Blog

Fall where we live is spectacular.  We are so lucky that we live in the heart of the White Mountains of NH where the leaves turn vibrant hues of bright red, orange and yellow, the air is crisp and the mountain backdrops are like a scene out of a nostalgic story book.  This time of year for us, is so special and we tend to cozy up in our home and create a lot of Fall-inspired dishes.  Our gardens are coming to a close, we harvest the last of our butternut squashes, green beans, carrots, herbs and then we cook, a lot!  

We've picked our favorite dishes from over the years that we have created using our sauces, chutneys and condiments.  Here our are picks for our favorite Fall inspired recipes using our handcrafted cooking sauces, chutneys and condiments.

1.  Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Onion Braised Apples

Pork tenderloin is rolled in fresh chopped herbs, seared and roasted in a pan sauce of our Triple Ale Onion Jam and fresh apples. 

Recipe:  Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Onion Braised Apples

2.  Fall's Best Grilled Cheese - French Onion Grilled Cheese with Bacon, Apple and Onion Jam

All the flavors of Fall packed into 1 spectacular grilled cheese!  Shaved turkey, green apple, crispy bacon, Wozz! Caramelized Triple Ale Onion Jam and melted cheese on sage butter toasted bread.  Hello Fall.  

Recipe:  Fall's Best Grilled Cheese with Turkey, Bacon, Apple and Onion Jam

3.  Coconut Peanut Butternut Squash Soup with Lentils and Wild Rice

Recipe:  Moroccan Tomato Lamb Ragu Over Pasta

5.  Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich with Cranberry Chutney

Recipe:  Cranberry Chutney Chicken Salad Sandwich with Walnuts

6.  Festive Fall Cheese and Charcuterie Board with Rustic Mustard and Onion Jam

A laid back Fall inspired cheese and meat platter with simple cold cuts, salami or Soppressata, cheddar and Swiss cheese, pickles, baguette slices, crackers and our caramelized Triple Ale Onion Jam and Southern Style Rustic Mustard.  Easy, relaxing entertaining; delicious and simple.

Recipe:  Fall Festive Cheese and Charcuterie Board

Chicken thighs are seared and simmered in a creamy wholegrain mustard sauce and served over mashed potatoes.  An easy Fall-inspired weeknight meal that's warm, cozy and delicious.  Serve with a side of steamed broccoli or green beans. 

Recipe:  Creamy Mustard Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

Recipe:  Apple Crisp with Rum Sauce

9.  Shawarma Roasted Root Vegetables with Burrata

Root vegetables are a staple of harvest season!   Sweet parsnips, beets, squash and carrots are ready to pull from the garden and use in all of your favorite fall recipes.   We marinated these root vegetables in our Middle Eastern Shawarma Sauce (which is full of savory yet sweet spices including cinnamon, pepper, oregano, orange, coriander and cumin) and served it with soft creamy burrata cheese.  

Recipe:  Shawarma Roasted Root Vegetables with Burrata

10.  Asian Coconut Peanut Chicken Curry with Butternut Squash

A Cambodian inspired peanut chicken curry with butternut squash that is rich and satisfying and perfectly suited for Fall.

Recipe:  Coconut Peanut Chicken Curry with Butternut Squash 

There you have it!  Our favorite Fall inspired recipes thus far... stayed tuned for more in-season inspired recipes and entertaining ideas.

Wozz! Favorite Fall Sauces and Condiments Set 

A fruit chutney is made by simmering chopped fruits and vegetables with added acidity from vinegar or citrus and adding spices and sometimes herbs. The balance of flavors in a fruit chutney is not as straight forward sweet as a fruit jam and not as sour as a pickle.  A fruit chutney has a balanced medley of sweet, tangy and savory flavors.

Depending on the varieties of fruit chutney they can be sweet tart and spiced such as in a traditional cranberry chutney with cranberries, sugar, aromatic sweet spices and orange or they can be more sweet and spicy such as in an Indian mango chutney with mango, vinegar, ginger, coriander and chili.  Bottom line is they are delicious and offer a complex flavor profile that lends itself to being quite versatile in the kitchen.  Fruit chutneys are a fantastic accompaniment to a variety of dishes from appetizers, to roasted meats to cheese plates, curries and sandwiches.  Here are our recommendations on how to best use a fruit chutney.

1.  An Accompaniment To Roasted Meats

Fruit chutney is a classic accompaniment for roasted meats.  From cranberry chutney to plum and apple chutney to an apricot and ginger chutney, they are a lovely addition to the table when serving roast turkey, pork tenderloin, pork chops, chicken, roast beef and duck.  

Pictured Below:  Pork Tenderloin with Winter Spiced Fruits and Honey Confit Chutney

2.  Serve Fruit Chutney With Cheese

Chutney is a wonderful addition to any cheese plate.  Pair an aged cheddar with a sweet and spicy fruit chutney such as our Green Tomato Jalapeno or serve a blueberry chutney with an aged goats cheese.  Fig chutney is a cheese pairing pantry staple and works well with most cheese varieties including sharp blues, brie and goats cheese.  A caramelized onion chutney can be paired with cheddar, Manchego and stilton for a more savory cheese pairing spread.

Pictured Below:  Aged goats cheese paired with Wozz! Wild Blueberry Maple Walnut Fruit Compote

3.  In A Ploughman's Lunch

The British style Ploughman's lunch has all the fixings that go so well with a fruit chutney; crusty bread, cheddar cheese, pickles and cold cuts.  You add a little sweet savory and tangy chutney such as a mango chutney, tomato chutney or date chutney to this meal and all the flavors just come together.  Simple and delicious!

