Can't find Bitchin' Sauce where you live? No problem! Make your own version of the popular vegan almond sauce with just 8 simple ingredients. It's wonderfully rich, creamy, garlicky, and cheesy and tastes amazing on pretty much everything!
Vegan, gluten-free, and WFPB, with a nut-free option.
What is Bitchin' Sauce?
Bitchin' Sauce is an almond-based dip, sauce, and spread that was created in California by a woman named Starr Edwards. Starr and her husband began selling their delicious dairy-free dip at local farmers markets, and the rest is history.
The company has grown over the years and now distributes nationally. They make a variety of savory flavors of Bitchin' Sauce (more on this below), like chipotle and cilantro-chili, and even a few sweet flavors that are great for pairing with fruit and baked goods.
Check out the Bitchin' Sauce website to learn more. You can find recipe ideas and order online.
Bitchin' Sauce was actually the inspiration for the almond-parsley sauce I shared last week in this Air Fryer Cauliflower Steak recipe. It's similar to this basic recipe but with fresh parsley.
We enjoyed the parsley sauce so much I decided to go ahead and create a copycat version of Bitchin's original sauce!
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Why Everyone Loves It
Bitchin' Sauce is dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free, and yet it has such a full, rich, and savory flavor that pairs well with so many foods.
Thanks to lemon and nutritional yeast, Bitchin' Sauce might remind you of the homemade vegan cheeses and sauces you've tried.
Flavor-wise, I think part of what makes Bitchin' Sauce so irresistible are some of the same things that make ranch dressing so well-loved. It's savory, creamy, garlicky, salty, and has the perfect amount of acidic lemon zing!
Why no oil?
Though I do use oil occasionally in my recipes, I really enjoy the challenge of omitting oil from dishes when it can be done without compromising the flavor or texture.
I have many regular readers who avoid extracted oils in their diets for health reasons, and it's nice to be able to offer recipes that are inclusive.
With vegan sauces and salad dressings I find it really is easy to avoid oil altogether! And it doesn't mean sacrificing flavor at all.
Original Bitchin' Sauce contains grapeseed oil, which gives it an ultra creamy and fatty mouthfeel.
Of course, you can certainly add grapeseed oil to this recipe if you like.
Surprisingly, the flavors and richness in this oil-free sauce are still ridiculously similar to the original! You may notice a slight difference in the fatty mouthfeel aspect, but we didn't miss the oil in our side-by-side taste tests.
As a bonus, it's nice knowing the calories in the sauce are coming from more nutrient-dense ingredients.
Ingredients
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- raw almonds - look for almonds labeled as "raw" (although, technically in the U.S. they aren't raw and have been heat-treated for safety). They will be plain nuts, not roasted or salted. Or if you don't have a high-speed blender, raw almond butter can be used instead!
- lemon juice - lemon plays a crucial role in the overall flavor of Bitchin' Sauce. I found that when I had less tart and flavorful lemons, I was able to boost the zippiness of the sauce by adding just a touch of rice vinegar at the end (optional).
- garlic - if your cloves of garlic are very small you may want to use two.
- Bragg's liquid aminos, tamari or soy sauce - use whichever you have and that suits your dietary needs.
- nutritional yeast - I like this non-fortified nutritional yeast from Sari. Any brand you enjoy is fine.
- salt - I used a fine sea salt. Keep in mind that size of the salt matters! If using table salt you would need much less, for example.
Tip! Original Bitchin' Sauce is very salty, and I tried to replicate it. If you prefer less sodium, start with less then taste and adjust. - spices - the exact spices used in Bitchin' Sauce are "a family secret." So I just used my best judgment and chose cumin, onion powder, and a touch of cayenne.
See the recipe card below for quantities and full instructions.
Instructions
- Add everything except the vinegar to a high-speed blender. Blend on high speed until the almonds are fully broken down, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Taste the sauce and add the vinegar if you'd like more acidity. Blend again. Refrigerate to allow the flavors to mingle. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
Equipment tip: if you use almond butter instead of whole almonds, a standard blender gets the job done just fine.
Ways to Use Bitchin' Sauce
Serve Bitchin' Sauce as a dip for everything from vegetable trays to french fries and chips.
Adjust the consistency to be as pourable as you like and drizzle it on:
And use it as a spread for sandwiches and burgers!
Substitutions
- almonds - replace the almonds with raw sunflower seeds for a nut-free Bitchin' Sauce!
- Bragg's liquid aminos - I haven't purchased liquid aminos in a while but always have soy sauce, tamari, and/or shoyu on hand.
