A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Chefs know that sometimes all it takes to make dull food taste delicious is the right condiments. You can brighten up the blandest dish with Tabasco sauce or a spoonful of mango chutney. Or add a bit of spice to your sandwich with honey mustard. And best of all, you can buy yummy condiments in jars and ready to eat, so it's easy to add zest to your food.
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What's a condiment?
Condiments are the extras we put on foods to complement their flavor and make them tastier. Usually a condiment isn't something you would eat by itself because of its intense flavor. Those spicy, sweet, savory, and hot condiments taste best when paired with a
carbohydrate like rice or a
protein like fish or lentils. Your family background and culture probably have a lot to do with which condiments you've got in the fridge. Here are some condiments you might want to try:
- ketchup
- vinegar
- hot sauce
- mustard
- chutney
- seasoned soy sauce
- mayonnaise
- wasabi
- horseradish
- fish sauce
- toasted sesame oil
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How do I use condiments?
When it comes to condiments, there's plenty of room to experiment. For instance, if you're bored with ketchup on your burger, try some chutney instead. This mix of fruits, vegetables, and spices is available in a variety of flavors, like apple-cranberry and mango. Hold the mayo next time you're making a sandwich, and try some mustard instead. But don't stop there. Check out flavor combinations like sun-dried tomato or champagne-garlic mustard. Or why not pour a little honey-orange or smoky garlic and ginger barbecue sauce over steamed veggies and a baked potato? But remember, a little goes along way. Condiments are supposed to enhance the flavor of food, not drown it. And condiments add some fat and
calories to your meal.
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