30 Different Types Of Condiments – Cooking guide

Condiments are the perfect complement to a meal. They can be used as an ingredient, or simply enhance the flavor of other foods.  

Condiments come in many forms and flavors- mustard, ketchup, hot sauce, mayonnaise and relish are just a few examples. But there is much more variety than this list could hope to cover! This article will explore 30 different types of condiments that you may not have heard about before. 

1. Garlic Salt

Garlic salt is simply granulated garlic mixed with regular salt – it is used to flavor foods such as french fries and grilled meat. It can also be used in a variety of recipes.

There are two main types of garlic salt: powder and flake forms.

Powder form

Powder form has granules that are typically between 3 and 4 millimeters in diameter. It generally has more moisture content and absorbs more juices during cooking- meaning they will likely have less flavor. They can also become clumpy over time and will need to be scraped/reconstituted before use.

Flake forms

Flake garlic salt, on the other hand, is made by placing dehydrated garlic into a blender or food processor, combining it with canola oil, then grinding the mixture until small flakes of "salt" are formed.  This "salt" is then mixed with regular salt, giving it a very fine consistency.

Flake forms will lose flavor faster than powder because of their lower moisture content, however they can easily be reconstituted by adding some oil to your mixture.

Flake from garlic salt also has flavoring added for extra seasoning which makes them ideal in dishes where you want a little extra flavor, but not an overly salty taste.

Flake forms are also better for cooking because they stick to the food and can be fully dissolved when they come in contact with juices, oils or other liquids.

2. Wasabi Paste

This Japanese condiment is made from wasabi root that has been dried and then mixed with vinegar to make a paste. It is used like hot sauce, added to soups or as an ingredient on sushi.

3. Pickle Relish

While not technically a relish, pickle relish can be considered its own class or category of condiment because it comes in so many different varieties- to say nothing of the popularity of pickles!

There are two main types of relish: sweet and dill, each with a wide variety of flavors. Sweet varieties feature fruits such as apricots or grapes, while dill ones will taste more like spices and herbs- they can be made in a similar fashion to hot sauce.  

4. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce has a distinct, salty flavor that is derived from fermented soy beans. It's used in many Asian dishes as an ingredient or condiment and can be used for marinades, salad dressing and dipping sauces.

5. Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki sauce is a dark, sweet, thick sauce that has a strong taste and smell of alcohol (due to the fermentation that takes place). It's most commonly eaten with chicken- grilled or prepared in other ways.  

6. Worcestershire Sauce

This type of sauce is a little harder to define, but can be considered more of a flavor enhancer than a condiment.

Made from fermented anchovies and spices such as black pepper, allspice and cloves, it adds depth to recipes that may otherwise be lacking in flavor. Because of the fermented ingredient in this sauce, it can become moldy if stored improperly.

7. Crushed Red Peppers

Crushed red peppers are a spicy condiment.

The crushed red pepper has been added to enhance the taste of food items such as pasta sauce, pizza and tomato soup. It may be ground or whole and it has a high concentration of capsicum and Vitamin C.

8. Barbecue Sauce

Barbecue sauce is a tomato-based condiment with a variety of spices and flavors added to it. It's used as an ingredient or dipping sauce for chicken and other meats, and has been credited with boosting the taste and sales of many fast food chains across the world .  

9. Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is a thick condiment, served cold or at room temperature, with a mild flavor. It's made from eggs combined with oil and vinegar and some salt. In America it is usually done by whisking the egg yolks till fluffy along adding vegetable oil in a slow steady stream until the mixture becomes emulsified, which means that the oil is mixed in evenly. After this step, lemon juice and salt are added to taste.

You can also make mayonnaise by using a hand mixer or food processor; most home recipes call for olive oil, but veggie oils can be used as well.

10. Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is typically used as a topping for seafood. It's made from mayonnaise flavored with lemon juice, pickles, onions and other spices of choice.

Tartar sauce is used in several classic dishes such as tuna fish sandwiches and fried clams. Tartar sauce is used in virtually any preparation of fish or shellfish that needs a dash of lemon.

It can also be used in your salads as a dressing, or as dip for vegetable crudités.

11. Salsa

While originally from Mexico, salsa is popular across the world today. It's a liquid condiment with chopped tomatoes and onions that can be flavored with garlic, cilantro and chili peppers to taste. Salsa can be served hot or cold, as a salad dressing and to dip tortilla chips in. 

12. Pesto Sauce 

Pesto sauce is a condiment made from basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. It's traditionally put on pasta as a topping or served with fish, to be used more like tartar sauce. You can also use pesto instead of mayonnaise in your salads and sandwiches.

13. Hot Sauce

Hot sauce is a condiment made of pepper, vinegar and spices like cayenne or chili powder. It's used in many cuisines around the world. It can be found in almost any grocery store across America, and is often associated with Louisiana cuisine.  

14. Curry Sauce

Curry sauce is thick with the consistency of gravy or tomato paste and it has a mild heat to it- but some varieties can be quite spicy! The sauce is made from curry powder, onions and spices. It's most often eaten with chicken, rice and other Indian food items.

15. Radish Salt

Radish salt is a spice blend that you can make yourself with ingredients like garlic cloves, grated ginger root and crushed red pepper flakes. You mix it together in a food processor or blender and store it in an airtight container.  

16. Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki sauce is used as a dip for pita bread and a dip for raw vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and black olives. It's made from yogurt that has been mixed with lemon juice and garlic. You can also add olive oil if you want it to be thicker.

17. Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweet chili sauce is used as a dipping sauce or as an ingredient in many dishes. It's a mixture of sugar, vinegar and chili peppers that is thin like ketchup and has a sweet chili flavor to it.  

18. Dijon Mustard

Dijon mustard is made from ground mustard seeds, white wine, brown sugar, honey and other seasonings such as garlic or tarragon. It's used as a topping on many dishes, and often added to sandwiches. Dijon is used in a myriad of different recipes, from seafood to potatoes or meats.

19. Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin sauce is thick with the consistency of brown gravy. It's made from soybeans, garlic and chilies mixed with rice vinegar or white vinegar. It's often used in Chinese food, and you can add it to potatoes or rice dishes for a new flavor.

20. Horseradish Sauce

Horseradish is used mainly as a topping on certain meats that are done cooking, such as beef roast or steak. It can be eaten with eggs when they are hard boiled and served with breakfast meats. Horseradish is a root that can be grated into a thick liquid sauce for added flavor to many dishes.

21. Pea Pesto

Pea pesto is a green pesto sauce made from blanched peas, olive oil and basil leaves. The peas are puréed in the food processor to form a thick paste, which is then mixed with both olive oil and fresh basil leaves. You should store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator after you make it, where it will stay fresh for several days.

22. Tomato Jam

Tomato jam is a sweet condiment that's made from tomatoes and sugar, vinegar or other ingredients like cinnamon and clove. You can spread tomato jam on toast or crackers for breakfast or lunch in place of jelly. It can also be used as a glaze for chicken or on top of burgers and steaks.

23. Mushroom Gravy

Mushroom gravy is made from mushrooms, flour, butter and seasonings like salt, pepper and thyme or sage. The mushroom flavor can be quite strong depending on the variety you use. It's often served over meat.

24. Pimento Cheese Sauce

Pimento cheese is a spread made from cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and pimentos. It's often served as an appetizer or on crackers with added ingredients like garlic but you can also use it to top steaks, burgers or other main dishes for an extra flavor dimension.

25. Poblano Sauce

The poblano pepper comes in two forms, green and red, which are mild to moderate hot peppers. The sauce is created by roasting and then puréeing the peppers with a little bit of olive oil before adding ingredients like onions, garlic and chicken stock into the mixture.

It's used as a topping or filling for Mexican dishes and can be made in advance and frozen.

26. Pesto, Basil

Basil pesto is a sauce that's made from basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil. Sometimes Parmesan cheese is added to the mixture as well for extra flavor. The sauce isn't served by itself but it's often used as a topping for many dishes and is also used in cooking.

27. Fish sauce

Fish sauce is a salty condiment made from salted and fermented anchovies. It's used as an ingredient in many Asian dishes and it's created by letting the fish sit for months or years until the fermentation process takes place.  It's commonly used in the dishes of Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

28. Ghee

Ghee is a condiment that's made from butter and a milk product called buttermilk. It can be used on bread or added to vegetables for an extra flavor kick or sometimes it's eaten by itself with breadsticks as an appetizer.

29. Mango Chutney

Mango chutney is a sweet sauce that's made from mangoes, sugar and spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. The sauce can be used on top of chicken or pork as well as in addition to other main courses. It's also often served with Indian meals.

30. Honey Mustard

Honey mustard is a sweet and spicy condiment that's made from honey, dijon mustard and mayonnaise. It has a yellow or brown color with an almost gooey consistency. The sauce can be used on sandwiches, tossed with green salads or as a dip for cut up vegetables.

FAQs

- What are the best condiments?

The best condiments are the ones that you enjoy eating the most. If you like spicy foods, then spicy condiments will be better for you than bland or mild ones. You can also try as many different types of sauces and dressings until you find some that you really enjoy.

- What are condiment packets?

Condiment packets are small containers of sauce or condiment that are found in fast-food restaurants and diners. They typically contain ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise or some other kind of dressing.

These packets are quite convenient when you're eating out but they can also be used at home if you don't have a lot of time to prepare your food with sauces or dressings.

- What are the most popular condiments?

Some of the most popular condiments are chili, soy sauce, mustard and mayonnaise. These ingredients can be added to many main dishes as a way to enhance their taste rather than just eating them on their own.

Chili is often used on top of hotdogs and hamburgers while soy sauce is used as a marinade for meats such as chicken.

Mustard has the most diverse uses because it goes well on a variety of foods like sandwiches, hotdogs and hamburgers or can be added to vegetables in order to create extra flavor for them.

Mayonnaise is also commonly used to top salads or sandwiches and can also be used as a dip for vegetables.

- What is the difference between mayo and mustard?

Mayonnaise and mustard are both food condiments that have a wide range of uses and purposes. For instance, mayonnaise is often used in cooking because it has a creamy texture and helps to hold other ingredients together like salad dressings or dips. 

Mustard can be used in addition to sandwiches as a spread for breads or it can be added to salads in order to add a tangy flavor to them.

Conclusion

There are many different types of condiments that can be used in a variety of ways. From spicy to sweet, every kind has its own unique flavor and texture, which means there is something for everyone out there! Whether you want pesto on your pasta or honey mustard as an appetizer, just remember that the best sauces for you will depend on what type of food you like most.   With so many options available it's easy to find one that suits your palate perfectly.

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