Bitchin’ Sauce
Pardon my language. Allow me to explain.
Amy: Can you help me recreate a sauce?
Me: Sure [said with hesitation]. I can try.
Amy: It’s vegan.
Me: Oh never mind, that’s way out of my league. You’ll have to ask Genesis.
Amy: I already did. She told me to ask you.
Me: Shoot. No promises though [said with confidence].
Next thing you know, we’re sitting around Amy’s kitchen table. Pinkies lifted high. A chip cracker in hand. Palettes cleansed. Let the Bitchin’ Sauce tasting begin. Dip, taste, dip, taste, ponder. Dip, taste, pretend you know what you’re doing, write. And repeat.
Definition: Bitchin’ Sauce (nerb—noun + verb) is a bitchin’ (for lack of a better word) sauce sold at the San Diego farmers market. It comes in 3 varieties—original, chipotle, pesto. It’s both vegan and gluten-free. And the taste? It’s oh-em-gee out of this world! (Coming from a girl who turns her nose up at all things vegan. Mark my word—this sauce made me a lover.) Almonds give the sauce its creamy base. While lemons provide a lovely kick at the end. Its only downfall—you can’t get it in Chicago. Hence Amy’s question—can you help me recreate a sauce?
100 chips later and the dip/taste sequence came to a close. We had a list of ingredients. And yes, we cheated by writing down the ingredients from the label. However, if the word “spices” had been a bit more specific, we could have saved those chips for another time. Travesty.
After the list was secured, we reconvened at Genesis’ house. Wrote up a rough recipe. And turned the VitaMix to high. A couple tweaks later. And Houston, we have Bitchin’ Sauce! Or darn close to it.
Eat it on a chip. Or even on a vegetable. Or stay tuned to how I’ve been eating it everyday for the past 2 weeks. San Diego peeps—how do you eat your Bitchin’ Sauce?
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high-powdered blender (such as a VitaMix). Slowly blend for one minute. Turn the dial up to high, and continue to blend for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
- Store in the refrigerator. Sauce may separate. Stir and it’s as good as new.
Notes
• Nutritional Yeast and Bragg Liquid Aminos can be found at Whole Foods. If you’re not vegan, the ingredients may seem like a bit of an investment. But let me tell you, it’s one worth making.
• 2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup (If you happen to have one of those laying around.)
• Although I haven’t tried it, I think a food processor will work to make this sauce.
• This sauce doesn’t last long enough in my fridge to figure out its shelf life.
• If you’re stopping through San Diego, you must give the real deal a try. It just might revolutionize your life. Word on the street—they may start shipping soon.
Mmm, I will take some Bitchin’ Sauce, vegan or not, any day. It sounds divine… and it is making me wonder why all my parents brought back from visiting my aunt and uncle in San Diego AND going to the farmer’s market was photos!!
process is totally legit. I do it all the time lol. It must be good if you are still eating it after all that. *run to kitchen*
I’m from San Diego and I get the Bitchin’ Sauce regularly! My husband and I are in LOVE with it. We use it for everything, dipping, as a condiment on hamburgers and sandwiches… It’s just so good & it goes with everything! My favorite flavor is the Chiptole. Although I’ll still scarf down the Original. Now that you created a duplicate, I can make it at home without even going to the Farmers Market. Yah!
How is it possible that I lived {and went to college} in San Diego and have never heard of Bitchin Sauce?! I must try.
Ha! A funny AND yummy recipe! I am going to try it and have made a promise to myself not to be intimated by the nutritional yeast or the Bragg liquid aminos. I can do this!
Same here! I totally turned up my nose to them at first. This was my first time using those ingredients and I loved them. What’s happening to me
I will let you know how it turns out and how many thumbs up it gets from my husband (he’s pretty easy AND he’s on a health food kick, so I’m pretty sure he’ll be in heaven.)
I love the title. Why can more recipes have this title? It looks like it tastes great, I will have to try this.
I’m glad you like it! I was afraid of the opposite reaction.
I don’t make it to San Diego often at all, so I love to have recipes for things that I can’t get otherwise!!
Ahhh this was the cutest post! I like your very literal definition of Bitchin’ Sauce haha. And, I’m from Indiana and am currently thanking God you’ve included this recipe as, a couple thousand miles away, my odds for trying the San Diego original sauce seem slim. Great post!
Whoot! The Chipotle flavor sounds like Bitchin’ X 3 and totally in my court. So is this a little like a thinned out hummus, in texture, sort of, not really or no way? Ah hell, I’m just going to have to pull up my non-vegan bootstraps and try it myself. XO
Hated the title but loved the post! or the other way round?! wtever!
