Sauces, pastes and chutneys add flavour, fragrance and feistiness to meals writes Mini P.

Who doesnt love a sauce, paste or chutney that can be used to thicken a gravy or uplift a meal into a soulful, flavour-filled surprise?

Supermarket shelves offer a tempting range of sauces and pastes, which unfortunately, come loaded with preservatives, colouring and flavouring agents. But the good news is that you can prepare your own versions of these sauces and pastes at home, without compromising on health or taste.

Here are a few nutritious and easy ways to prepare sauces. These can be stored and used whenever you need to add pizazz and flavour to a meal.

Chilli Coconut Sauce

Ingredients-

» 200 ml carton of coconut milk (or fresh coconut milk)

» 1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce

» 2 tbsp soy sauce

» 2 tsp lime juice

» 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

» 1 tsp corn starch (optional)

Preparation guide: Blend the ingredients one by one in a large bowl. Shake thoroughly. Use immediately or freeze for up to three months. To use the sauce, drizzle over a pan with cooked meat or stir-fried onions and cook for a couple of minutes until heated through. Add vegetables and toss to coat well.

Lime & Basil Sauce

Ingredients

» 2 tbsp soya sauce

» 1 tbsp fish sauce

» 3 tbsp brown sugar

» Juice of 2 limes (3 tbsp)

» 1 tsp corn starch

» 1 chilli, chopped (optional)

» 1 cup of fresh basil leaves

Preparation guide: Shake and mix the ingredients together. Use immediately or freeze for up to three months. To use the sauce, add to pan of meat and veggies and toss to coat evenly.

Lemon Sesame Sauce

Ingredients

» 1/2 cup chicken stock

» Juice of 1 lemon (2.5 tbsp)

» 1 tbsp sesame oil

» 3 tbsp brown sugar

» 2 tbsp soya sauce

» 1 tsp corn starch

» 2 tsp sesame seeds

Preparation guide: Blend all the ingredients. Shake thoroughly. Use immediately or freeze for up to three months. Makes approximately 200 ml. mix it into fried rice, meat or vegetable curries.

Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

» 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

» 3 tbsp hoisin sauce

» 2 tbsp water

» 2 tsp lime juice

» 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Preparation guide: Start with the peanut butter, and add the ingredients one by one, blending thoroughly with a fork or blender. Store in an airtight container.

Spicy Mango Sauce

Ingredients

» 1 cup mango cubes

» 2 tsp lime juice

» 1 tsp sesame oil

» 1 tbsp water

» 1 clove garlic

» 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

» 3 tbsp brown sugar

» 1/2 tsp 5-spice powder (you can prepare it with a mix of whole star anise, sichuan pep- per, fennel seeds, whole cloves, and a cinnamon stick)

Preparation guide: Use a blender or immersion blender and blend all ingredients until smooth. Use immediately or freeze for up to three months. Makes just under one cup. To use, add to a large frying pan or wok of cooked vegetables or meat. Cook for one minute or until heated.

The article was published in the print version of ParentsWorld February 2018 issue.

Photo credits: Google images

Also read: Delectable stay-at-home meals