Favorite Store-Bought Condiments
It used to be true that homemade was always better than store-bought. But I’ve found so many exceptions to this rule! Now I delight in the hunt for a new-to-me food made by someone who really cares about sourcing high-quality ingredients. Here are some of my favorite store-bought condiments, and I’d love to know yours:
Mother-in-Law’s gochujang – Not too hot, made using time-honored traditional methods, and sold as a concentrated paste. I like to thin it with a splash of rice vinegar and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil for a sauce that’s so good on steamed rice or with roasted pork in lettuce cups.
IASA hot peppers in olive oil – Made from peppers grown in Salerno, Italy, this spicy and slightly sweet condiment is delicious dabbed onto pizza or stirred into pasta sauce.
Fly by Jing Sichuan chili crisp – This spicy, garlicky, umami-rich combination of lip-numbing Sichuan peppercorns and fiery chile peppers is 100% all-natural and made with the best ingredients.
Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce – It’s teriyaki-ish, non-GMO certified, preservative free, vegan, and based on a cherished family recipe passed down from the founder’s bachan (meaning granny in Japanese).
Jacobsen Salt Co. hot honey – American honey infused with Scorpion chile peppers (you can guess how hot those are!) and just a touch of vinegar. I love it with fried chicken.
Tia Lupita hot sauce – Another wonderful sauce company whose recipe came from a talented woman in the family—in this case the founder’s mother, who is known as Tia Lupita. Gluten free, no added sugar, and all non-GMO ingredients.
Belazu rose Harissa – A favorite of Yotam Ottolenghi’s, this harissa tastes complex and layered. The rose petal flavor is unique and subtle, but what I love even more is the thick spreadable texture.
