Category: Condiments

Condiments, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Dill Mustard

Kristine

Handcrafted condiments are a serious level up from store-bought renditions that are far less tasty, and are full of highly-processed ingredients like preservatives, food dyes, artificial flavors, and high fructose corn syrup. When I first started making my own mustards many years ago, I was delighted by how simple and truly delicious it was to whip this flavorful condiment at home. I haven’t bought mustard since!

Dill (Anethum graveolens) adds an interesting depth of flavor, reminiscent of anise and celery. It also improves the health benefits of this mustard. Dill seed is rich in antioxidants. It promotes digestion and helps ease stomachache. It is said to help boost the milk supply of lactating mothers.

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Condiments, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Lacto-Fermented Cacao Hot Sauce

Kristine

This hot sauce is reminiscent of mole poblano, a savory Mexican sauce made with cacao, chiles, and other spices. Authentic versions of this tasty sauce include 20+ ingredients and can take hours to put together. This rendition is much simpler. Lacto-fermenting the peppers adds depth of flavor without a lot of effort and after the initial wait for the peppers to ferment, the whole thing comes together in just a few minutes.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants. One study showed eating cacao boosts mood. It may also be beneficial to brain and heart health.

Lacto-fermented peppers are naturally rich in probiotics, which help to boost gut health and and help to lessen the negative health effects of environmental pollutants and other toxins that are present in food.

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Condiments, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Elderberry Barbecue Sauce

Kristine

Homemade condiments are a simple and flavorful way to improve any dish. Not only do they taste better than store-bought sauces, they’re also a much healthier option. Pre-packaged condiments typically contain questionable, highly-processed additives, which can have a number of detrimental effects on health.

Another perk of making your own condiments is that you can boost their flavor and health benefits by using ingredients that help to improve vitality.

This barbecue sauce is a lovely example of food as medicine. It’s made with delicious, flavonoid rich elderberries that have a number of beneficial properties. They are a good source of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. They also help to boost immune function.

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Condiments, Plant Wonder Collective, Recipes

Mint Yogurt Sauce

Kristine

Mint (Mentha spp.) is a well-known herb that is a common flavoring for gum, mouthwash, & toothpaste, as well as foods and beverages, like ice cream & tea.

If you have an established mint patch, you likely have an abundance of mint, and may be wondering how to utilize it. This sauce is super quick & easy to put together and is a tasty way to use fresh mint from the garden.

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Condiments, Recipes

Papaya Hot Sauce

Kristine

Store-bought hot sauces often contain added sugar, over-processed ingredients, and other more nefarious additives, including chemical preservatives & colorants. Homemade hot sauces, on the other hand, can be a great way to boost health while adding flavor & heat to your food. 

As of late, I’ve become quite the hot pepper enthusiast. I make a small batch of fresh hot sauce nearly every day. Typically, these are “five minute hot sauces,” which are incredibly quick & easy to make. This method involves tossing a fresh pepper (or two) and a few other whole food ingredients in a blender and whirring it all up. Super simple. 

This Papaya Hot Sauce is one of my favorites. It’s creamy, naturally sweet, and pairs well with a variety of dishes. It is also rich in nutrients and health boosting properties.

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Condiments, Recipes

Nourishing Herbal Vinegar

Kristine

Vinegar has long been utilized as a menstruum to extract the vitamins, minerals, and other healing constituents from herbs. This nourishing herbal vinegar is infused with a few of my favorite nutrient-packed weedy greens, and a bit of garlic, of course, for its lovely flavor and potent healing action.

Nettle (Urtica dioica) is well loved by herbalists for its strengthening and toning benefits for the entire body. It’s incredibly rich in important vitamins & minerals, including iron, calcium, potassium, silicon, magnesium, copper, manganese, zinc, chromium, and vitamins A, C, D, & K.

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Condiments, Fermented Foods, Recipes

Lacto-fermented Beet Hot Sauce

Kristine

Updated March 1, 2022

After swooning over a spicy, beet based salsa at the new Venezuelan restaurant in town, I knew I had to make my own version. Sweet and earthy beets pair perfectly with spicy aji peppers. Cilantro and garlic add depth and flavor to this tasty sauce. Salt helps to preserve it by promoting a beneficial environment for lactobacillus, the same bacteria that turns cabbage into sauerkraut.

This lacto-fermented condiment has quickly become my new obession. I love spooning a bit over fried eggs or stirring some into soup or pasta sauce. It would be delightful on nachos, pizzas, and burgers too. Mix it into homemade mayonnaise and you have a tasty dip for fresh veggies or fries or a spread for slathering onto wraps and sandwiches. The possibilities go on.

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Condiments, Recipes

Black Currant, Blueberry & Wild Bergamot Syrup

Kristine

Updated May 20, 2022

Summer is in full swing in Michigan, which means fresh berries and herbs are available in abundance. I love to make various preserves throughout the season so that I have a few jars to give as gifts to friends & family and some wonderful treats to enjoy myself during the long winter months.

This delicious, unique simple syrup combines some of my favorite flavors of these lovely summer months. Blueberries are a familiar favorite and the addition of black currants and wild bergamot gives this syrup a tasty twist.

Black currants are not extremely popular, at least in this area, and can be a bit tricky to find. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get them at a farmer’s market or find a fruit farm that will let you pick them yourself. We are fortunate enough to have a great orchard nearby where we can pick these tasty berries. If possible, growing your own is a great option. If you can’t find black currants and still want to make this recipe, just substitute an equal amount of blueberries. The currants add a unique flavor, but blueberry-bergamot syrup is also lovely.

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Condiments, Recipes

Homemade Barbecue Sauce  

Kristine

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Summer is the perfect time to go camping or have a cook out in the yard with your friends and family. Cooking outdoors gives you a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather and to add some delicious deep, smoky flavors to your food that are difficult to reproduce with your oven or stove top.

And what is a cook-out without condiments? This homemade barbecue sauce is a delicious alternative to conventional BBQ sauces that contain processed, artificial ingredients. It is smoky, sweet, and a bit spicy — everything a good BBQ sauce should be.

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Condiments, Recipes

Curry Ketchup Recipe

Kristine

This homemade ketchup is quick and easy to make and is definitely worth the effort. Whip up a batch before your next cookout to impress your friends. After all, nothing screams gourmet like handcrafted condiments.

The best homemade ketchup is made by cooking down ripe, fresh tomatoes for 10-12 hours until they turn into a thick sauce. But, most of time tomatoes aren’t in season (at least here in Michigan!) and sometimes you don’t have half a day to make ketchup. So, in those cases, you cheat a little and use organic tomato paste. The flavor will be just as rich and tomatoey and this little trick will definitely save you a lot of time!

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