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Home » Awesome Sauce

Awesome Sauce

June 7, 2021 by Debi 74 Comments

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This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

This delicious creamy Awesome Sauce is a dip or spread that’s filled with flavor. It’s easy to make in the food processor or blender, and it happens to be vegan.

Mix up a batch today and serve it with crackers or veggies for a perfect appetizer!

dipping a snap pea into a bowl of creamy Awesome Sauce spread that's garnished with chives and surrounded with veggies and crackers.

We appreciate your support

Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

What is awesome sauce?

Urban dictionary defines it as, “a beautifully assonant phrase which can and should be used on any occasion where joy and elation are expressed.” Which I think aptly applies to this delicious vegan appetizer spread.

And the taste of this no cook sauce? It’s so good.

Such a nice balance between the creamy almonds that are the base of this sauce, and the tart and tangy lemons, with the cheesiness of the nutritional yeast. The chipotle gives this amazing sauce just the right smoky heat.

creamy dip in a glass jar veggies and crackers around it.

What’s in a name?

Well, I decided to call this great spread awesome sauce long before I ever heard of Wendy’s S’awesome Sauce (or s awesome sauce).

Frankly, I don’t know that I’ve ever eaten at a Wendy’s so I’m not even sure what their sauce tastes like, but I do know that theirs is a mayonnaise-based sauce, which mine is not.

I’ve also recently learned of Slapfish’s awesome sauce as well. I love Slapfish, and I used to work with Andrew Gruel when I worked with Seafood for the Future at the Aquarium of the Pacific. But, similar to Wendy’s sauce, Slapfish’s sauce is also a mayo-based sauce.

My sauce is a copycat version of Bitchen’ Sauce Chipotle flavor that I originally shared back in 2014. It’s a bold southwestern flavored appetizer spread or dip that’s such a nice balance of flavors.

I believe that this company started out as a small merchant at a Farmer’s Market in San Diego. And, the easiest way to make a copycat recipe is to start by looking at the ingredients label.

looking down into a bowl of dip with veggies around it.

Tapas for Dinner

Sometimes we have tapas for dinner. Happy hour nibbles. Simple. Nice. Fun. We make an event out of it. And that’s how I first came to love this spread. It’s perfect for Tapas.

Serve some fresh cut fruits & veggies, nuts, dips, spreads, Manchego crackers, cheeses.

We mix and match flavors to see if a sweet flavor like raspberry or honey mixes well with a strong cheese and an almond, or maybe a red pepper.

As we sit outside in the backyard and enjoy the sunset and the weather, we watch the birds and maybe the squirrels. We enjoy the simple things in life. Like the company of a wonderful person!

Tapas night planning

I was planning one of these tapas nights (we often do these on a Friday night). So, on my way home I stopped at Whole Foods Market to pick up some fun veggies and things to have for tapas night. That’s where I first encountered this amazing sauce.

a jar filled with dip and a spoon that's taken a big spoonful out, almonds around the jar.

I fell in love with this sauce

I immediately fell in love with the flavors. Spicy. Creamy. Complex. Smoky.

I dipped a cracker into it. Love!

I dipped veggies into it. More love! I spread it on things. I licked it off the spoon! yep, I admit it! It was that good.

Only problem is, that it comes in a little container. It was gone way too fast.

So, I set about making my own. And, the nice thing about making your own, you can suit the flavors to everything you want them to be. Want it spicier? Add more chipotle. Is it too spicy? Add less chipotle.

Mmm, I wonder what a Sriracha Awesome Sauce would taste like? I bet it would be yum!

Can I make this dipping sauce in advance?

Absolutely! The flavors in this sauce blend and meld together as they sit in the refrigerator, so it just gets better. If sauce separates, just give it a stir.

If you’re making it for a meal right away, give the sauce about an hour in the refrigerator before you eat it. Besides, the blending in the Vitamix will probably have heated it up so it’s warm, and since it’s better cool, it helps to pop it in the fridge.

How Long Does This Sauce Keep?

Store in the refrigerator in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for up to a week. But, honestly, you’ll probably have eaten it long before then!

