5 Must Have Condiments for Everyday Cooking

Do you find yourself needing to throw together quick, easy, and healthy meals without a lot of notice or prep time? I’ve found that a well-stocked refrigerator with these 5 Must Have Condiments for Everyday Cooking goes a long way in turning what could be boring week-night chicken into a delightful family meal or transforming an everyday sandwich into one that tastes and looks like it came straight from your favorite sandwich shop.

For our family, I’ve narrowed it down to 5 Must Have Condiments for Everyday Cooking: Dijon Mustard, Red Wine Vinegar, Hummus, Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette, and Frank’s Hot Sauce.

Having these 5 Must Have Condiments at your disposal will go a long way in adding pizzazz to a dish and will transform something from average to delicious with basically no effort. Check them out and give them a try with one or two of the recommendations below. 

Must Have Condiments #1: Dijon Mustard

This delicious item is tangy, vinegary, and adds so much life to every kind of dish: meats, salads, and even veggies. Here are tips and tricks for using it in your everyday cooking. 

1. Add a tablespoon of dijon mustard to meatballs or meatloaf to add some tang and non-spicy heat.
2. Combine one tablespoon of dijon mustard with four tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk them together for an easy and crowd-pleasing salad dressing.
3. Saute a green veggie of your choice – Brussel sprouts, broccoli, spinach, kale, etc. – in olive oil. Add a teaspoon or two of dijon mustard and ½ cup of chicken stock. Saute and allow the mixture to reduce until the chicken stock is almost gone. Your veggies will be tender and taste like an elegant side dish.

Favorite Brand: Simple Truth Organic Dijon Mustard

Must Have Condiments #2: Red Wine Vinegar

For a long time, I was very cautious about using vinegar in my cooking. If a recipe called for it, I’d add it of course, but it was never something I considered as an ingredient in my cooking… until recently and it makes a huge difference. It’s the thing that makes people ask, “what is that?!”

1. Add to any sandwich (Chicken Salad is a great option!). Ok, maybe not peanut butter and jelly… but any meat or all veggie sandwich. Just a couple of sprinkles in addition to your favorite sandwich toppings.
2. Add two or three dashes of red wine vinegar to any cream-based soup. The vinegar will cut through the fat allowing your palate to taste all the flavors but will add a tang that keeps you coming back for more.
3. Add a few dashes to any chicken or tuna salad for a bit of a mix-up. The red wine vinegar will balance out the creaminess and add an additional layer of flavor to your standard salad.

Favorite Brand: Simple Truth Organic Red Wine Vinegar

Must Have Condiments #3: Hummus

In our house, we always have hummus on hand. It’s a go-to dip for us (which we dip pretty much anything in) and our son, Hudson loves it. Here are ways we mix it up.

1. Add a scoop (however big or small is to your liking – about a tablespoon) to any salad. When you mix up your salad, it will add creaminess and an element of protein due to the chickpea base.
2. Serve as a side/condiment with weeknight chicken. Not sure what I mean by weeknight chicken? Weeknight chicken is any quick-fix meal that you pull out of the freezer and have no idea what to serve with. Add some veggies and hummus and you’ve got yourself a Mediterranean-style dinner.
3. Use it on a sandwich instead of (or in addition to) mayonnaise. It’s just enough of a mix-up that you’ll feel like you’re eating something very special. 

Favorite Brand: Boar’s Head with our go-to flavors are Spinach and Artichoke and Everything Bagel.

Must Have Condiments #4: Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette

My husband and I discovered Cindy’s Kitchen Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette a few years ago and it has become a kitchen staple. 

1. Assemble your favorite salad and use it as a salad dressing. It’s lite, flavorful, and something you’ll remember.
2. Use it as a marinade for chicken or pork. It’s a great option to spice up baked chicken or a pork chop. Try to allow at least one hour for the meat to marinade then sear in a cast-iron skillet or cook on the grill.
3. Have you found yourself with the makings of a pasta dish but then realize you have no sauce? Enter this delicious Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette! Pour over your favorite pasta and saute until fully coated. We find it best with spaghetti or angel hair pasta.

Favorite Brand: Cindy’s Kitchen Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette 

Must Have Condiments #5: Frank’s Hot Sauce

My husband is a spicy-food junkie. Spaghetti? Prefers it spicy. A sandwich? Loves some spice on that, too. So in our house, Frank’s serves as a bridge for adding spice to any dish for him, while I use it to mix up standard flavor profiles that are getting dull.

1. Add a dash of Frank’s to your favorite egg-based breakfast. I love it with both scrambled eggs and over-easy. 
2. Use Frank’s to make an easy buffalo sauce with butter and garlic powder. Coat your chicken or veggies with it for the main course or side dish mix-up. (Buffalo sauce: ½ cup Franks, 3 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon garlic powder; stir over medium heat to combine; about 5 minutes.)
3. It’s an excellent chili or pot roast topping. Similar in concept to red-wine vinegar, Frank’s is made with a good deal of vinegar and adds a tangy delightfulness to meat-heavy soups and roasts. 

Favorite Brand: Frank’s Original Hot Sauce