I do find the idea of nutritional yeast a little bit scary but I think I need to overcome that fear because your description of the sauce is so delightful!
Mmmm this sounds delish!
Yay!!! I love all sorts of savory creamy sauces. I’m all over this one.
Bitchin’. Seriously bitchin’.
wow, this is impressive! i don’t know if i’m that talented yet to taste something and then create a recipe from what i taste or a copycat of it..great job
keep on bitchin’ 
Dude, hell yes.
This looks delicious and right up my alley!
Becoming vegan has totally turned my health around! There are more yummy ways to prepare fruits and veggies than you could ever have imagined, and this sauce is a fine example. Thanks for the post!
I’m totally a believer now! It took me long enough. You’ll have to let me know if you make it. So good to hear from you! Hope you are well.
Not only am I planning to make the sauce, but the bowl as well. We LOVE Udon bowls – very similar to this except you use Udon noodles as a base – and add whatever veggies you have on hand. Add some toasted sesame seeds – amazing!!
We’re playing the waiting game, too, now that Will’s interviews are done. He’s kinda sad about the cohort breaking up, but excited to get on with the next phase of the process.
We’re all well here.
Bev
Yes, this sauce is AMAZING! Like most amazing foods, it’s high in fat, but a little does go a long way. It’s great, by the way, on baked potatoes!
While I like the idea, I can’t eat nuts. What could replace the almonds?
You’ve got me stumped! Almonds are the base, so I’m not sure what a good substitute would be. Anyone else have ideas?
I made this and LOVE it! A possible alternative to the almonds might be sesame or sunflower seeds or a combination of the two…or even a half cup of tahini might work. Thanks so much for the recipe!
oh, and I just checked the link below for yum sauce and it uses chickpeas; I think a combo of chickpeas and seeds could be just the ticket. ( :
Melissa, so sneaky. I feel like I live at SD Markets so I’m all too familiar with the Bitchin’ Sauce boys. They have quite a presence in the stalls yelling “are you bitchin’ today!?” at the top of their lungs. Love this stuff, but I had to stop buying it because I struggled to not finish it all in one sitting. gross. belly ache. Now I know why you were concerned about the grapeseed oil, too! I bet avocado oil would be just as good if not even creamier. Yum.
I eat way too much of it in one sitting too. Chips + sauce = trouble for me. I’ll have to give avocado oil a try. Thanks for the recco! You are a bundle of good info I need to know.
Between this and Mmmm Sauce, I think my mind has been changed on the vegan thing too!
Mmmm Sauce? Where can I get this? I think I need to try it.
Looks delicious! Nice blog.
http://www.PSbyDila.com
I love Bitchin sauce! Thanks for the recipe!
This is AWESOME. Can’t wait to give it a try. You are a rockstar!
Yes! This is amazing… all too often do curse missing the Fair on Sunday to get my weekly fix. Now instead I can make it at home. The spicy chipolte and pesto flavors are also a must try,
Just found your blog through yummly. Lovely! I feel the Martha kinship. LOL! I’m not vegan but will have to give this a try sometime along some of your other gorgeously pictured recipes. I do have a non-food related question. How do you take such amazing and clear pictures? I am trying my hand at blogging and find the pictures very challenging due to lighting and whatnot. Would love some tips from a pro!
[...] your husband has been out of town all month, you make a bitchin’ bowl for dinner every night. It’s far better than the eggs and toast which usually fill that [...]
I’ve never heard of Bitchin’ Sauce, but you’ve made me a believer!
Ohmygoodness. I just made this and boy is it tasty, tasty, tasty! I’ve never had the “real” bitchin’ sauce, so I really didn’t know what to expect, but it’s completely wonderful. I munched on chips and bitchin’ sauce for lunch today. Mmmmm. Tomorrow’s lunch… Bitchin’ Bowl! Seriously can’t wait!
Yesss! I’m glad you loved it! Another convert. PS—I want to make your bagels. And everything else on your blog.
Bitchin’! I’m totally bummed I missed the bitchin’ sauce when I was in San Diego last summer. I’m also totally impressed that a non-vegan blended up grapeseed oil, almonds, Bragg’s aminos and nutritional yeast… that’s more vegan than I’ve ever gone. I want to try it!
Bitchin’ sauce sounds like a gift from the food gods. Must give it a try.
Haha I LOVE the name of this, describes this perfectly! Thanks for linking this up, I’ll definitely be trying this asap!