Let’s talk about the ingredients

Some notes and explanations about some of the ingredients for in the recipe.

raw almonds with skin on in a glass jar and some almonds on a white napkin in front of the jar.

Raw almonds

Raw almonds: My grocery store carries raw almonds in the produce section. I can also find them at Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, and Mother’s market. Don’t worry that the almonds still have skins on them; the skins get ground up, and I think they contribute to the pretty color of the sauce.

You do not have to soak the almonds for this sauce. They simply get placed in the powerful high-speed blender and get blended up to make the amazing creamy texture of the sauce.

Grapeseed oil

I had a question from a reader once, “Is there a reason for the grapeseed oil – flavor or texture?” My answer is simple for this one. Grapeseed oil was one of the ingredients in the original store-bought dip, according to the label.

That being said, I also find that grapeseed oil doesn’t firm up the way that olive oil does when stored in the fridge. So, the grapeseed oil keeps the sauce nice and soft, and from getting too firm in the fridge.

Chipotle paste

Chipotle Paste is one of my favorite ways to use chipotle (it’s super easy!). I always have a jar in my fridge or freezer. Take a look at the Chipotle paste recipe for how to make your own.

Bragg Liquid Aminos

Bragg Liquid Aminos are like soy sauce, with a nice salty flavor. It’s also a good source of protein. If you follow a Paleo, keto, or low carb diet, you may want to use coconut aminos instead, due to the soy in Bragg. Any of these (soy sauce, Bragg Liquid Aminos, or coconut aminos, or tamari) are good substitutes for each other.

Nutritional yeast

Nutritional Yeast Flakes have a strong flavor that’s often described as savory, nutty, or cheesy. You’ll see it used in vegan cheeses all the time. And it’s a good source of protein and vitamins.

I think it’s delicious, and I love tossing some into soups and stews for a little of that umami flavor that it provides.

It’s also high in vitamin B12, so it’s great for vegetarians and vegans to use. It can be used to add extra protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to dishes.

sauce in a glass jar with a wooden spoon on top, veggies surround the jar.

This sauce is good for you too

This snack’s a little high in calories, but it’s from all those good for you fats in the almonds and grapeseed oil.

Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of health-promoting fats as are found in olive oil, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease.

How can I use this sauce?

Spread this in sandwiches or wraps.

Smear it on crackers and veggies.

Dip pretzels into it.

It’s so good you’ll want it on everything!

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a brown bowl filled with pink Awesome Sauce topped with cilantro leaves and served with veggies, title on top.

Recipe

square crop of dip in a bowl garnished with chives, veggies and crackers around the bowl.

Awesome Sauce

Debi
This delicious creamy Awesome Sauce is a dip or spread that's filled with flavor. It's easy to make in the food processor or blender, and it happens to be vegan. Mix up a batch today and serve it with crackers or veggies for a perfect appetizer!
5 from 15 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prevent your screen from going to sleep.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 16 servings
Calories 93 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons water
  • ½ cup raw almonds
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or oil of your choice
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons bragg liquid aminos or coconut aminos
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle paste
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in the order listed in a high-powdered blender (such as a VitaMix) or a food processor. Blend for one minute on Variable speed, turning the speed up as you blend. Turn the dial up to high, and continue to blend for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
  • Store in the refrigerator in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. If sauce separates, just give it a stir.

Notes

Makes about 2 cups. For the serving size, I figured about 2 tablespoons per serving
Adapted from The Faux Martha

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 120mgPotassium: 68mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword almonds, dip, spread, vegan
Tried this recipe?Mention @LifeCurrents or tag #LifeCurrents!

Awesome Sauce | Life Currents #vegan #sauce #awesomeSauce https://lifecurrentsblog.com
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Filed Under: Appetizers, Game Day, Sauces, Condiments, & Preserves, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: almonds, appetizers, bragg liquid aminos, chili powder, Cooking, cumin, dip, Food, garlic, gluten-free, grapeseed oil, healthy, ingredients, lemons, nutritional yeast, Paleo, paprika, recipe, sauce, Snacks, appetizers, tailgating, tailgating, vegan, vegetarian

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about debi

ABOUT DEBI

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read more...