4.  As An Accompaniment To Indian Curries and Indian Cuisine

Indian cuisine and chutney go together hand in hand.  India is where chutneys originated and there are a ton of variations of Indian style chutneys from fresh savory herbaceous chutneys to hot spicy pickle chutneys.  The most popular chutney in the US is Major Grey's chutney which is a mango chutney.  It's delicious paired with Indian curries such as beef vindaloo and chicken tikka masala. The sweetness of the mango chutney actually helps balance the chili heat that comes when you eat spicy curries.  

Pictured Below:  Indian Grilled Chicken with Mango Chutney and Cilantro Mint Sauce

5.  As A Salad Dressing Ingredient

Add a little sweetness and spice to a simple homemade vinaigrette recipe by adding a spoonful of chutney.  Simply whisk in a couple tablespoons of fruit chutney to your base of vinegar, lemon, honey, Dijon and salt and pepper.  Most chutney varieties will work from a plum chutney to a mango chutney.  You can also add a spoonful of fruit chutney to your coleslaw recipe.

6.  As an Accompaniment To A Charcuterie Board

Add a fruit chutney such as a cherry or fig chutney, green tomato chutney or caramelized onion spread to a charcuterie board of cured meats, crackers, cheese and pickles.  A little fruit chutney adds a beautiful addition to your charcuterie board and adds that sweet addition to the savory salty cured meats and pickles.

Pictured Below:  A Festive Fall Charcuterie Board with Savory Onion Jam 

7.  As A Sandwich Condiment

A fruit chutney can be used a few different ways on a variety of sandwiches.  You can add a light layer of chutney to your bread, like on a simple ham and cheese sandwich or you can mix a little chutney in with your mayo.  You can also add a fruit chutney such as a cranberry, apricot or mango chutney to a chicken salad sandwich for a flavor pop.  I also like to glaze meatballs with a sweet and spicy pepper chutney and add them to a roll for a delicious meatball sub.

Pictured Below: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Cranberry Chutney

8.  Add Fruit Chutney To Puff Pastry Appetizers

A jar of fruit chutney is great to have on hand for easy puff pastry appetizers.  You can make so many appetizer varieties with chutney, cheese and puff pastry from mini tarts to pinwheels to baked brie en croute to puff pastry bundles.  A super simple recipe is mini tarts, just add a little bit of cheese to your mini tarts (goats cheese, brie, camembert), top with chutney and bake for 10 minutes, then garnish with chopped nuts or fresh herbs.  Entertaining made easy.

Pictured Below:  Brie Puff Pastry Appetizer with Cranberry Chutney

9.  Use Fruit Chutney As An Accompaniment To Grilled Fish and Seafood

A tropical style chutney is lovely with a nice piece of grilled fish such as mahi mahi, swordfish or halibut.  A mango or pineapple chutney is also fantastic with grilled shrimp. You can always elevate a jar of chutney by adding extra fresh ingredients to liven it up, you can add a squeeze of fresh citrus like lemon or lime to your chutney or add extra chopped cilantro or mint.  It gives it an extra pop, especially for fish and seafood.

Pictured Below:  Grilled Swordfish with Jamaican Jerk Pineapple Chutney

10. Pair Fruit Chutney with Grilled Meats

Serving chutney alongside grilled meats adds a punch of flavor to really simple meals such as grilled chicken breasts, flank steak or pork chops.  A tropical style chutney such as mango or pineapple is delicious in the summertime with grilled chicken or pork chops.  A spiced dried fruit or cherry chutney is well suited for fall and winter when you are using a grill plate indoors or pan searing something like pork chops or sausages.

Pictured Below:  Jerk Grilled Chicken with Jamaican Pineapple Chutney

11.  Use Fruit Chutney As A Topping For Baked Brie

What is a holiday table without a baked brie with fruit chutney?  It's a classic pairing that we all love and crave every holiday season.  An apricot or dried fruit chutney or fig jam is often times used in a brie en croute but a blueberry or spiced cherry compote is also delicious choice.  You can also add additional toppings to your chutney to spoon over the baked brie including chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans and fresh herbs such as rosemary and thyme.

Baked Brie with Sour Cherry Fruit Compote, Pecans and Thyme

12. Fold Fruit Chutney Through Rice, Beans and Stuffing

Add a spoonful of fruit chutney to your rice dishes, bean salads and stuffing mix for some additional fruit flavor and spice.  We love a tropical style pineapple chutney folded through rice and served with grilled shrimp skewers.  We also add date and orange chutney to our stuffing mix with fresh sage, thyme and rosemary.  You can also add some mango chutney to coconut rice and serve with chicken.

Pictured Below:  Herb Stuffing with Date and Orange Chutney and Pecans

13.  Garnish A Moroccan Stew or Tagine with Fruit Chutney

Add a chutney such as a date and orange chutney to your Moroccan tagines to add a touch of sweet dried fruit to the savory flavor profile.  Many Moroccan tagines (Moroccan stew) use both savory ingredients such as preserved lemons, garlic, onions and olives and balance the savory flavors with sweet dried fruits and aromatic spices such as cinnamon.  So adding a spiced dried fruit chutney can be used in place of your dried fruit ingredients when making something such as a lamb tagine.  

