Blackberry Five Spice Sauce
This sweet-and-spicy Asian sauce is delicious with grilled pork tenderloin, chicken or duck.

Ingredients
- ½ (120 ) apple cider vinegar
- 6 (860 ) blackberries
- 1 (2 ) cinnamon stick, or 1 teaspoon ground
- 9 (90 ) deglet noor dates, pitted, or ⅓ cup date syrup
- 2 Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 black peppercorns
- 1 (240 ) extra virgin olive oil, optional
Directions
- Place vinegar, blackberries, cinnamon stick, dates, five-spice powder, and peppercorns into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 5-6 minutes.
- If adding olive oil, lower machine speed to Variable 3. Remove lid plug and slowly pour oil into the container, allowing it to emulsify. Secure lid plug and blend an additional 5 seconds.
Chef's Notes
Try adding additional fresh blackberries after the blend is complete and pulsing them in for a textured sauce with pops of fresh blackberry.
Ingredients
- ½ (120 ) apple cider vinegar
- 6 (860 ) blackberries
- 1 (2 ) cinnamon stick, or 1 teaspoon ground
- 9 (90 ) deglet noor dates, pitted, or ⅓ cup date syrup
- 2 Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 black peppercorns
- 1 (240 ) extra virgin olive oil, optional
Directions
- Place vinegar, blackberries, cinnamon stick, dates, five-spice powder, and peppercorns into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 5-6 minutes.
- If adding olive oil, lower machine speed to Variable 3. Remove lid plug and slowly pour oil into the container, allowing it to emulsify. Secure lid plug and blend an additional 5 seconds.
Chef's Notes
Try adding additional fresh blackberries after the blend is complete and pulsing them in for a textured sauce with pops of fresh blackberry.
Ingredients
- ¼ (60 ) apple cider vinegar
- 3 (430 ) blackberries
- 1 stick, 1 inch, or ½ teaspoon ground
- 3 (30 ) deglet noor dates, pitted, or 3 tbsp. date syrup
- 1 Chinese five-spice powder
- 1 whole black peppercorns
- ½ (120 ) extra virgin olive oil, optional
Directions
- Place vinegar, blackberries, cinnamon stick, dates, five-spice powder, and peppercorns into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 5-6 minutes.
- If adding olive oil, lower machine speed to Variable 3. Remove lid plug and slowly pour oil into the container, allowing it to emulsify. Secure lid plug and blend an additional 5 seconds.
Chef's Notes
Try adding additional fresh blackberries after the blend is complete and pulsing them in for a textured sauce with pops of fresh blackberry.
Ingredients
- ¼ (60 ) apple cider vinegar
- 3 (430 ) blackberries
- 1 stick, 1 inch, or ½ teaspoon ground
- 3 (30 ) deglet noor dates, pitted, or 3 tbsp. date syrup
- 1 Chinese five-spice powder
- 1 whole black peppercorns
- ½ (120 ) extra virgin olive oil, optional
Directions
- Place vinegar, blackberries, cinnamon stick, dates, five-spice powder, and peppercorns into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
- Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 5-6 minutes.
- If adding olive oil, lower machine speed to Variable 3. Remove lid plug and slowly pour oil into the container, allowing it to emulsify. Secure lid plug and blend an additional 5 seconds.
Chef's Notes
Try adding additional fresh blackberries after the blend is complete and pulsing them in for a textured sauce with pops of fresh blackberry.