4 Easy Condiment Recipes To Elevate Your Campsite Cooking
So often, camping focuses on packing just the basics. What you bring is dictated by where your campsite is—front country vs. backcountry—and how you’re able to access it: pack-in/pack-out or via car—but we want to challenge the idea that cooking in the great outdoors has to be basic; that flavour has to come at the expense of convenience. And the first thing we’re taking aim at is the most basic of camp condiments: ketchup. Smokies and burgers are perennial favourites but there’s so much opportunity to elevate these humble staples to gourmet delights if we can just think outside the bottle. Before you head out on your next trip, whip up one of these three-ingredient (or fewer) recipes that bring big, bold flavour to the campsite.
Author’s note: the following recipes have been created to fit inside a 150-mL condiment sqeeze bottle. The volumes can be adjusted if ingredient ratios remain proportionate. Bon appétit!
1. Sesame BBQ Sauce
Jenn Hubbert
An ultra-savory spin on classic BBQ sauce that will flood your palate with umami.
What you’ll need:
- Sesame oil (toasted is preferred)
- Traditional barbeque sauce
- Soy sauce
Instructions: In a measuring cup, combine 20mL sesame oil, 100mL barbeque sauce and 25mL soy sauce. Whisk to mix. Funnel into a condiment bottle. Shake well before use to ensure the sesame oil is evenly distributed.
2. Sriracha Mayo
Jenn Hubbert
The perfect kick of spice but tempered with mayo for a less acidic, smoother finish.
What you’ll need:
- Sriracha sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Water
Instructions: In a measuring cup, combine 130mL mayonnaise with 20mL water and 20mL sriracha sauce. Whisk and sample. Add more sriracha until you reach your preferred spiciness. Funnel into a condiment bottle and secure tightly. Shake before use.
3. Hoisin Mayo
Jenn Hubbert
An unexpected combo that punches above its weight in flavour.
What you’ll need:
- Hoisin sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Seasoned rice vinegar
Instructions: Combine 100mL mayonnaise, 60 mL hoisin sauce and 15mL seasoned rice vinegar in a measuring cup. Whisk until smooth. Funnel into a condiment bottle. Shake before use.
4. Pesto Mayo
Jenn Hubbert
What you’ll need:
- Basil pesto*
- Mayonnaise
Instructions: In a measuring cup, combine 35 mL basil pesto and 130 mL of mayonnaise. Stir until smooth and transfer into a condiment bottle.
*Note: If purchasing, we prefer a refrigerated basil pesto commonly found in a deli to shelf-stable, jarred pesto. Better yet, make your own—it’s very easy. In a food processor add 250mL of unpacked basil leaves, 60 mL grated parmesan cheese, 60mL extra virgin olive oil, two cloves of minced garlic, 40 mL pine nuts (or chopped walnuts), a few cranks of ground pepper and kosher salt. Purée until smooth.
Need condiment bottles?
Good news: we’ve got them in stock on the explore e-store.
Our set includes three condiment bottles suited for liquid seasoning contained in a zippered mesh carrying case which stands upright for easy organization and no-mess storage. The pointy cap offers precise (and fun!) drizzling. In the “kitchen,” use for oils, vinegars, condiments, sauces, dressings or syrup. They’re also handy as hand or soap container-dispensers. A second mesh bag contains three round, tight-sealing spice containers perfect for powder seasonings like salt, sugar, pepper, herb blends and more. Use the drawstring and toggle to secure inside the easy-to-wash carrying case.
View the product listing here or find them included in the Complete Campsite Kitchen Bundle.