14. Top Burgers, Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Meatball Subs with Chutney

Add a mango or pineapple chutney to your next turkey burger or BBQ pulled pork sandwich.  You can also glaze meatballs with sweet and spicy pepper jelly and serve in a sub roll with fresh veggies and mayo or top a chicken burger with Green Tomato Jalapeno Pepper Jelly for sweet tangy and spicy kick.

Pictured Below:  Chicken Meatball Sub with Thai Hot Pepper Jelly

15.  Use As A Dipping Sauce

Use a tangy and spicy fruit chutney as a dipping sauce for eggrolls, beef skewers, fried shrimp, papadums, samosas, savory meat pies, fritters, chicken tenders and more.

16.  Use Fruit Chutneys To Season Vegetables

From brussels sprouts to green beans, a little chutney can add a wonderful sweet spiced addition to your veggie dishes.  You can mix up dried fruit chutney with toasted nuts and feta cheese and spoon over butternut squash or add an onion chutney to green beans with bacon.

Pictured Below:  Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Fig Mostarda and Bacon

17.  Add Fruit Chutney To A Stir Fry

Add a sweet and spicy chutney to a stir fry of chicken, beef or tofu with veggies.  We love a beef stir fry with a little Thai Hot Pepper Jelly added to a soy sesame base and we add mango chutney to a chicken, green beans and cashew stir fry for a fresh mango pop.  

18.  Spoon over Tacos

Spoon a sweet and spicy fruit chutney such as a mango chutney or pineapple chutney over shrimp tacos or beef and bean tacos with a little sour cream and a squeeze of fresh lime.  Delicious!

Pictured Below:  Blackened Fish Tacos with Jerk Pineapple Chutney

19.  Mix Fruit Chutneys Into Dips

Add a spoonful of fruit chutney to sour cream or cream cheese for a creamy dip that you can serve with crackers or vegetable crudité.  Cranberry chutney or pepper jelly with cream cheese is an easy crowd favorite during the holiday season.  Another delicious option is a tomato relish or a dried fruit chutney spooned over whipped goats cheese and served with crostini.  Adding a fig chutney to an olive tapenade helps offsets the saltiness of the olives and adds a deeper richer flavor to the tapenade.

20.  Add Fruit Chutney To Crock Pot Meals

Add fruit chutney to the crockpot when making meals such as crockpot pulled pork or party meatballs.  From cranberry meatballs to pineapple pork to mango chicken to Moroccan stew.

21.  Fruit Chutney For Holiday Entertaining

Fruit chutney during the holidays is a staple pantry ingredient and makes a gorgeous and tasty accompaniment to holiday appetizers, cheese plates, baked brie, roasted meats and charcuterie boards.  From Thanksgiving turkey with cranberry chutney to a baked brie with an apricot cherry sultana chutney, a fruit chutney is a must-have condiment during the holidays (at least in our house).

Pictured Below:   Open Faced Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich with Gravy and Cranberry Chutney

Shop Wozz! Chutneys, Relish and Pepper Jellies

Wozz! Chutney Gift Set

 
Wozz! Sweet and Spicy Pepper Jelly and Chutneys Gift Set

Our Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce is fresh, vibrant, tangy and spicy.  We make this sauce by simmering fresh serrano peppers with fresh garlic, fresh chopped cilantro, onions, fresh lime juice, cider vinegar and spices.  For those who love that "green style" hot sauce with a fresh tangy bite, this is it.  Here are the top 10 ways we use our Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce.

1.  An Accompaniment To Tacos, Fajitas and Enchiladas

A "verdé" style hot sauce such as our Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce is a staple accompaniment to have when serving a variety of Mexican dishes including some of our favorites: tacos, fajitas and enchiladas!  Simply drizzle atop chicken fajitas, Mexican carnitas or grilled shrimp tacos for some tangy spicy heat.  

Pictured Below:  Mexican Carnitas with Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce

2. Wings

If you are looking for some fresh tang and heat on your wings then Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce is a top pick.  From grilled wings to fried wings to fried cauliflower bites, this sauce is an alternative to your traditional buffalo style hot sauce.

3.   Mix Serrano Hot Sauce Into Dips, Salsa and Mayo

Add our Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce to guacamole for extra flavor and heat, mix into a salsa, add to queso cheese dip or mix in sour cream for dipping taquitos or tortilla chips.  Add to mayo and dress a chicken sandwich or drizzle over roasted veggies.

4. Eggs

Add a dash (or a big dollop if you may) of Serrano Hot Sauce to all your egg dishes from scrambled eggs to omelettes to quiche.  

Pictured Below:  Velvety Scrambled Eggs with Serrano Hot Sauce and Grilled Bread

 

5.  Burritos

Who doesn't love a burrito without a little hot sauce?  or at least some chili?  Red or Green right?  {I choose green}  Add Serrano hot sauce to a bean and cheese burrito or a Southwest style breakfast burrito with sausage, eggs, peppers and cheese.  

6.  Soups, Stews and Chili

You can add a dash of Serrano Hot Sauce to a number of soups, stews or chili if you want to add a little extra bright spicy kick.  It's especially delicious on a cold winters night when you just need to take the chill off.  We use it in Tex Mex style beef and bean chilis, we add it to chicken noodle and corn soup and to Salsa Verde Chicken Soup (the recipe below uses our Kiwi Lime Salsa Verde but we always add extra Serrano Hot Sauce at the end for that extra kick)

Pictured Below:  Salsa Verde Chicken Soup {we use our Kiwi Lime Salsa Verde in the broth of this but we top it with fresh avocado, cilantro, sour cream and a drizzle of Serrano hot sauce for extra oomph}

7. Add Hot Sauce To A Marinade

Add a tablespoon of Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce to a mix of olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper for a chicken marinade for fajitas and tacos.  Add a dash of Serrano Hot Sauce to some soy sauce, honey, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic and vinegar for a delicious flank steak marinade.  

