I’m a really big fan of condiments. I will often order a burger just to get my fill of ketchup, mustard and pickles. At home, I like to try and recreate those delicious sides or dips you get in restaurants. Turns out, it’s pretty easy! With the addition of an unexpected spice or sauce you likely have on hand, you can create bold new dips, sandwich spreads and more. Dig in.
Mayonnaise
- Add pesto: Blend 2 tablespoons of pesto into a cup of mayonnaise for delicious, Italian-style flavor. It’s yummy on your average turkey sandwich, or as a spread for a tomato and mozzarella panini.
- Add lemon juice & sea salt: Create bright, clean flavor when you squeeze a quarter of a lemon into a cup of mayo, plus a dash of sea salt. We love it on white fish, or as a dip for homemade French fries!
- Add garlic: Spice up your next cookout by serving garlic mayonnaise alongside your burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches in an old-fashioned squirt bottle. A teaspoon of minced garlic is all you need for 1 cup of mayonnaise.
Ketchup
- Add curry: It’s a strong, savory herb, so use it sparingly—just a pinch will add exotic layers of flavor to 1 cup of tomato ketchup.
- Add Frank’s Red Hot: What a spicy treat. I love mixing these two together for breakfast home fries. Also great for burgers, hot dogs and eggs. Yum.
Mustard
- Add rosemary: Like mustard, rosemary has a slightly bitter, aromatic quality, making the two perfect mates. For a gourmet sandwich spread, add 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary to ½ cup of Dijon mustard.
- Add applesauce: For Dijon or coarse-grain mustard, try mixing in a few spoonfuls of cinnamon applesauce. The unlikely ingredients combine to create a sweet, tangy sauce that’s delicious on pork and chicken.
- Add honey: Homemade honey mustard (whether with a spicy Dijon or yellow) is great on hot pressed or grilled sandwiches (ham and brie is a personal fave) or chicken skewers.
Butter
- Add berries: With a bit of butter and a few leftover berries, you can make something truly special. Drop a few berries into softened butter, then mash together. We love blueberry butter on a whole grain bagel or blackberry butter on toast.
- Add honey: A few drops of honey can give butter a whole new attitude—experience something heavenly when you melt it on just-baked bread or warm rolls.
- Add cinnamon: Ever had that whipped cinnamon butter from Texas Roadhouse? Enough said.
Sour Cream
- Add cilantro: This fresh, leafy herb has bold, distinct flavor, so sprinkle just teaspoon of chopped ½ cilantro into a cup of sour cream to instantly dress up fajitas or a taco salad.
- Add chipotle: Adding chipotle powder to sour cream creates a spicy-slash-smoky-slash-cooling effect that’s great for fish tacos, baked potatoes or nachos. Add a little at a time and taste test until you reach your heat preference.
- Add salsa: This mixture wows a crowd when used as a dip for tortilla chips. It’s so simple, yet sooooo good.
What’s your favorite homemade condiment? New recipes welcome!
