Conscious Food Choices

Tangy Horseradish Sauce (Vegan and Non)

When I was growing up, my Japanese grandmother  – whom we all called “Granny” –  used to make a sauce with Best Foods Mayonnaise with a bit of soy sauce in it and serve this as a salad dressing on sliced tomatoes.  I know – it sounds weird…(Japanese meets 1950’s style middle American food culture!), but actually, you know, it’s a great combination. I ate “Granny’s Best Foods Sauce” on everything when I was growing up – it was my favorite dip for steamed artichokes (still basically is) and its also great with asparagus spears, whole blanched green beans, spears of broccoli or broccolini or broccoli rabe… this sauce totally makes veggies fun!

Over the years I played with adding other flavors like horseradish and capers, and started cutting the mayo with sour cream, then yogurt, and then finally, eliminating it all together in favor of a raw vegan version. At any given time I usually have a couple of versions of this sauce in my refrigerator – maybe one with cumin and lime to drizzle over anything Mexican, and usually a horseradish or caper version for artichokes or any other steamed vegetable. I also float a spoonful of this in my Creamy Beet Borscht soup recipe….

Tangy Horseradish Yogurt Sauce

• 1/4 c whole milk yogurt, (or Greek yogurt, or sour cream)
• 1 T mayonnaise (I grew up with Hellman’s/Best Foods and nothing else tastes right to me)
• a few drops of soy sauce (really, about 1/8th teaspoon – this makes it, and no one will know)
• 1 t. horseradish (fresh, grated, if you can get it, or prepared is fine – look for “hot”)

Whisk together well in a small bowl. Serve with anything!

Vegan Horseradish “Sour Cream”

• 1 c cashews, soaked 4 – 6 hours
• 1/2 c water
• 1/4 olive oil
• 2 T lemon juice
• 1/2 t salt
• a few drops of soy sauce (really, about 1/8th teaspoon – this makes it, and no one will know)
• 1 few drops of umeboshi vinegar (optional)
• 2 t. horseradish (fresh, grated, if you can get it, or prepared is fine – look for “hot”)

Blend all ingredients, except horseradish, in a Vita-Mix until completely smooth. Mix in horseradish. Thin with water if needed to achieve desired consistency.

Play with it!

• Add cumin and lime juice – use it alongside salsa and guacamole to top tacos, tostadas and anything else vaguely Mexican.
• Replace horeradish with chopped capers, ad a bit of garlic and fresh lemon for another nice artichoke sauce.
• Leave out horseradish and serve plain.

December 31, 2012 - Posted by Jorin Hawley | Cheese 'n (Non) Dairy, Gluten Free, Low Carb Recipes, Recipes, Sauces, Vegan Recipes | horseradish sauce, japanese mayonaise and soy sauce, vegan cream sauce, vegan crema, vegetable dipping sauce