ginger-citrus-vinaigrette-image
Credit: Hayley Sugg
Stir-fries are a speedy, comforting, and reliably delicious weeknight staple. But if you feel like you're in a soy sauce-and-sriracha rut, these recipes, pulling inspiration from a variety of pan-Asian cuisine, are sure to add some excitement back into those quick dinners. Bright, vibrant flavors like Thai basil, mango, ginger, and chili can wake up even the most humdrum of ingredients. You're just one protein of your choosing, a frozen veggie, and any selection of these sauces away from a tastier and budget-friendlier alternative to takeout.
Start Slideshow
1 of 21
Sweet and Spicy Peanut Sauce
Sweet and Spicy Peanut Sauce
Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Sweet and Spicy Peanut Sauce Recipe
Stir into ground turkey for a savory burger, or toss with rice noodles and thinly sliced veggies for an Indonesian-style salad.
1 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
2 of 21
Thai Sweet Chili Vinaigrette
Thai Sweet Chili Vinaigrette
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Thai Sweet Chili Vinaigrette Recipe
Cross classic Italian dressing with Vietnamese Nuoc Cham and you have something like this sweet and fiery vinaigrette made with bird’s eye chilies, also called Thai chilies. Drizzle over your favorite greens, use as a dipping sauce for eggrolls, or spice up your crudité platter—it’s that versatile.
2 of 21
3 of 21
Nuoc Cham
Nuoc Cham
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Nuoc Cham Recipe
This sweet-and-sour sauce is seriously addictive. We replace traditional white sugar with brown to add a caramel note. Two sources of tart flavor—bracing fresh lime and mild rice vinegar—balance each other here. Spoon over grilled meats, sautéed shrimp, or ground pork. If you'd like a little more heat, use a small red Thai chile in place of the Fresno.
3 of 21
Advertisem*nt
4 of 21
Five-Spice Mango Sauce
Five-spice Mango Sauce
Credit: Greg DuPree
Five-Spice Mango Sauce Recipe
Look for five-spice powder with other specialty spices in most supermarkets or Asian markets—or just pick it up online. For the smoothest texture and best flavor, use a ripe fresh mango (thawed frozen will work in a pinch). Serve with stir-fried shrimp or broiled cod.
4 of 21
5 of 21
Miso-Chili-Garlic Sauce
ck-Miso-Chili-Garlic Sauce
Credit: Photography: Whitney Ott; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen.
Miso-Chili-Garlic Sauce Recipe
Just four ingredients deliver big umami flavor with a hint of heat thanks to the chili garlic sauce. It pairs well with most proteins--we like it with shrimp, chicken, or tofu. Thin leftover sauce with a little sesame oil for a quick salad dressing.
6 of 21
Hot Mustard Sauce
Hot Mustard Sauce
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Hot Mustard Sauce Recipe
If you love the spicy mustard that’s often paired with Chinese egg rolls, whip up this tangy, cayenne-spiked mustard sauce. Whisk together this small batch, or scale it up to make enough to have on hand for a couple weeks—it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve as a dip for chicken tenders or grilled tofu “fingers” or drizzle it over roasted broccoli.
6 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
7 of 21
Spicy Soy Vinaigrette
Spicy Soy Vinaigrette
Spicy Soy Vinaigrette Recipe
7 of 21
8 of 21
Quick Peanut Sauce
quick-peanut-sauce
Credit: Greg DuPree
Quick Peanut Sauce Recipe
The warmth and zing of fresh ginger and garlic put bottled versions of this sauce out of the running. For heat, stir in a generous pinch of crushed red pepper. Drizzle the sauce over grilled chicken or shrimp skewers. You can also use as a dip for spring rolls or toss with a soba noodle salad.
8 of 21
9 of 21
Ginger Fish Sauce
Ginger Fish Sauce
Credit: Thomas J. Story Styling: Joni Noe
Ginger Fish Sauce Recipe
Kim Dao and her husband, Hong Pham, publish the ravenouscouple.com blog, inspired mainly by the Vietnamese cooking of their families. They like to serve this tangy sauce, based on the classic Vietnamese table sauce nuoc mam cham, with a rich, crisply fried appetizer called Firecracker Shrimp--but they thicken it slightly for dipping. For serving with noodle bowls, they recommend skipping the cornstarch step so it's easier to drizzle.
