes or hot sauce, and any optional add-ins like nutritional yeast or miso paste into a blender.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend all ingredients together until the sauce is creamy and smooth, without any lumps.
- Adjust Consistency: Gradually add water a little at a time while blending until you reach your preferred pourable consistency.
- Taste and Tweak: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed by adding more maple syrup for sweetness, lemon juice for tang, or chili flakes for heat.
- Store Properly: Transfer the sauce to an airtight container or glass jar and refrigerate. Stir well before each use to restore consistency.
Notes
- Make a double batch for meal prep and store in a mason jar for up to 7 days in the fridge.
- If the sauce thickens after refrigeration, stir in a splash of water or lemon juice to loosen it.
- Freeze in ice cube trays for convenient single servings.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting chili flakes or adding chili oil for extra heat.
- For nut-free versions, substitute tahini or nut butter with sunflower seed butter or white bean puree.
- Try variations by adding coconut milk and lime juice for Thai-inspired flavor.
Keywords: Dragon Sauce, vegan sauce, tahini sauce, creamy sauce, dipping sauce, versatile sauce, nutty sauce, gluten-free sauce, meal prep sauce
