Going paleo for a lot of people is a matter of scale. Because it’s not really a social or philosophical movement, there’s no pressure if you want to enjoy a few grain-based holiday dishes with your family or occasionally enjoy a bready, cheesy pizza but there are also great paleo alternatives for almost every classic recipe. Whether you’re a hardcore paleo adherent or just like to go all-paleo some days, it helps to have fresh, natural alternatives for classic condiments. After all, what’s a nice juicy paleo hamburger without all your favorite fixings? If you enjoy cooking in the paleo style and want to make your everyday meals more complete, try these tasty paleo condiment recipes.
Simple Paleo Ketchup
Ketchup is a staple for a lot of people and plenty of paleo foods are great with it. Almost anything you can do with a potato is tasty with ketchup, as is anything you choose to batter and/or fry. If ketchup was a major part of your childhood, chances are you like it with a lot of things but modern storebought ketchup is not as simple as it could be including preservatives and corn syrup. Instead, make your own at home to dip your potato wedges in.
Ingredients
- 6 oz tomato paste or diced and stewed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp vinegar and/or lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp dry mustard
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 pinch cloves
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- 1/8 cayenne pepper (optional)
To make the ketchup, whisk your ingredients together thoroughly and pour into a sealable container. Refrigerate overnight to let the flavors blend and deepen. There are a lot of different flavors of ketchup (or katsup) so feel free to go with your instincts and try a few experimental recipes to find your favorite.
Homemade Paleo Mustard
Mustard is an acquired taste but for anyone who’s acquired it, we tend to like it strong and zesty. If you’re one of those people who finds a way to try mustard with everything, now is your chance to start specializing your mustard recipe as well. You don’t even need to refrigerate it.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mustard powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice and/or vinegar
Combine the ingredients well and let it sit on the counter. After about 15 minutes the mustard will set but may continue to get hotter for several days or until you put it into the refrigerator. Mustard is a great recipe to experiment with because there are already so many variations including whether or not you choose to include the seeds.
Fresh Paleo Mayonaise
Finally, there’s nothing to balance the zest of ketchup and mustard than a little creamy mayo, which can also fill the place of cheese in a burger if you’ve given up dairy. Mayonaise is actually a surprisingly simple to make.
Ingredients
- 2 egg yolks
- 3 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
Start by mixing the egg yolks and 1 tsp of lemon juice together in a bowl, then use a small blender or steady whisking to start making an emulsion with the oil. Keep whisking or mixing the yolks as you dribble in the oil. Make sure the mixture doesn’t separate and add the oil as slowly as you need to. When all the oil is mixed in and the emulsion is created, it will thicken and you can add the rest of your flavors. Season to taste and keep the leftovers in the fridge!
The condiments you love are only a quick ingredient mix away from being completely paleo. Whether you’re trying to ditch the preservatives, lose weight, or just love the meat and veggie focus, enjoy your favorite meals and snacks with these classic paleo condiments.