Secret Sauce

What's in the secret sauce? Everyone loves sauce, but it's usually unhealthy! Not my secret sauce recipe. Mix some simple ingredients, and you will have the magical secret sauce for your next burger, sandwich, or dipping pleasure.

When I was a kid, believe it or not, I didn't like McDonald's. I used to tell my mom the burgers smelled like my dad's feet. Back then, my parents considered a trip to McDonald's a great night out. And, my reaction didn't go over well with my dad. Thank goodness, my mom always stasheed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her purse for me. There was, however, one food I loved at McDonald's, french fries with secret sauce. Of course, the secret sauce wasn't vegan. My secret sauce recipe tastes fabulous.

Jump to:

• Sauce Ingredients
• Sauce Ingredient Substitutions
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• The Best Vegan Sauces
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

For those of you who know me, you know I love sauce. I'm all about it, if it's a dip, sauce, or dressing. So, I nailed my own version of a secret sauce recipe when I decided to make it.  

Sauce Ingredients

You only need some typical ingredients in your refrigerator to make an incredible sauce recipe. First, you need some plant-based mayo. Because I cook without oil, I make my vegan cashew mayo. Then, you need a few more ingredients:

• Ketchup: I use organic ketchup, which is tangy and delicious.
• Dill Pickle Relish: Pickle relish is a jam-like condiment made from pickled or fresh cucumbers seasoned with vinegar, salt, and spices. 
• Whole-Grain Mustard: Whole-grain mustard is a prepared condiment that is only partially blended, with some of the mustard seeds still visible, creating an overall coarse and slightly pasty texture.
• Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic whenever possible.
• Onion Powder: Onion powder is basically dried onion that's been ground. Although dried onion is just the onion flesh, onion powder can also include dehydrated onion skins and roots.
• Dried Dill: Dried dill is made by drying fresh dill leaves, stems, and flowers. This process removes moisture from the plant, which makes it easier to transport and preserve.
• Salt: Salt brings out the flavors in the secret sauce.
• Pepper: Fresh ground pepper is preferred for this recipe.

Sauce Ingredient Substitutions

• For a nut-free option, substitute the cashews in the vegan mayo with sunflower seeds.
• Or, instead of cashew mayo, opt for vegan unsweetened, unflavored yogurt or silken tofu.
• Another nut-free option is to make the cashew mayo with white beans instead of cashews.
• Tomato paste is often used as a substitute for ketchup. Add 2 Tablespoons of water, and it works well.
• Stone-ground mustard is similar in taste to whole-grain mustard.
• One clove of garlic equals about ⅛th of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Onion powder is three times more potent than dried onion, so for 1 cup of fresh onion, you would substitute only 1 tablespoon of onion powder.
• Here's the substitution ratio for substituting fresh and dried herbs: Ratio: 1 tablespoon fresh dill = 1 teaspoon dried dill. This substitution ratio works for any dried herbs.

Then, stir, cover, and place the secret sauce in the refrigerator until you can put the sauce on your favorite burger or sandwich. 

Recently, I made a tofu burger and spread this sauce on my burger buns. And it was a big hit with the family. 

Additionally, I serve secret sauce when I grill beet burgers as well. 

And this sauce is great on a grilled portobello mushroom burger. 

So, the next time you plan to cook burgers, make a little yummy sauce to add something-something to your burgers. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Instead of dill pickle relish, chop your favorite pickles for a less processed option.
• Try sweet or spicy pickle relish for a different flavor.
• To use this sauce as a dressing, instead of a spread or dip, think it out by adding ¼ more water.
• This secret sauce recipe lasts 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
• I do not recommend freezing this sauce recipe.

If you love sauce, give this vegan secret sauce recipe a try. It's a fabulous dipping sauce for veggies or fries and tastes incredible on your favorite plant-based burgers.

The Best Vegan Sauces

If you love this secret sauce recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

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