Just wanted to report that I tried it loved it and am coming back for more. I’ve been trying to go more vegan after watching Forks Over Knives and this fits the bill beautifully.
Also, as a side note, for those who don’t have a Vitamix super blender, try soaking the raw almonds in the 3/4 cup of water overnight and use a food processer to puree. Works well enough although probably not as silky smooth as the Vitamix blend. Delicious all the same!
Thanks for the great recipe!
here’s another variation of the sauce– its called “yumm sauce” from portland. i think it tastes the same (though the SD guy vehemently denies that they are similar!)
thanks for posting yours.. i’ll give it a try!
oops, forgot the link:
http://mpchickchat.blogspot.com/2005/11/recipe-rip-off-edited.html
enjoy!
Sounds yummy! Quick question, if someone is allergic to soy would it be much difference in leaving out the Bragg’s Aminos? Is there something to substitute it with?
Bragg’s tastes just like soy sauce (since I’m allergic to wheat, it’s my personal godsend) – so if you’ve found a soy-free soy sauce substitute, you’re good to go. Basically, it’s gonna add a saltiness, plus the subtle complexity of vegetable ingredients… So maybe a salted, concentrated veggie broth?
I made this night and it was SO GOOD. Thank you for posting this. I wanted to eat it with everything!
Probably goes against the vegan spirit of it, but I wonder if it’s good on a burger?
Wow, this is kinda intriguing… I’m sold just based on your description and photos (of course). A trip to Whole Foods is in order!
well i’ll be eating this all the time now… thanks for adding to my dinner rotation!! this is bitchin good!
I bought Chipotle Bitchin’ Sauce at my local Farmer’s Market and liked it so much, I kept the lid (with ingredients list) to attempt to make it myself. Of course, a month has passed and I have not done a thing.Then…WHAM! A friend posts a link that says something about “Bitchin’ Sauce”. Could it be?! I looked at the ingredient list and realized I had everything in my kitchen already–SCORE! I made it…and it is true…it tastes exactly as I remember it! Better yet, it took me only 7 minutes (yes, I timed it). Thank you so much!!!
I am a HUGE “Bitchin” fan ever since getting hooked during a vacation that included a trip to the SD farmer’s market! I have made multiple efforts to order it, but they are still working on that process. I found your recipe and decided to take the leap of faith. Let me start by saying thank you! My finished product is truly “bitchin!” Next, allow me to warn any other adventurers that IF you intend to use the food processor…DO NOT EVEN GO THERE!!! Lucky for me my friend an neighbor happened to own a vitamix. I would have never made it to the the wonderful finished product without her saving me. By the time she got here my kitchen was covered in mess along with multiple dirty messy gadgets (including the food processor). The vitamix was the most important part of the recipe after trying and failing with the alternate approach! My favorite “Bitchin” sauce is the chipotle. I made a batch of original and one of chipotle by doubling the original recipe. Once I finished that, I poured out half the finished batch for my “original” then in the blender half added one chipotle and a hand full of organic cilantro. BINGO! that worked like a charm!! ready for my crazy bitchin bowls! Thanks so much! Now I’m afraid a vitamix may be in my future.
PS- mine did NOT take 7 minutes! Only part of that was due to the 2 year old assistant I had!!!
OMG!! Just made this sauce and YUMMO!!!! Thanks so much for the recipe this will become a staple in my house.
UM WOW. I honestly expected to be dissappointed—there are so many bad-for-you-sauces—I just couldn’t believe it would measure up. Holy moly it did. Thanks for making this a mexican night staple from here on out!
[...] to claim it as theirs. All I could do was smile.Veggies with dressing for the win.It may not have bitchin’ in it’s name but it sure acts like it.Garlic Herb Tahini DressingPrintRecipe type: [...]
I made this recipe earlier this week- my goodness I have to stop myself from eating it with a spoon it’s so delicious! Thank you for sharing your awesome recipe. It’s just so tasty… I love it on a piece of toast, with raw veggies, on avocados. It would be good with chips, wraps, sandwiches, burgers… Brava!
Any chance you can hook us up with a calorie count per serving? That would be swell! (ps: pretty please?)
))))
I believe it’s about 95 calories for 2 tablespoons…
You are great! Thanks for figuring this out!
[...] Bitchin’ Sauce, the original version? Conceived 3.25 months ago. Well, she has a sister. And her name is Chipotle. [...]
This may seem like a silly question, but when you say coriander, do you mean dried or fresh? cheers!
