Using Base Sauces, Sides & Extras

You will find throughout the book that there are various recipes that use base sauces: either directly from the pantry, ones which use additional chilli sauces or oils to be used as condiments, or in conjunction with other fresh ingredients to create a completely new recipe. Getting your head around Chinese sauces can be quite daunting, but the easiest way to explain them is to see the sauces as vehicles that help to accentuate the natural flavour of the raw ingredients you are cooking. Chinese sauces and condiments are usually quite powerful in flavour. As a general rule of thumb they are there either to sit on the side for added flavour, or within sauces and marinades to accentuate depth of flavour from natural ingredients, whichever part of your palate you are trying to hit.