8. Beans and Rice Dishes

Drizzle over all your bean and rice dishes, burrito bowls, shrimp and grits or polenta. 

9. Seafood Sauce

Serve it on it's own or add to mayo for a lime-y spicy creamy dip for fried shrimp, calamari, crab or fish.  Delicious on fish tacos, shrimp tostadas and crab cakes.

10. Pizza

Need that tangy kick of spice on your pizza?  I feel ya.  I personally love a Serrano Hot Sauce or a "green" style hot sauce on my sweeter or richer style pizza's such as BBQ chicken, bacon ranch, a meat lover's or a steak and cheese pizza. 

Wozz! Serrano Cilantro Lime Hot Sauce

Shawarma History

What is Shawarma and how is it different from Turkish Döner, Greek Gyros and even the more modern day Mexican dish "tacos al pastor's” or "tacos al trompo"? The short answer is essentially nothing, as all of these "rotisserie" cooking styles or dishes originate from the same place and point in time. That being the Ottoman empire in the early 19th Century which is now modern day Turkey.

What is Shawarma Style Of Cooking

All of these styles of "shawarma" cooking use thin slices of seasoned meat, stacked in an inverted cone shaped skewer which are roasted on a slowly turning vertical rotisserie or spit. Shawarma is the Arabic derivative of the Ottoman word "çevirme," which means "turning" where as the modern day Turkish word Döner is derived from donmek, which means “one that turns”. Gyro means “ring or round” and Trompo means “spinning top".

Shawarma Spice Flavor Profile

The difference between these rotisserie style cooking methods comes down to the choice of meat and with what it is seasoned with.  This as a result is where all these culinary styles carve (pun intended) their own delicious paths and where Shawarma distinctively sets itself apart. What I love about the Middle Eastern Shawarma seasoning is its layering of exotic sweet spices missing from the other styles of seasoning. Shawarma embraces spices of cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. The aromatics that pour out of the kitchen or off the grill while your Shawarma is cooking, is simply so very good. Don’t worry you still have all your savory spices in there like cumin, paprika, oregano, ginger and black pepper to balance and carry the bottom end of a Shawarma seasoning flavor profile. So don’t worry, this doesn’t taste like apple pie seasoning if that's what you were thinking.

Difference Between a Dry Shawarma Spice Blend and A Shawarma Marinade

A dry Shawarma spice blend recipe will add an acid as part of the marinade recipe. Possibly vinegar, usually lemon juice along with olive oil. We here at Wozz! never satisfied to do the status quo, incorporates the addition of acid driven wet ingredients which gives us a second opportunity to layer even more flavor and increase the depth of an already wonderful deep seasoning as well as adding those necessary sour bright notes. This is what sets Wozz! Middle Eastern Shawarma apart from a regular dry spice mix. Not only is the spice blend ready to go in its entirety but we have layered the sour ingredients. Starting with candied orange for citrusy sweetness, 100% fresh orange juice, preserved lemon for a salt toned down lemon flavor, rising up to the brighter ingredients of 100% lemon juice and a little cider vinegar. All of these flavors are brought together in an infusion of black tea, and for anyone who’s been to the Middle East or Turkey knows that the sipping of tea is as customary as breathing. 

Shawarma Uses and Application

The practical application of such a deep flavored marinade is as diverse as its ingredients. Shawarma is a great way to enjoy all your flatbread and pita style sandwiches whether using shawarma marinated animal protein or vegetables. Shawarma is a wonderful marinade for beef, lamb or chicken and is a fantastic vegan seasoning for roasted cauliflower, falafel and winter root vegetables.

Additional ways to use Shawarma?  To season ground meats for meatballs, patties, cabbage rolls and kebabs. With Shawarma, you can also season rice dishes, salad ingredients like chickpeas and lentils and all your favorite dips and sides. This seasoning is not just for Middle Eastern recipes either; Its a great addition to a roast dinner, to season all your vegetable sides or for a Greek Moussaka (a Greek beef and eggplant lasagna), stuffed zucchini and of course all of your favorite soups, stews and curries.

For some easy recipes and ideas, here are our favorite ways that we use our Middle Eastern Shawarma Marinade and Sauce

1. Use Shawarma As A Chicken Marinade

One of the most classic ways to use Shawarma is to season or marinade chicken.  Once you are finished marinating the chicken in the shawarma spice, you can simply grill it or bake it and serve it with traditional sides such as hummus, garlic yogurt, grilled pita bread and salad. 

Pictured Below:  Shawarma Marinated Chicken 

2. Roasted Vegetables Marinated in Shawarma Seasoning

Shawarma seasoning with it's aromatic warm flavor profile is delicious with roasted root winter vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and butternut squash.  Simply marinade your vegetables with our shawarma marinade and roast until slightly crisp and tender.   

Pictured Below:  Shawarma Roasted Vegetables with Burrata

3. Shawarma Seasoned Grilled Lamb Koftas or Beef Meatballs

Shawarma is a wonderful seasoning or marinade for grilled lamb koftas or beef meatballs.  Serve your shawarma grilled meats with all the traditional sides:  Tomato Cucumber Salad, Tabbouleh, Red Onion, Grilled Pita, Tahini Sauce, Hummus or Yogurt Sauce.  

