5 multi-purpose kitchen condiments

Dijon mustard

This is a must in our kitchen, and in every professional kitchen I’ve worked in. Dijon is excellent on burgers, sandwiches and turkey sausages. It’s also a mainstay of vinaigrettes, and adds flavour to potato, pasta and rice salads. As well, you can use it as a rub on meats before grilling.

Pickles

My wife, Amanda, and I have many different preserves on hand in our kitchen, but our favourite is pickled cucumbers. We always have a jar in the fridge. They are great with cheese and crackers, and sliced to top a sandwich or burger. Or chop some up and add them to a potato salad for flavour and crunch.

Ketchup

In our house we use it as a base for a quick barbecue sauce, or with horseradish to make a cocktail sauce for shrimp. And, of course, the kids love it on burgers.

Low-fat mayonnaise

It’s a staple in tuna, chicken or egg salad. But you can also add a squeeze of lemon, grated garlic and a pinch of pepper to mayo for a simple aioli to go with fish or meat.

Maple syrup

This is great for more than pancakes! Use it to sweeten desserts, marinades, sauces and vinaigrettes.

Related:
• Our best healthy maple syrup recipes
• 8 healthy, lower-calorie sauces
• Recipe: Oil-free agave mustard