Sauce

Silken tofu is the base of this dressing, creating a punchy sauce that's creamy and silky. Bryant Terry uses it to dress a hearty grain salad with celery, persimmons, and chopped nuts—but you can also drizzle it over grilled vegetables, or use it as a dip for crudités.

Pansit palabok is a luscious, buttery, bisque–like shrimp sauce tossed with white rice noodles and topped with tsitsaron, crisp-fried pork rinds.

Use this rich, creamy Italian white sauce for lasagna, gratins, and mac and cheese.

A make-ahead gravy that doesn’t rely on turkey drippings or a roux. The gravy’s depth of flavor comes from roasted poultry bones and—surprise!—a sprinkle of MSG, which has an umami-to-the-max effect.

This sliceable, jiggly sauce is spiced with bay leaves and cardamom, set in a gelatin mold, and crowned with sugared orange zest and cranberries.

Newsflash: you're messing up your tomato sauce by cooking it.

Once you’ve paired this sauce with all sorts of vegetables and proteins, reinvent it. Try adding chopped toasted nuts, minced tender herbs, spices (such as cumin, turmeric, or coriander), and/or finely chopped dried fruit (like raisins, apricots, and/or dates).

This pesto is a little different—the grilled tomato base brings a sweet smokiness.