condiments

condiments

10 Mouthwatering Ways to Use Mayonnaise

Hellmann's mayonnaise is celebrating 100 years of its top-secret vinegar, egg, and oil recipe, and the company has launched its biggest ever campaign, beginning today, which will feature everything from the world's largest picnic table to recipes developed by Mario Batali.
Recipes With Mayonnaise

Hellmann's mayonnaise is celebrating 100 years of its top-secret vinegar, egg, and oil recipe, and the company has launched its biggest ever campaign, beginning today, which will feature everything from the world's largest picnic table to recipes developed by Mario Batali.

We're happy to join in on the occasion, as some of our favorite foods just wouldn't be the same without a jar of mayo. Click through our slideshow, and be ready for your mouth to water. From classic applications like deviled eggs to out-of-the-ordinary ones like artichoke dip-stuffed mushrooms, these recipes will remind even the most mayo-adverse that we could all use a little more of the creamy condiment in our lives.

cooking tips

A Common Condiment You Should (but Probably Don't) Refrigerate

Imagine this scenario: you have just sat down to a beautiful plate of french toast and begin to pour sticky maple syrup over the stack, when out plops a funky black lump from the bottle.

Imagine this scenario: you have just sat down to a beautiful plate of french toast and begin to pour sticky maple syrup over the stack, when out plops a funky black lump from the bottle. This picture-perfect moment is ruined, and you can't help but leap back from the table from shock and disgust. What the heck could be growing in the bottle?

This not-so-pleasant predicament actually happened to me, so I'm sharing my learnings with you. Maple syrup, as it turns out, should always be refrigerated upon opening, otherwise you could wind up with the situation I just described, with mold growing inside the bottle. Personally, I have never refrigerated any sugary syrups (agave, honey, brown rice syrup), so I can't believe I've lived this long not refrigerating maple syrup. While some claim you can scrape off the mold and boil the syrup to kill the remaining strands of bacteria, I prefer to live by the mantra "When in doubt, toss it out."

Can you relate to this experience? Did you know to refrigerate maple syrup?

recipes

Better-Than-Basic (but Just as Easy) Walnut Pesto

Until my late teens, I incorrectly assumed that classic pesto got its backbone from walnuts.

Until my late teens, I incorrectly assumed that classic pesto got its backbone from walnuts. This notion came from years spent as a small child helping my step-grandmother, Grenelle, blitz up batch after batch. Every Summer she'd harvest her backyard basil crop, and we'd spend afternoons tucking away containers of walnut-studded pesto in her basement freezer to enjoy year-round. Most (if not all) was enjoyed simply — with a platter of saltine crackers, ham, and cheese — though throughout my youth, I shunned pesto for its pungent odor and suspect color.

Years later, after I realized the error of my ways, I dived into a passionate love affair with all things pesto. I called Grenelle for her recipe, remembering the pesto's legion of household fans. I scribbled down the recipe on scrap paper, where it lived for many years, splattered with olive oil. Then one day, while flipping through a tattered copy of the Silver Palate Cookbook, I learned her secret.

She may not have invented this recipe, but today I still consider it Grenelle's pesto. Though pine nuts star in the classic Genovese version, to this day I prefer pesto made with walnuts, as the delicate flavor of pine nuts can get lost amongst the assertiveness of parmesan and raw garlic. Chances are, this version will make you a walnut pesto convert.

Get the zesty recipe.

Cooking Basics

10 Condiments You Should Stock in Your Pantry

With the right condiments, you can whip up gourmet, restaurant-quality dressings, marinades, and sauces in a snap.

With the right condiments, you can whip up gourmet, restaurant-quality dressings, marinades, and sauces in a snap. These 10 condiments are tried and true, but if you want to branch out, we've also pinpointed some of the most worthy brands you might not be familiar with. Apple cider vinegar, tahini, and Japanese mayonnaise are just a few items you should own if you don't already. To find out why, keep reading.

taste test

Taste Off! Spicy Ketchups

We're seeing a new food trend heat up the condiment aisle: spicy ketchups.