Feel free to use whichever one of these suits your dietary needs. They do have slight differences in flavor and saltiness, but for this recipe consider them interchangeable.
Other Bitchin' Sauce Flavors
In addition to the original flavor, which is hard to beat, the company also makes seven other varieties of Bitchin' Sauce. PLUS, they have a few sweet options and an organic line with four more savory flavors.
In case you feel like experimenting, here are the other flavors in the company's main line:
- Chipotle - check out my homemade version in the photo above. I used about 1 teaspoon dried chipotle flakes instead of canned chipotle in adobo since flakes are more convenient.
- Cilantro Chili - so far this is the only other flavor I've had a chance to try It's great, but we still prefer the original.
- Bombay - I can't wait to experiment with this one! It's made with curry powder instead of the original spices.
- Pesto - we have so much basil on hand this summer I really should add some to my next batch of sauce!
- Heat - this one includes habanero, ghost pepper, and jalapeno!
- Caramelized Onion - I'm curious to try this one but a little worried the sweetness will detract from the awesomeness of the original savory flavors.
- Eggplant & Olive - as a huge olive fan, I definitely want to try this one.
Equipment Needed
A high-speed blender like a Vitamix is necessary if you're using whole almonds. It may take a minute or so, but it will create a smooth and creamy sauce.
If you have a standard blender, you can either soak the almonds overnight or follow the instructions in the recipe Notes for using almond butter.
Recipe FAQs
Not necessarily! You can use raw almond butter instead of whole almonds if you're using a standard blender.
Like any perishable homemade sauce or dressing, this DIY Bitchin' Sauce is best consumed within 3 to 4 days. Keep it covered and refrigerated.
Yes, the original Bitchin' Sauce is gluten-free. This recipe is also gluten-free as long as you use Bragg's liquid aminos or GF tamari instead of soy sauce.
If you try my take on the amazingness that is Bitchin' Sauce, I would love to hear from you! Comment below to let us know your favorite ways to use it!
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Recipe
Bitchin' Sauce (Without Oil)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup raw almonds - see Notes for almond butter option
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Bragg's liquid aminos or tamari - or soy sauce if you don't need gluten-free
- 2 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 medium clove garlic, peeled - mince or puree first if using a standard blender
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon rice vinegar, optional (for extra zip!) - or apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Equipment note: if using almond butter, a standard blender is fine. If using whole raw almonds, a high-speed blender like a Vitamix is needed to fully break down the nuts.
- Combine all ingredients except vinegar in a blender. Blend on high speed until the almonds are fully broken down, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Taste the sauce and add the vinegar if you'd like more acidity. Blend again.
- The sauce will thicken as it cools. If it's already thicker than you want, add another tablespoon of water and blend again. Refrigerate for an hour or two to allow the flavors to mingle. If you need to thin the sauce later, simply blend or whisk in a bit of water.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Elizabeth Shipley says
Could you use peanut butter?
Lori Rasmussen says
Hmm probably so, if you want a peanut sauce type of flavor.
Sandy says
If you haven't tried this recipe yet, make a batch. It will become your new favorite sauce! Yummy
Janell says
This is one of my favorite dips to take to gatherings! No one can tell the difference and it's always emptied before the party is over. Your recipes are spot on.
Rachel says
I've made this many times, every time tripling the yield because we go through it! The flavor is spot-on. Many thank you's.
Kristi says
I love this sauce! I was buying it until I came across your recipe. I am happy to be able to make it myself and avoid the not-so-healthy store bought version. The flavor improves over time as the ingredients mingle and develop. I always have a jar of this sauce on hand. Your recipe is better than the store bought version, in my opinion.
Denaya says
I LOOOVE this recipe! I triple it every time I make it and it’s still devoured in days. My other favorite flavors are Spinach Artichoke and Cilantro Chili and Chipotle. Do you have recipes for those flavors? My family will be eternally grateful 💕
Katherine says
WARNING: This is ADDICTIVE!
Nancy says
Fantastic recipe. I eat this all the time and had to give it up due to the oils. Thank you so much for creating this recipe. Have made it 3 times in the last week.
Kristi says
I made this today and it us YUM!!! I am so glad you developed this healthier version of this delicious sauce! Thank you!
Laura says
I've been making this recipe a lot lately, to drizzle on my component bowls. It's a really tasty sauce. I've been using the almond butter option.
Janell says
I make this for all my casual gatherings. So easy and quick. People love it! Thank you for all your great recipes.