The perfect blend of herbs and spices may be the key to making delicious food, but condiments are like icing on the proverbial cake — they’re always nice to have. Condiments are the relish on your veggie dog, the ketchup on your black bean burger, the mustard for dipping your soft pretzel … You get the point. Condiments rock. Some staple condiments, like traditional butter and mayonnaise, are made using dairy and eggs, but today we’re able to find vegan versions in most grocery stores. Others, like vegan Worcestershire sauce, aren’t so easy to find, which is unfortunate because Worcestershire sauce takes savory sauces and marinades to the next level. Fortunately, it’s easy to make condiments at home.

Why make them at home? For one, you can choose what ingredients go into your own condiments, meaning you can alter the recipe to perfectly suit your tastes. No more buying a brand that doesn’t end up rocking your taste buds. The second reason is, you cut down on waste. And finally, how awesome is it to serve food you made yourself and top it with condiments that are made from scratch? It makes you feel like a domestic culinary wizard. On that note, let’s get into DIY-mode and talk about the good stuff: 15 condiments you can easily make at home.

1. Homemade Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce is a delicious, tangy condiment that’s full of flavor — unfortunately, most store-bought varieties you come across include anchovies in the ingredients. Enter this Homemade Worcestershire Sauce. It’s especially good in “meaty” vegan dishes like stews, gravies, chili, shepherd’s pie, veggie burgers, and meatless loaves, seitan pot roast, and more. Try adding a splash of this in marinades or anything you feel needs a little more savory flavor.

2. Homemade Sauerkraut

Adding fermented foods like sauerkraut into your diet is an easy way to improve digestion. This Homemade Sauerkraut is super easy to make, and after the initial preparation of the cabbage, it simply needs to be left alone to ferment and acquire flavor. Use this sauerkraut in your favorite vegan Reuben, a veggie hot dog, or in a sauerkraut slaw.

3. Super Simple 4-Ingredient Thai Chili Sauce

The peppers in this Super Simple 4-Ingredient Thai Chili Sauce may be tiny, but they are packed with some serious heat! This sauce is for those who are serious about hot, spicy foods. A delightful fusion of four very simple flavors — garlic, soy, lime, and red chili peppers  — come together to make a sauce worthy of keeping and making again and again!

4. Homemade Mayonnaise

By making your own mayo, you can control exactly what goes in it. Oh, and this Homemade Mayonnaise is way fresher than store-bought vegan mayo. That’s a bonus! Use this tasty, egg-free mayonnaise to make chickpea tuna salads, creamy dressings, spicy dips, and more.

5. Spicy ‘Honey’ Mustard

Who wants some Spicy “Honey” Mustard?!? We do! This awesome condiment is made by combining vegan mayonnaise with Dijon mustard, vinegar, spices, and brown rice syrup in place of honey. Drizzle this on carrot dogs, veggie burgers, and all your sandwiches and wraps for a kick of sweet, spicy flavor.

6. Homemade Smoky Tomato Ketchup

This Homemade Smoky Tomato Ketchup has a rich flavor that makes it the perfect accompaniment to veggie burgers and fries of all kinds. But, if smoky flavors aren’t your thing, the recipe is easily customized to your liking. After making this ketchup, you’ll probably never want to buy another bottle again!

7. Pickled Red Onions

These Pickled Red Onions have the ability to instantly transform a number of dishes. Throw them into creamy potato salads, tacos, or veggie burgers for a tangy burst of flavor. They also make a perfectly sweet companion for avocados. Use these pickled red onions however you see fit. The more you use them, the more ideas you’ll come up with.

8. Low-Fat Tofu Ranch Dip

This recipe for Low-Fat Tofu Ranch Dip is dairy-free and incredibly easy to make! It’s silky smooth and tangy, which is exactly what you need for dipping veggies, Buffalo cauliflower bites, and any spicy appetizer. All you do is add everything to a blender and let the magic happen!

9. Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Do you love to slather food barbecue sauce until is it unrecognizable in its original state? We sure do. This Homemade Barbecue Sauce is as simple and delicious as any store-bought sauce! It’s sweet without added sugar, tangy, and it has no added oil. Skewer some veggies, grill them, coat them in this sauce, then grill them again for sticky-sweet summer goodness!

10. 3-Ingredient Ssam Sauce

This easy-to-make Three-Ingredient Ssam Sauce contains no highly-processed ingredients or artificial flavors. It’s healthier than your average store-bought sauce and absolutely delicious with tempeh, veggies, tofu, and chips. It can even be used as a base for sandwiches or pizza.

11. Palm Oil-Free, Soy-Free Butter

This Palm Oil-Free, Soy-Free Butter is also 100 percent dairy-free! Pinch us, we must dreaming. This cashew-based butter is creamy and spreadable with just the right amount of salt and tanginess — and if you prefer your butter salt-free, you can leave it out! You’ll want to eat this butter with everything, like toast, bagels, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes … Literally, everything.

12. Sweet Zucchini Relish

Once you make this Sweet Zucchini Relish, you won’t be able to have a barbecue without it! This relish is sweet with a slight bite, chunky, and oh so delicious! Make it to top your veggie burgers and dogs, or even add some to macaroni or potato salad.

13. Raw Almond Parmesan

This Raw Almond Parmesan is one of the best discoveries ever. All you need to do is blend some raw almonds, add in some nutritional yeast, garlic powder, plus a little sea salt and you have yourself a nice healthy topping. And it’s so easy to make, too. It’ll add tons of flavor to your salads, soups, pastas, and so much more. Sprinkle away!

14. Cashew Tzatziki Sauce

Cashews are a staple for dairy-free sauces, as they make everything rich and creamy. They’re the key to this delicious Cashew Tzatziki Sauce that’s cool, herby, tangy, and everything you’d expect from a tzatziki sauce. Drizzle this over falafel in pita, veggie kebab sandwiches, mushroom gyros, or salads!

15. Green Chili Nacho Cheese

Is it a dip … a sauce … a condiment? Whatever you end up calling it, this Green Chili Nacho Cheese is incredibly versatile. Dip raw veggies or chips in it. Drizzle it warmed on top of steamed broccoli, cauliflower, or a medley of roasted vegetables. This recipe would make a great cheesy pasta sauce, tossed with cooked macaroni, topped with breadcrumbs, and baked until crispy. Got some left over? You could also try it on pizza, burritos, or scooped onto a burger or tofu dog. There are no bad ideas when it comes to this sauce.

Want more condiments and awesome DIY kitchen staples? Check out our vegan condiments recipes and our made from scratch recipes.

Lead image source: Smoky Tomato Ketchup