9 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
10 of 21
Lime-Wasabi Sauce
Lime-Wasabi Sauce
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Lime-Wasabi Sauce Recipe
10 of 21
11 of 21
Asian Marinade
Asian Marinade image
Credit: Stephen Devries; Food Styling: Erin Merhar
Asian Marinade Recipe
11 of 21
12 of 21
Spicy Soy Mayo
Spicy Soy Mayo
Credit: Annabelle Breakey
Spicy Soy Mayo Recipe
A few simple seasonings give the classic dunk for artichokes Japanese flair.
12 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
13 of 21
Sambal Oelek
Sambal Oelek
Credit: Greg DuPree
Sambal Oelek Recipe
Traditional versions of this sauce contain sugar, but we left it out for a more straightforward flavor. Serve with noodle bowls or rice dishes.
13 of 21
14 of 21
Garlicky Sweet-Hot Mustard
Garlicky Sweet-Hot Mustard
Credit: Greg DuPree
Garlicky Sweet-Hot Mustard Recipe
Similar to the mustard you get in Chinese restaurants, this sinus-clearing condiment has a little honey and vinegar to balance the heat. Serve on sandwiches, burgers, or hot dogs or as a dip for pretzels or pot stickers.
14 of 21
15 of 21
Cilantro-Ginger Mojo
Cilantro-Ginger Mojo
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Cilantro-Ginger Mojo Recipe
This cilantro and ginger-flavored mojo is delicious served with grilled meats.
15 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
16 of 21
All-Purpose Tahini Dressing
All-Purpose Tahini Dressing
Credit: Greg DuPree
All-Purpose Tahini Dressing Recipe
Tahini is made from ground hulled sesame seeds, which are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols. We look to this rich and nutty pantry staple to add savory depth and sumptuous creaminess to salads and grains. If the dressing thickens up too much after being refrigerated, whisk in an extra teaspoon of water.
This recipe goes with: Autumn Glow Salad, Supercharged Salmon Salad
16 of 21
17 of 21
Thai-Style Aioli
Thai-Style Aioli
Credit: Greg DuPree
Thai-Style Aioli Recipe
Although it’s not a typical Thai ingredient, sesame oil adds a savory nuttiness to this aioli. To really get the sauce’s consistency creamy, slowly drizzle the oil into the food processor. Use this aioli as a spread on a sandwich, as a dip for sweet potato fries, or pair it with your vegetables for a fresh take on crudités.
17 of 21
18 of 21
Miso-Sesame Pesto
ck-Miso-Sesame Pesto
Credit: Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Miso-Sesame Pesto Recipe
In this recipe, traditional Italian pesto takes a detour through the continent of Asia, swapping in peanuts for pine nuts, toasted sesame oil for olive oil, and miso and fish sauce for Parmesan.
18 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
19 of 21
Carrot-Ginger Turmeric Sauce
Carrot-Ginger Turmeric Sauce
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Carrot-Ginger Turmeric Sauce Recipe
Turmeric has some fantastic health benefitsand is well worth keeping in rotation in your kitchen. Fresh turmeric looks similar to its rhizome relative—fresh ginger—but with an orange hue. Look for it in well-stocked produce departments and natural-foods stores. Its orange flesh adds vibrant color and turmeric-forward flavor to this sauce. Cooking the vegetables in a touch of coconut oil before pureeing them adds a hint of coconut flavor and also makes them soft enough to create a silky-smooth sauce (but go easy—it's high in saturated fat). Try drizzled over roasted leg of lamb or grilled chicken thighs, or thin with a little more vinegar and olive oil and use it as a salad dressing.
19 of 21
20 of 21
Homemade Sriracha
Sambal Oelek
Credit: Greg DuPree
Homemade Sriracha Recipe
If you're like us, you'll want to eat this on just about everything--burgers, sandwiches, eggs, hummus, stir-fries, and more.
20 of 21
21 of 21
Ginger-Citrus Vinaigrette
ginger-citrus-vinaigrette-image
Credit: Hayley Sugg
Ginger-Citrus Vinaigrette Recipe
A little tangy and a little sweet, this bright and citrusy dressing will instantly upgrade even the dullest salad. Use the Magical Butter Machine to create an intense orange-infused olive oil that serves as the base for this recipe. Other ingredients like fresh ginger and rice wine vinegar give this vibrant vinaigrette an Asian flair. This recipe makes a large batch of dressing, which you can use for salads all week long.
21 of 21
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt