So much of the food we eat would be nothing without the condiments to lift them up. That’s why so many people have these staples in their fridge at all times. But what if it was fast and simple to whip up fresh condiments at home?
These can often be healthier and tastier, but at the very least will seem really impressive, even though it’s easy! Here are four ways to make your favorite condiments at home.
Ketchup
You probably already have many of the necessary ingredients for homemade ketchup in your fridge and pantry. The sweet, tangy delight that has graced our fries and burgers is so much easier to make than you think. A general recipe would involve a can of tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, honey or sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and a few tablespoons of water if you want to adjust the viscosity. Mix everything in a bowl, taste and adjust, and you’re done!
Some recipes call for crushed tomatoes instead of tomato paste. This works, but it generally needs cooking to reduce the tomatoes down, whereas the tomato paste is a fast and efficient way to have ketchup on the table in minutes.
Mayo
Mayonnaise is the condiment that people either love or avoid like the plague. But making it from scratch can turn even the most skeptical into fans. Plus, you can add flavors like garlic or herbs to make it “fancy” (call it an aioli for even more points).
Make your mayo with one egg, some dijon mustard, a splash of lemon juice, and one cup of vegetable oil. Combine the first three ingredients in a blender. Then, with your blender running, drizzle in the oil slowly. That’s pretty much it; add flavors as you like!
Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue sauce is the king of summer. Slather it on grilled meat to give anything a subtle sweet, smoky, and spicy note. Barbecue sauce is actually incredibly easy to make—maybe even the easiest on this list.
That’s because it starts with ketchup! Add ketchup to a saucepan (it can be the homemade kind if you like), a splash more of apple cider vinegar, some brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and a touch of hot sauce to taste. Simmer the mixture for about fifteen minutes, and your BBQ sauce is BBQ ready.
Hot Sauce
Making your own hot sauce can be a point of pride! You can use whatever hot peppers you like in whatever amount you wish; that’s where you can create a really unique flavor profile. If you aren’t sure what to use, jalapenos and habaneros are go-to if you want to sweat!
Other than that, just add some vinegar, salt, garlic, onion, and potentially some fruit for flavor (we love mango with habaneros if you’re interested in some inspiration). Blend everything together until smooth. Pour your sauce into a bottle and let it sit for roughly a week to let the flavors get to know each other.
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