Ah, good question—I use dried but fresh sounds even better!
Thanks for this!
I lived in San Diego, and just moved to AZ, and looked for it here, not knowing it was SD only. i just made a batch and its in the fridge now, i cant wait to see how it turns out!!!!
And to all who want to know whats this is good for,
FISH TACOS!
yeah….omg, so friggin good.
Must say I love my Bitchin’ Sauce. Thank you so much for posting this. Excellent recipe, but it seemed a little thin compared to the real product that I purchase at SD farmers markets, which is more like hummus in consistency. I upped the soaked almonds to 1 cup, increased the yeast by a tablespoon and used fresh cilantro. I think it comes out a little closer to the original in terms of consistency and flavor. Can’t wait to experiment more with this general recipe though. Thanks again!
Very yummy stuff! I used ground raw almonds because it was cheaper than either the whole raw or sliced raw ones. I’ve been using it on Bitchin’ Bowls made with quinoa…tasty and healthy!
[...] Pinned Here Original Blogged Here Chipotle Pinned Here Chipotle Blogged [...]
Thank you so much for figuring this recipe out! I had the luxury of trying some Bitchin’ Sauce when I was in San Diego but I’m from Toronto, Canada and we certainly don’t have this stuff up here! Can’t wait to make it
OMG!!! I live in San Diego & frequent the Bitchin’ Sauce stand at the Farmers’ Market often & have always wanted to recreate it myself! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Did you use the Vitamix wet blade or dry blade?
I used the wet blade.
ok this looks awesome! reminds me of sort of how I make the coating for my kale chips (1 red pepper, 1 c soaked cashews, 1/2 c nooch, squirt of lemon, salt & pepper, pinch of cayenne) & Blend. Douse over the kale and bake or dehyd or eat the coating as a salad dressing
now I want to make yours!
Finally got around to making this, since I had to buy the yeast and aminos. After being vegetarian for about 18 years, I finally had to cut out dairy too a few months ago.. this sauce (and some other great stuff) means I don’t miss it at all. THANKS for a great recipe!
forgot to mention, I had to use a food processor, and I’m cheap so I used an olive oil and Canola mixture since I had no grapeseed at home. It was a little thin, I reduced the water by a 1/4 cup. Still came out deliciously.
Bitchin’ is shippin’
http://bitchinsauce.com/Bitchin_Sauce/Online_Ordering,_Pricing,_Shipping.html
[...] green beans. Garlic chicken breast with roast broccoli. Taco ground turkey with roast broccoli and bitchin’ sauce [...]
How fun to find another blogger who recreated this recipe. I live in SD and after writing a profile on the founder, Ryan Smith, decided I had to try and make the sauce too. I like soaking the almonds and rubbing off the skins. http://reciperenovator.com/special-diets/vegan/smoky-creamy-almond-sauce/
So fun! Thanks for leaving a comment. Your recipe looks great!
So happy to have found this! I LOVE bitchin’ sauce, but I’m in Texas for grad school! It’s also (mostly) paleo!
I love it most on eggs! Sounds strange, but don’t knock it till you try it! 
I love the bitchin sauce from the farmers market in San Diego. I get it a coupe times a month and devour within a few days. Thanks for recreating the recipe – I can’t wait to try to make it at home.
[...] 11. Bitchin’ Sauce [...]
I live in San Diego and love this sauce! I make a similar sauce that I use as the coating mixture to coat kale for raw/vegan kale chips. Just pinned this sauce b/c I could pretty much just eat it…on…everything! Chips, veggies, as a tofu marinade, you name it!
LOVE bitchin sauce! I frequent the farmers market and always buy 3. BTW they have a ranch flavored one which is soooo delicious. I use bitchin sauce on everything. I use it on sandwiches, eggs,rice and beans,anything and everything I can find an excuse to put it on. BTW in case nobody has mentioned anything, the little tubs of sauce are freeze-able, BUT they have to defrost in the fridge for at least a day and you have to leave them alone, no stirring, no touching, nothing. Just stick them in the fridge for a day and open it and enjoy the following day. Thanks again for the recipe! I’ll soon be moving and will need it! I’d love to know if you ever make the ranch kind.
Just made this. Totally worthy of its name. I’m dreaming of dipping hunks of focaccia in this saucy goodness. Thank you!
[...] tender. Salad – romaine lettuce, red pepper, red lentil sprouts, shaved carrot, black pepper, Bitchin’ Sauce. Crispbread with melted Daiya Cheddar [...]