Sauces & spice blends
Built on Greek yogurt, citrus and measured oil. Sauces make 4 servings of 2 Tbsp unless noted. Yogurt sauces keep 4–5 days, salsas 3–5 days, oil and nut sauces about a week.
Yogurt sauces light · 0–4 g fat
Cilantro-lime cremaL4 · L13 · ~1 g fat½ cup 2% Greek yogurt, zest + juice of 1 lime, ¼ cup cilantro, 1 small garlic clove, pinch of salt. Blend or chop fine; thin with water.
Lemon-yogurt sauceL2 · ~1 g fat½ cup Greek yogurt, zest of ½ lemon + 1 Tbsp juice, 1 tsp chopped mint, ½ grated garlic clove, pinch of salt.
Aji verdeD3 · ~1.5 g fat½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup cilantro, 1 jalapeño (seeded for mild), 1 garlic clove, juice of 1 lime, 1 Tbsp grated parmesan, pinch of salt. Blend smooth.
Tahini-tzatzikiD28 · ~4 g fat½ cup Greek yogurt, ½ cucumber grated + squeezed dry, 1½ Tbsp tahini, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp dill, pinch of salt.
Yogurt blue cheese dipD29 · ~2.5 g fat½ cup Greek yogurt, 2 Tbsp crumbled blue cheese, 1 tsp lemon juice, ¼ tsp garlic powder, black pepper, chives.
Cottage cheese avocado cremaL4 · L13 · D40 · wings · ~3 g fat, 5 g protein½ cup cottage cheese, ½ avocado, juice of 1 lime, ¼ cup cilantro, 1 small garlic clove, pinch of salt, 1–2 Tbsp water. Blend until completely smooth. Cottage cheese blended smooth also swaps one for one as the base of any yogurt sauce.
Avocado-wasabi cremaD9 · ~4 g fat½ avocado, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tsp wasabi paste, 1 tsp lime juice. Mash smooth.
Zero-fat sauces, salsas & glazes free
Gochujang-lime drizzleL1 · 0 g fat · ~150 mg Na1 Tbsp gochujang, 2 Tbsp lime juice, 1 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp low-sodium soy, 1–2 Tbsp water. Gochujang carries about 1 g rice-syrup sugar per serving.
Mango-scotch bonnet salsaL10 · 4 servings of ½ cup1 mango diced, ¼ red onion minced, ½ scotch bonnet seeded + minced (or a jalapeño), juice of 1 lime, a handful of cilantro.
Salsa verdeL13 · B8 · D21Store-bought is fine at ≤150 mg sodium per 2 Tbsp. Homemade: broil 6 tomatillos, 1 jalapeño, ½ onion until charred; blend with garlic, cilantro, lime.
Lighter buffalo sauceD29 · per serving1 Tbsp hot sauce cut with 1 Tbsp lemon juice + ¼ tsp garlic powder. 1 tsp melted butter only for gloss (+4 g fat). Halves the sodium: ~1,100 → ~550 mg.
Lemon-caper piccataD2 · serves 2 · ~2 g fatIn the chicken pan: ½ cup low-sodium stock, juice of 1 lemon, 1 Tbsp rinsed capers; reduce 3 min, swirl in 1 tsp butter or olive oil, add parsley.
Miso-maple glazeD6 · L5 · covers 2 fillets1 Tbsp white miso, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 tsp rice vinegar, ½ tsp grated ginger. Brush on before roasting. ~300 mg sodium per fillet.
Fat sauces count as the meal's fat · ~5–8 g
Lemon-tahiniL6 · D1 · ~8 g fat¼ cup tahini, ¼ cup lemon juice, 1 small grated garlic clove, pinch each cumin + salt, 3–4 Tbsp ice water. Whisk until pale and creamy.
Peanut-lime-gingerL7 · ~8 g fat · ~150 mg Na¼ cup natural peanut butter, 2 Tbsp lime juice, 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy or tamari, 1 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 garlic clove, ½ tsp sriracha, 3–4 Tbsp warm water.
Ginger-miso dressingL5 · ~5 g fat · ~150 mg Na1 Tbsp white miso, 2 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp orange juice, 4 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp grated ginger, 2 Tbsp water. Shake in a jar.
Dijon-shallot vinaigretteAny green salad · ~5 g fat1 Tbsp Dijon, 1 small shallot minced, 3 Tbsp sherry or red wine vinegar, 4 tsp olive oil, black pepper.
Lime-chili vinaigretteL3 · ~5 g fat3 Tbsp lime juice, 1 Tbsp rice vinegar, 4 tsp avocado oil, ½ tsp chili flakes or minced jalapeño, ½ tsp cumin, cilantro, pinch of salt.
Orange-sherry vinaigretteL11 · ~5 g fatZest of 1 orange + 3 Tbsp juice, 2 Tbsp sherry vinegar, 4 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp Dijon, black pepper.
Greek dressingL14 · ~5 g fat3 Tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ grated garlic clove, 4 tsp olive oil, black pepper.
Salt-free spice blends each makes ~¼ cup · keeps 6 months
Salt rule for every blendThe blends are salt-free. Add ¼ tsp fine salt per pound of protein (about 200–250 mg per serving), then taste at the table. For the Korean dishes (L1, D4, D30), flavor comes from fresh ginger, garlic, scallion, kimchi and the gochujang sauces, so no dry blend is needed.