We're seeing a new food trend heat up the condiment aisle: spicy ketchups. In less than a month, three ketchup companies have sent over their spiced varieties: Sir Kensington's Spiced Ketchup ($7), Solutions Condiments Hot Tomato Ketchup ($5), and Heinz Tomato Ketchup Blended With Real Jalapeño ($5). We put them to the test in a taste-off to determine the best spicy ketchup. Did the spiciest win? Or did the most ketchup-tasting one win in a landslide? See the results.

taste test

Taste Test: Heinz Jalapeño Ketchup

A while back, we tried Heinz's balsamic ketchup and were not that impressed, but we wondered how the new, limited-edition Heinz Tomato Ketchup Blended With Real Jalapeño ($5) would fare.

A while back, we tried Heinz's balsamic ketchup and were not that impressed, but we wondered how the new, limited-edition Heinz Tomato Ketchup Blended With Real Jalapeño ($5) would fare. It's available for early purchase via Heinz's Facebook page until Dec. 7 and will be released in stores early next year. Should you dip your fries into this spicy condiment or stick to the original? Find out what our taste-testers thought.

fast and easy

The Basics: Italian Salsa Verde

Aside from an ice-cold refreshment, nothing goes better with Summer grilling than an array of fresh sauces and homemade condiments.


Aside from an ice-cold refreshment, nothing goes better with Summer grilling than an array of fresh sauces and homemade condiments. It's true: a brushstroke of tangy barbecue sauce on ribs or a dollop of aioli on a burger adds a mouthfeel and an element of excitement to basic Summer staples like grilled meats and vegetables.

Italian salsa verde is, in my opinion, the most underrated of condiments. It's oft-overlooked in favor of its tomatillo-based Mexican counterpart, but the ingredients are entirely different. Think of this version as a more piquant, less garlicky rendition of chimichurri — a little drizzle colors any food with a brightness that's not unlike a ray of sunlight on a breezy Summer day.

Try this five-minute sauce for yourself, and you'll see that its great fresh-pulled mozzarella, just-picked heirloom tomatoes, grilled pattypan squash, charred steak, barbecued chicken — heck, probably your old leather boot. See for yourself when you read more.

taste test

Taste Test: Heinz Ketchup Blended With Balsamic Vinegar

We've definitely busted out the grill to barbecue a ton of recipes this Summer, so naturally it's only fair that we would cover awesome condiments, too.

We've definitely busted out the grill to barbecue a ton of recipes this Summer, so naturally it's only fair that we would cover awesome condiments, too. Sure, you can serve classic Heinz ketchup at your barbecue, but the iconic American ketchup company released a Heinz Ketchup Blended With Balsamic Vinegar ($3) that might be worth putting out on the table. We tried the ketchup with fries, deliberated, and drew our conclusions about the unusual flavor.

The promise: "Instead of white vinegar, this version of our classic Ketchup is blended with balsamic vinegar for a more sophisticated taste."

See the rating and what we thought when you read more.

fast and easy

Presto Spinach Pesto

Everyone's enjoyed a pesto made with basil, but there's no reason to limit your knowledge of the condiment: you actually can make it with a variety of greens like spinach, arugula, and mint or other herbs such as cilantro or parsley.

Spinach PestoEveryone's enjoyed a pesto made with basil, but there's no reason to limit your knowledge of the condiment: you actually can make it with a variety of greens like spinach, arugula, and mint or other herbs such as cilantro or parsley. One of my favorites is spinach pesto; it works great on pasta, pizza, and as a spread for sandwiches.

The ingredients are simple: spinach, roasted pine nuts (although other nuts will work), and a little bit of grated Parmesan. The key here, though, is a really great olive oil; I use Sciabica's Mission Spring Harvest for its light, slightly buttery flavor. First, add all of the solid ingredients to a food processor on low, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil.

Keep your pesto in the fridge and use it over the next couple weeks in a wide range of delicious pesto recipes (if you won't be using all of the pesto, just place it in a jar and cover the top in olive oil to avoid oxidation). Still worried you won't use it all? Freeze it in an ice-cube tray for even smaller easy-to-use servings. Don't just limit your pesto to basil and keep reading for this incredibly easy recipe.

recipes

Summer Grillout Condiments Galore

Besides sunny skies and record-high temperatures, what else is in the forecast for this coming week?

Besides sunny skies and record-high temperatures, what else is in the forecast for this coming week? We predict hamburgers and hot dogs — lots of 'em! — with a light sprinkling of house-made condiments for an extra special touch. From DIY ketchup to homemade flavored mayonnaise, we've got the dressing you're looking for to take your grilling to the next level.


Romesco

Ketchup

Barbecue sauce

Harissa

Flavored mayo

Mustard