Pictured Below:  Shawarma Lamb Koftas with Tabbouleh and Lemon Tahini Sauce

Best Ways To Use Sweet Chili Sauce

Oh the love affair we all have with a good sweet chili sauce.  It's got to be sweet yet tangy and savory with a meaningful chili kick (not overwhelmingly spicy but you've got to experience a good bit of oomph).  Most sweet chili sauces are Asian in origin and are made with a combination of chilis including Fresno and Thai chilis, fresh garlic, rice wine vinegar or citrus juices, sugar for the sweetness and may contain other ingredients including ginger or fish sauce.  

Over the years, here at Wozz, we have developed a few sweet chili sauces including our Asian inspired Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce, our Thai Hot Pepper Jelly, and our Vietnamese Mint Lime and Chili Sauce.  All 3 of these sauces are made with fresh non GMO ingredients including fresh chilis and fresh garlic so they taste fresh, vibrant, are layered with umami flavor and of course all display a nice moderate level of chili kick (with no added preservatives or junk).

Whether you have any of our sweet chili sauces in your fridge or a different brand or you make your own, here are our favorite ways to use sweet chili sauce.

1.  Sweet Chili Sauce as A Dipping Sauce For Coconut Shrimp

Nothing is as delicious as crispy coconut shrimp dipped in sweet chili sauce!  Great for game day, as a holiday appetizer or just everyday entertaining.

Pictured Below:  Coconut Shrimp Dipped in Wozz Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce

2.  As A Sweet Chili Glazing Sauce For Salmon

Many of our customers love to use our Thai Hot Pepper Jelly and our Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce on salmon.  Simply cook your salmon to your liking and finish with the sauce poured over top and popped under the broiler for a few minutes for a delicious sweet chili glaze. 

Pictured Below:  Sweet Chili Glazed Salmon Bowls

3.  Sweet Chili Sauce For Chinese Orange Chicken

Copycat recipe right here.  If you love General Tso's Chicken (Chinese Orange Chicken) like we do, then this recipe below is just what you need.  Instead of ordering out this weekend, you can make this right at home.  

Pictured Below: Chinese Orange Chicken with Sweet Orange Sesame Chili Sauce

4.  Make a Sweet Chili Dressing For Noodle Salads

Our Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce is made with fresh orange, sesame oil, fresh lime, fresh chili and it has a nice balance of sweet heat but it's citrusy and bright so it makes a wonderful dressing for Asian noodle salads.  If you have straight up sweet chili sauce, you can always add a little rice wine vinegar or fresh lime to liven up your sauce to use as a salad dressing.  

Pictured Below:  Vermicelli Noodle Salad with Shrimp and Sweet Chili Dressing

5.  Use A Sweet Chili Sauce For Dipping Potstickers, Dumplings, Spring Rolls or Rice Paper Rolls

Sweet chili sauce is a classic dipping sauce for so many appetizers from potstickers to spring rolls to wontons to chicken fingers and crab rangoons.  A great alternative to traditional duck sauce.  We love it with rice paper rolls. Our Vietnamese Mint Lime and Chili Sauce and our Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce are both our favorite dipping sauces here at Wozz.

Pictured Below:  Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls with 3 Wozz! Dipping Sauces:  Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce, Vietnamese Mint Lime Chili Sauce and Japanese Sesame Miso Sauce

6. Use As A Stir Fry Sauce

You can use sweet chili sauce as an ingredient to add to any stir fry from beef and broccoli to tofu and veggies. Adding additional ingredients to the sauce including soy sauce, fresh garlic, ginger or sesame oil can add additional layers of flavor to your sweet chili stir fry.  Our favorite pick for stir fry's is our Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce because it's layered with fresh orange citrus, sesame oil, fresh garlic and organic tamari.

Pictured Below: Spicy Orange Beef with Green Beans Stir-Fry made with Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce   

7. A Sweet and Sour Chili Sauce For Meatballs

Toss meatballs in a sweet chili sauce for the perfect party food or serve over rice for an easy weeknight meal.  You can also use any leftovers to make a meatball sub.  

Pictured Below:  Thai Hot Pepper Jelly Chicken Meatball Sub {Banh Mi Style}

8. A Dipping Sauce For Chicken Tenders or Grilled Chicken Skewers

9. As A Sweet Chili Dressing For A Thai Chicken Salad

A Thai chicken salad is made with lettuce, cilantro, shaved cabbage, bean sprouts, grape tomatoes, cashews, cucumber and red onion.  Shredded chicken breasts is added to the salad and it's dressed in a tangy sweet chili citrus dressing.  You can add rice wine vinegar, lime juice or fresh orange juice to sweet chili sauce and dress this salad.  

10. Drizzle Sweet Chili Sauce over Thai Fish Cakes 

Thai fish cakes are made with flaky white fish cut into chunks and mixed with red curry paste, cilantro, egg whites, corn flour, lime juice and fish sauce.  They are pan fried and served with a side of sweet chili sauce for dipping.  They are delish.

11. A Dipping Sauce For Potato Wedges or Topping For Baked Potato

Instead of ketchup, serve potato wedges or top a baked potato with sweet chili sauce and sour cream.  A pub food favorite. 

Pictured Below:  Crispy Potato Wedges with Thai Hot Pepper Jelly Chili Sauce and Sour Cream

 

12.  Drizzle over Pulled Pork Sandwiches or Vietnamese Pork Bowls

A good sweet chili sauce is delicious drizzled over pulled pork or used as a salad dressing over crispy Vietnamese pork bowls with sliced cucumber, matchstick carrots, cilantro and noodles.  Yum!

