Are your favorite go-to condiments becoming boring, bland and tired? While ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise are still the condiments of choice in most households, the recent Sriracha craze and the rising popularity of hot sauces hint that the American palate may be craving a major flavor upgrade.
Incorporating some acidic, salty, spicy or sweet notes can elevate even the simplest condiment to the next level of culinary stardom, and you probably have everything you need in your refrigerator or pantry to do just that. Focus on the three most popular condiments — ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise (or your favorite vegan equivalent) — and add in pantry and spice-drawer staples. What do you wind up with? More flavor, more flexibility and more bang for your buck.
Condiments are designed to impart flavor that enhances other foods. With a little creative combining, you can turn “same old, same old” into “on point.” Even a simple burger and fries can become a gourmet dining experience with a few of these quick tricks.
Ketchup
All ketchup is not created equal. There are choices galore to suit every taste and dietary need. Choose gluten-free ketchup, sugar-free ketchup or even Nomato Ketchup, for those who don’t eat tomatoes but love the ketchup experience. Pick your base and get mixing.
Chipotle-lime sauce - ketchup + fresh lime juice + cumin + chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Sweet & sour - ketchup + apricot jam + cider vinegar
Curry dip sauce - ketchup + curry paste + ginger + mayonnaise
Raspberry BBQ sauce - ketchup + red wine vinegar + raspberry jam + garlic powder
Sesame ketchup - ketchup + toasted sesame oil + rice vinegar + tamari or coconut aminos
Mustard
Looking for a spicy kick to add to your meals? Bring on the mustard. Preparing mustard by grinding spicy mustard seeds and combining them with vinegar or wine actually goes all the way back to Roman times. Today, there are many mustard varieties to choose from, including Dijon, Bavarian-style mustard, yellow mustard, beer mustard, brown mustard and Creole mustard.
Zippy vinaigrette - grainy mustard + olive oil + cider vinegar + honey
Spiced peach glaze - Dijon mustard + peach preserves + tamari + cayenne pepper
Jalapeno dipping sauce - brown mustard + jalapeno relish
Wasabi mustard - grainy mustard + wasabi powder + splash of dark beer
Mustard BBQ sauce - mustard + brown sugar + vinegar + honey + Worcestershire sauce
Mustard drizzle - Dijon + Grainy mustard + mayonnaise + lemon juice + chives
Mayonnaise
Whether you’re looking for a simple sandwich spread or just need to add creaminess to a sauce or dip, mayonnaise does the trick. Perhaps you’ve been using the same brand for years or are looking for a specialty option; either way, with eggless, gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free mayo varieties available, you’re covered.
Creamy Sriracha - mayonnaise + Sriracha + lemon juice + ground black pepper
Maple-mustard sauce - mayonnaise + maple syrup + Dijon mustard
Tomato-basil spread - mayonnaise + sun-dried tomato + basil + garlic powder + splash balsamic vinegar
Miso-ginger sauce - mayonnaise + sweet white miso + pickled ginger + honey or agave
Spicy Korean mayonnaise - mayonnaise + Gochujang + lime juice
Horseradish mayonnaise - mayonnaise + grainy mustard + horseradish + pepper
Tartar sauce - mayonnaise + chopped pickles + capers + lemon + Dijon mustard + hot sauce
