🧂 Sauces That Save Dinner: Shawarma, Black Garlic & Pizza Sauce
By Rossi Voss | September 15, 2025
You’re not alone if you’ve ever:
- Stared at a bowl of rice and beans and thought, “This needs something…”
- Googled “dinner near me” because your meals taste bland
- Wanted a 5-minute flavor boost without takeout
The secret to **great-tasting meals with pantry staples?**
Sauces.
A single sauce can turn a plain bowl into a restaurant-worthy meal.
Today, I’m sharing **3 fan-favorite sauces** from my $0.99 cookbooks — all ready in 5 minutes or less.
🏆 3 Sauces That Save Dinner
1. 5-Minute Shawarma Sauce
Time: 5 mins | Shelf Life: 1 week | Best For: Bowls, wraps, roasted veggies
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or mayo
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1–2 tbsp water (to thin)
- Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
- Taste and adjust spices.
- Thin with water if needed.
- Store in fridge for up to 1 week.
📘 From: 90 Beginner’s Shawarma Sauce Recipes
2. Umami Black Garlic Sauce
Time: 5 mins | Shelf Life: 2 weeks | Best For: Noodles, rice, scrambled eggs
- 3–4 black garlic cloves (or 1 tsp black garlic paste)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- ½ tsp ginger (grated)
- Mash black garlic into a paste.
- Whisk in all other ingredients.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or salt.
- Store in a jar in the fridge.
📘 From: 100 Beginner’s Black Garlic Sauce Cookbook
3. 10-Minute Pizza Sauce
Time: 10 mins | Shelf Life: 1 week | Best For: Flatbreads, pasta, baked potatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Add all ingredients to a small pot.
- Simmer 8–10 mins until thickened.
- Cool and store in a jar.
- Use on pizza, pasta, or as a dip.
📘 From: 90 Beginner’s Pizza Sauce Cookbook
🍽️ How to Use These Sauces
| Meal | Sauce | Boost | |------|-------|-------| | Rice + Black Beans | Shawarma Sauce | Turn into a Middle Eastern bowl | | Scrambled Eggs | Black Garlic Sauce | Add umami depth | | Toast or Flatbread | Pizza Sauce | Make a 5-minute “pizza” | | Roasted Veggies | Any of the above | Instant flavor upgrade | > ✅ Use them in meal prep: portion into small containers and add at reheat time.📥 Get the Full Sauce Cookbooks for $0.99
Each of these sauces comes from a full $0.99 cookbook packed with flavor-boosting recipes:
- 90 Beginner’s Shawarma Sauce Recipes
- 100 Beginner’s Black Garlic Sauce Cookbook
- 90 Beginner’s Pizza Sauce Cookbook
📥 Download Your Free “Sauce Storage & Labeling” Printable
I’ve created a printable sauce label template with:
- Sauce name & date made
- Reheat instructions
- Use-by date (1 week / 2 weeks)
— Rossi Voss
Author of the $0.99 Cookbook Series
rossivoss.blogspot.com