Pictured Below:  Vietnamese Pork Bowls with our Vietnamese Mint Lime Sweet Chili Sauce

13. Drizzle Sweet Chili Sauce over Tacos or Lettuce Wraps

From sweet chili shrimp tacos to Thai chicken lettuce wraps to San Choy Bow (Chinese lettuce wraps), sweet chili sauce can be added to your ground pork or chicken or it can be simply used as a topping for extra flavor and spice.  Try drizzled over Baja style fish tacos with a creamy slaw. 

14.  Serve with Cheese and Crackers

Serve sweet chili sauce with cream cheese for a quick and easy no-fuss appetizer.  An easy dish to put out when friends and family turn up for a casual visit.

Pictured Below:  Cream Cheese and Crackers with Thai Hot Pepper Jelly

15. Drizzle Sweet Chili Sauce over Scrambled Eggs or a Breakfast Sandwich

16. Drizzle Sweet Chili Sauce over Pork Chops

17. A Sandwich Sauce

Mix sweet chili with mayo for a sweet creamy and spicy sandwich sauce.  Spread on a Vietnamese banh mi style sandwich or a shaved beef sandwich with cilantro and cucumber slices.  

18. Sweet Chili Wing Sauce

Toss baked or fried chicken wings in a sweet chili sauce for an easy appetizer or game day snack.

Pictured Below:  Sweet Chili Wings with Orange and Sesame

19. Sweet Chili Dressing For A Cucumber Salad or Veggie Dip

For a lighter dish, toss fresh cucumber slices in sweet chili sauce with a splash of rice wine vinegar and garnish with sesame seeds.

20. Use Sweet Chili Sauce as A Tossing Sauce For Fried Cauliflower or Veggie Tempura 

Fried cauliflower bites or broccoli tempura is delicious served with a side of sweet chili dipping sauce.

If you are looking for a Sweet Chili Sauce that is an all around versatile sauce that can be used for stir-fry, dipping, salads and drizzling, check out Wozz! Sweet Chili Orange Sesame Sauce.  

Pictured Below:  Wozz! Sweet Chili Sauces Set

Press Release News

Wozz Trio of Globally Inspired Cooking Sauces Wine 3 Prestigious Gold sofi™ Awards at 2022 NYC Fancy Food Show

Bethlehem, NH (May 9, 2022) – Wozz! Kitchen Creations, a NH based specialty foods company has earned the specialty foods industry’s highest honor, the prestigious sofi™ Gold award for 3 products in 3 categories.

Nearly 2000 Products Competed for the Specialty Food Association’s Top Honors

GOLD Winner: Vietnamese Green Tea & Mint Dressing, Dipping Sauce & Marinade – A Vietnamese dipping sauce better known as nuoc cham, with the unexpected twist of organic green tea, fresh mint, sweetened lime and chili.  A sweet savory and tangy salad dressing, a marinade for grilled chicken and lamb chops and a delicious dipping sauce for rice paper rolls and shrimp. 

Category:  Condiment, Marinade and Dressing

GOLD Winner:  Korean Raspberry Gochujang BBQ Sauce – A Korean inspired barbecue sauce infused with tart raspberries, toasted sesame, organic tamari, fresh garlic and umami rich gochujang. Serve with Korean style steak, beef bulgogi, pulled pork and glazed salmon.

Category:  Barbecue Sauce 

GOLD Winner:  North African Chermoula Sauce – A bold and bright fusion of fresh lemon, cilantro, fresh ginger and simmered spices including cumin, paprika and saffron.  A traditional Moroccan cooking sauce for fish, tagine, chicken, lamb, couscous and lentils.

Category:  Sauce 

“We are sincerely honored to be awarded 3 sofi™ Gold awards,” says Warrick Dowsett, former Sydney Australia trained chef and owner of Wozz! Kitchen Creations. “We always strive for excellence in every product we make, focusing on fresh local ingredients, superior craftmanship and attention to all the fine details that create intricate and delicious flavor profiles.  Winning a sofi™ award is a true testament to our dedication to the craft and we are very grateful.”

About Wozz!  

Wozz! Kitchen Creations is a specialty foods company based in the White Mountains of NH.  The company produces a line of globally influenced cooking sauces, grilling sauces, marinades and chutneys, a line of savory jams and spreads for cheese and charcuterie pairings and a line of slow infused vinegars and cocktail mixers.  Using fresh local non gmo ingredients and custom blended aromatics, Wozz has been praised by industry leaders, award winning chefs and fine food purveyors for their exceptional flavor profiles, innovation and quality consistency. The company was founded by Warrick Dowsett and his wife Ashley Thompson in 2010.  Prior to starting the company, Warrick spent nearly a decade working as private luxury yacht chef in Europe, Asia and Central America. 

“Our goal at Wozz is for people to take a memorable culinary experience and be able to recreate it at home.  From Cambodian noodles to Korean steak to a sophisticated cheese and charcuterie board. All you need is a few ingredients and a bottle or jar of Wozz.” - Warrick Dowsett, owner 

Wozz! Kitchen Creations has received a total of 16 sofi™ awards in the past 10 years making them one of the most awarded young specialty food companies in the industry. 

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has been the leading trade association in the $170.4 billion specialty food industry for 70 years.  The SFA is known for it’s fancy food shows and the sofi™ awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage for 50 years.

