Recipe: Simple Chinese Vegetable Sauce

Find Salvation from the Barren Wastelands of Boring Veggies
Find Salvation from the Barren Wastelands of Boring Veggies

The next post will talk about Debilitating Boredom Syndrome and how sauces can be just the cure if you’re agonizing over having to eat more broccoli, or spinach, or zucchini.  This Simple Chinese Sauce is a perfect example.  One of our class participants, CSU Extension Agent Ann Zander, couldn’t believe something so simple could turn plain old broccoli into a treat.

But here’s the thing about sauces:  Everyone’s tastes are so different.  You have to taste, taste, taste and adjust.  Use the following combination as a starting point, but be sure to add more lime or soy sauce as desired.  Toasted sesame oil can be quite strong, so add only a few drops at a time if you should want more.

  • 2 Tbsp. lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil*

Combine in a small bowl and allow to sit for 5 minutes or so.  Taste on a vegetable piece and adjust flavors.  Be sure to stir immediately before serving to make sure ingredients are evenly combined.  While this sauce adds welcome zing to broccoli, it can also be used on many other vegetables, including green beans, zucchini, spinach and stir-fried cabbage.

*Note:  Toasted sesame oil is different than plain sesame oil that is used for stir-frying.  The toasted variety is dark brown in color and has the smell characteristic of Chinese cooking.

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