The Secret Sauce Chart

Sauces and dressings add delicious splendor to a otherwise bland meal.

Tasty sauces can be made with anywhere from two ingredients or 20 ingredients.

When I was the head chef Harbin Hot Springs Restaurant. I would plan the menu ahead time, then my sous chefs and I would cook for hours putting the dinner together.

Often in the final minutes before serving the dinner I would quickly create an impromptu sauce or dressing to add to the meal.

It was a revelation how many diners would compliment the sauce with little mention of the rest of the meal.

Grains, beans, and vegetables can get boring if you neglect creativity in your meal preparation. Make a quick creamy or tangy sauce to add a little wow to the dish.

Below is my revised “sauce chart” from the 1980’s. It was originally published in the Harbin Quarterly newsletter.

Create your own simple secret sauce!

For quick and easy sauces, choose one ingredient from each column below. Stir together or put in blender for a couple of minutes. Adjust ratios for desired consistency and taste.

Ingredients can be purchased using my Amazon Associate link. Thank you!