Wozz sells wholesale to independent retailers, grocery stores, delis, coops, olive oil stores, gift stores and cheese shops across the country.  Click here for wholesale information.  

If you’ve ever been out to a Japanese restaurant you know the dressing I am talking about, that nutty tangy sesame ginger dressing that is drizzled over that shredded lettuce salad or served as a sauce with Hibachi grilled steak and chicken.  It’s nutty, slightly sweet, tangy and pretty addicting.   

{Now I am not talking about our Ginger Soy Sauce, that is similar to the Benihana’s ginger dipping sauce, it’s sweeter and more of a ponzu style dipping sauce - if you are looking for this kind of sauce, you can find that here.}

Our Japanese Sesame Miso Sauce is tangier, nuttier and more savory than sweet and is one of my favorites of all our sauces and dressings (not that I like to pick favorites).  We make this in the most traditional way, we simmer together tahini and sesame with organic tamari, a homemade dashi stock, fresh ginger, saki and mirin.  We balance the flavor with a touch of sweet, umami and vinegar tang.

Our Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing is one of our routine go-to’s for not only a salad dressing but a marinade and sauce for a number of dishes - and the clincher – it’s very low in sugar, vegan and still so good (a good pick for healthy keto dinners or plant based meals).  From dipping wontons to drizzling over avocado toast, to marinating chicken skewers and dressing noodles and simple greens, here are our favorite ways to use our Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing, Sauce and Marinade.

1. Japanese Sesame Dressing As A Salad Dressing

Well of course, one of our favorite ways to use our Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing is as a dressing for a variety of salads.  Drizzle this dressing over a simple spinach or shredded lettuce salad, mix in an Asian coleslaw or add to a chopped Oriental chicken salad with almonds, shredded cabbage and carrots.   

Pictured Recipe Below:  Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas and Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing

2. Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing as a Dipping Sauce

From grilled chicken skewers to fried shrimp, rice paper rolls and potstickers, our Japanese Sesame Miso makes a fantastic dipping sauce!  It’s got all those flavor profiles going on, the slightly sweet, the nutty, the tang…the creaminess…it’s all there…so let’s dip.  

Pictured Recipe Below: Rice Paper Rolls with Japanese Dipping Sauce

3. Japanese Sesame Miso Sauce Drizzled Over All Your Roasted Vegetables

Our Japanese Sesame Sauce makes all those roasted vegetables taste so good.  I like to slow roast carrots in the oven with our Japanese Sesame Miso drizzled over top then finish with a little drizzle of honey, more sesame miso and sesame seeds. You can also add a sprinkle of chili flakes if you want a bit of heat.  I use our Japanese Sesame Dressing over roasted brussels sprouts, butternut squash and roasted eggplant and it's vegan, so if you are focused on eating more plant based foods, this sauce is a good one to have on hand.

Pictured Below:  Roasted Carrots with Japanese Sesame Dressing and Honey

4.  Japanese Dressing Makes A Fantastic Steak Sauce

Grilled hibachi steak drizzled with our Japanese Dressing or serve on the side to dip your steak in.  That's all I have to say about this one. 

5. Japanese Sesame Dressing as a Marinade For Chicken, Pork and Beef

My number #1 simple go-to healthy dinner is chicken skewers marinated in our Japanese Sesame Dressing / Sauce served with a side salad of baby spinach drizzled with the Japanese Sesame as well.  It’s easy and incredibly satisfying.  When protein and salad or veggies is what you want, with no lack of flavor, this sauce is the b-o-m-b.   I also mix our Japanese Sesame Dressing with mayonnaise and serve it as a drizzle sauce over pork schnitzel (panko crumbed and fried thin pork cutlets).  It's delicious.

Pictured Recipe Below:  Chicken Skewers Marinated in Japanese Sesame Sauce

6. Japanese Sesame Miso Sauce As A Seafood Sauce and Fish Marinade

Slow marinated cod, salmon or mahi mahi with our Japanese Sesame Miso Sauce is a classic way to prepare fish.  Pat dry your fish pieces, then marinate for 24 hours in the Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing.  Pan fry the fish fillets in a skillet with hot oil for a couple minutes each side then transfer to oven at 400 degrees F and bake for 5-8 minutes and serve (cooking times will vary based on size of fish fillets).  You can drizzle extra Japanese Sesame Sauce on your fish right before taking out of oven for an extra glaze.

7. Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing As a Sandwich Sauce

Slather our Japanese Sesame Dressing over a roast beef bulkie roll, banh mi, fried chicken sandwich, veggie wrap or drizzle over your next avocado toast.  It also makes a great marinade for grilling portabello mushrooms.  Try this Japanese Sesame Marinated Mushroom Burger recipe pictured below:

8. Japanese Sesame Dressing Over Noodles

Drizzle this dressing all over your cold noodle salads, add a bit of cucumber, red pepper, scallions or bean sprouts with a dash of sesame seeds.  This makes a simple, delicious lunch option and makes a nice side salad for a picnic, outdoor summer dinner or bbq event. I like to use soba noodles. 

Pictured Recipe Below:  Soba Noodle Salad with Japanese Dressing, Cucumber and Nori

9.  Japanese Sesame Sauce For Schnitzel

Just like you use Katsu sauce for pork schnitzel, our Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing makes a wonderful savory salty creamy nutty drizzle sauce for chicken and pork schnitzel.  We also mix it with mayo for a Japanese style sesame mayo.