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Comments

  1. Debi

    May 6, 2016 at 7:25 am

    Megan, I’ve never looked into selling it at a Farmer’s Market.

  2. Danielle

    July 10, 2016 at 8:48 pm

    Is there any way to make this nut free?

  3. Debi

    July 11, 2016 at 8:04 am

    Danielle,
    The nuts are the main part, so you want something thick if you aren’t going to use them. Maybe avocado would work. I have heard of Sunbutter (which can be found on Amazon https://amzn.to/4lc6fPg my affiliate link), which is made from sunflower seeds. You could try that. Along those lines, tahini might work (but it is sesame seeds so you might still be avoiding that). Any of these changes will change the flavor, but might make a fun spread. If you try any, let me know how they work.

  4. Debbie Farnsworth

    January 9, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Do you have a recipe for a “Not quite so Awesome Sauce”? One made with normal ingredience that I can purchase in a grocery store? Sour cream, spices, cheese?

  5. Debi

    January 9, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    Debbie, it might surprise you to learn that all of these ingredients were purchased at a grocery store. But, if you’re looking for different sauces, I have a whole listing here: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/Food/ingredients/sauces/
    If it’s a sour cream sauce you’re looking for, this might be of interest: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/chipotle-sour-cream-sauce/
    If it’s a cheese sauce, I have a lovely blue cheese sauce here: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/blue-cheese-sauce/ And a mac & cheese sauce here: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/sweet-potato-fries-mac-cheese-sauce/
    I also have a very popular Southern sauce called comeback sauce which might be to your liking here: https://lifecurrentsblog.com/tuna-cakes/
    Hope that helps you.

  6. Kerri Beattie

    August 16, 2017 at 7:22 am

    Are you supposed to soak the nuts or actually use the water in the sauce? I didn’t have almonds so i substituted with walnuts. I do this sort of thing often and it usually works out. This was a watery mess. I made some mayo and added that and a fair amount more oil in hopes of emulsifying. Its still good just not awesome.

  7. Debi

    August 16, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Kerri, You are supposed to “Place all ingredients in the order listed in a high-powdered blender…” that includes the water and the almonds. Sounds like the changes you made made this a problem. Maybe best to follow the recipe next time. Sorry it didn’t work.

  8. 2pots2cook

    June 11, 2021 at 6:27 am

    5 stars
    Wow ! As soon as I get all the ingredients, I’ll make my batch ! Thank you so much Debi !

  9. Kathleen Pope

    January 9, 2022 at 8:52 pm

    5 stars
    Okay, I’ve seen the Awesome Sauce from several of those places, but this more awesome! Love how healthy it is, so smooth, smoky and delicious!

  10. Michaela Kenkel

    January 10, 2022 at 10:42 am

    5 stars
    I want to put this AWESOME sauce on everything. We love it!

  11. Julie Menghini

    January 11, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    5 stars
    I recently made some of this amazing creamy delicious sauce and served it with some baked pita chips. It’s absolutely delicious and goes with everything!

  12. Christian Merven

    February 28, 2023 at 6:52 am

    Question: What are bragg liquid aminos or coconut aminos & chipotle paste & if not available with what to replace them. Thanks. Cheis.

  13. Debi

    February 28, 2023 at 6:59 am

    Cheis, liquid aminos are like soy sauce, and you can use soy sauce. Chipotle paste is easily made from a can of chipotles. You just blend it up in a blender. Take a look at the post for details on each of these ingredients. And there’s a link to the details for the chipotle paste. If you can’t get a can of chipotles, you can leave it out (it won’t have the same flavor though), or use fresh chiles or dried chiles that you have reconstituted and blend them into a paste.

  14. songshu

    October 15, 2023 at 5:29 am

    5 stars
    I used less oil- 1/4 cup, turned out great!

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Hi! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents, where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes with some great desserts and other goodies mixed in! Read More >>>

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