Pictured Below:  Pork Schnitzel with Japanese Sesame Sauce

There you have it.  A variety of ways to use our Japanese Sesame Miso Dressing, Marinade and Sauce at home.  Now you don't have to wait till your next Japanese hibachi restaurant experience to indulge in the goodness.

What is a Cocktail Vinegar or Shrub?

Adding flavored vinegar or what some call shrubs or tonics to cocktails is not a new trend, in fact, "shrubs" which by definition is "a beverage made by adding acidulated fruit juice to water" have been around since the pre-refrigeration days of the colonial era.  Fruit was preserved in vinegar and mixed with sugar or honey, essentially creating a juice or cordial that could be used to mix in water or alcohol for a simple drink or cocktail.  

Whole Fruits and Aromatic Spices Infused in Non GMO Apple Cider Vinegar For A Healthy Alternative To Traditional Simple Syrup Commonly Used in Cocktails

We started making our finishing vinegars back in 2010 and we follow the same process, we slow infuse fresh whole fruit ingredients in apple cider vinegar, add a bit of sweetness to extract the natural juices from the fruit, add herbs and aromatic spices and then we patiently wait and allow all the flavors to combine before we bottle.  It's a labor of love but the process is worth it.  The resulting vinegars have a slightly thicker consistency, rich natural fresh flavor, vibrant color and just enough sweetness to balance the acidity.   A common addition to many cocktail recipes is to add a simple syrup that you make at home, basically equal parts sugar and water dissolved on the stovetop with added herbs, fruits, vegetables added for whatever flavor you desire.  Our infused vinegars take this step out for you plus we use healthy apple cider vinegar and a medley of antioxidant rich spices in our vinegar shrubs so theirs more involved than just a simple syrup.  Just to note as well, we use all fresh fruits and vegetables in our vinegars, no concentrates and no purees.  So in example in our Lemon Thyme Vinegar Cocktail Mixer, we hand cut all fresh lemons and infuse bunches of fresh fragrant thyme with cider vinegar making it a bright lemony delicious addition to your cocktails. 

Our vinegars are not only served as a tonic for cocktails and seltzer but can be used as a healthy salad dressing for your everyday lunch greens or roasted vegetables but in this blog post we are going to focus on our favorite cocktail recipes using our fruit infused vinegars.  

A Basic Guide To Constructing A Cocktail Using Shrubs

1 -2 ounces of your choice liquor (Gin, Bourbon, Tequila, Vodka)
1-2 ounces of your choice vinegar shrub
Top up glass with desired amount of seltzer water.  I like to use no calorie flavored seltzers (lime, lemon, cranberry, strawberry, etc.) 
Garnish with fresh lime. lemon or orange slices or whatever fruit depending on your cocktail
Garnish with fresh sprigs of herbs if desired (thyme sprig, mint leaves, etc)

Serve in low ball glass with ice, stirred. 

{This is a basic shrub cocktail recipe, you can certainly add ingredients such as aromatic bitters, orange juice, ginger beer, ginger ale, champagne, grenadine, etc to your recipes ~ it all just depends on what type of cocktail you are making}

Okay now let's get to the good stuff.

Our Favorite Cocktails Using Wozz! Fruit Infused Vinegar Shrubs

1.  Lemon Thyme Margaritas with Lemon Thyme Vinegar Shrub

Fresh hand cut lemons and bouquets of fragrant fresh thyme with cider vinegar is how me make this delicious super lemony and fragrant shrub.  It is one of my favorite picks of our vinegar shrubs and can be mixed with Gin, Vodka, Tequila or Bourbon. Mix our Lemon Thyme Shrub with some bubbly Italian Prosecco for a simple yet elegant cocktail.  This is definitely my go-to at home cocktail mixer.

 2. Strawberry Rhubarb Mojitos with Spiced Strawberry Rhubarb Vinegar Cocktail Shrub Mixer

I describe this Strawberry Rhubarb Shrub as "the taste of summer".  Its like strawberry rhubarb pie, intensely strawberry yet a little tart from rhubarb with warm aromatic spices.  It's just so good and delicious in these mojitos.  I love the combination of strawberries and fresh mint.  This is a summer's day porch cocktail.

 3. Pear Ginger Dark and Stormy with Spiced Pear Ginger Vinegar Cocktail Shrub

Who doesn't love a good dark and stormy?  Our Spiced Pear Ginger Vinegar Shrub is made with fresh cut pears, peppery ginger root and aromatic spices including star anise and bay leaf.  Mix this with rum, ginger beer and fresh lime.

4.  Grapefruit Tequila Paloma with Wozz! Grapefruit Juniper and Honey Shrub

Grapefruit Juniper and Honey is another favorite shrub of mine for cocktails. We use ruby red Texas grapefruit in this shrub and the citrus is so refreshing, the juniper and honey along with a touch of bitter from the grapefruit give a nice depth and complexity to this shrub making it a good all rounder for most alcohols from Gin to Bourbon. 

5.  Cranberry Orange Bourbon Cocktail with Cranberry Saffron Vinegar Shrub Cocktail Mixer

A festive fall and holiday cocktail using Wozz! Cranberry Saffron Vinegar Shrub.  Cranberries infused with fresh orange, warm winter spices, cider vinegar and velvety saffron.  

There you have it, 5 of our favorite cocktails made using our handcrafted slow infused vinegar shrubs.  

Wozz! Drinking Shrubs Vinegar Cocktail Mixers Trio

Shop The Whole Collection of Wozz! Infused Vinegars