CONDIMENTS, HOT SAUCE & SALSA
With the number of brands of all-natural ketchup and mustard out there you'd think it would be easy to find a few condiments without hidden MSG or sugar. Unfortunately it's not! Here are a few of our favorites.
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Salsa is also a challenge when it comes to avoiding sugar and processed free glutamate. Few salsas have Before Natural ingredient lists and even then I've had problems with some salsas that should have been fine. Home-made salsa is so delicious if you have the time, otherwise I'll list a few that I've been fine with.
Before Natural hot sauce is easier to find, and as long as the ingredient list is fine, they usually don't contain hidden MSG.
Condiments:
Annie's Naturals Organic Ketchup
Ingredients: *TOMATO PASTE, *DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, WATER, *CANE SUGAR, SEA SALT, *ONION, *ALLSPICE, *CLOVE. *ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
This ketchup is AMAZING. I haven't found any other ketchup that tastes as good, or any other ketchup that has no processed ingredients. It is made with cane sugar, so if you're avoiding sugar entirely it's not for you. This is one of the very few exceptions we make to our no refined sugar rule because there really is no alternative to good ketchup, and at least it's Before Natural otherwise!
Simply Natural Organic Yellow Prepared Mustard
Ingredients: WATER, ORGANIC WHITE VINEGAR, ORGANIC MUSTARD SEEDS, SALT, ORGANIC TURMERIC, ORGANIC PAPRIKA
There are a few varieties of yellow mustard out there that are "before natural". The Simply Natural and Annie's Naturals versions are both awesome.
Maison Orphée Organic Old-Fashioned Mustard
Ingredients: WATER, ORGANIC MUSTARD SEEDS, ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, SEA SALT
This dijon mustard is fantastic and having dijon mustard on hand opens up a million possibilities for simple, amazing, before "natural" recipes!
Indian Pickles:
Camel Mango Slice Pickle
Ingredients: MANGO, SALT, COTTON SEED OIL, CHILLY POWDER, VINEGAR, FENUGREEK, MUSTARD AND GREEN CHILLY
This is one of our favorite mango pickles and it seems to be very widely available (even at Walmart). It does not contain any ingredients that are even questionable and it is delicious! It looks like it should be spicy from the ingredients but it's quite mild. Our 3 year old especially loves this one! Note: they have a few versions with varying spiciness, all of which look very similar. We've tried several of them and love them all so far, but if you're not into spicy food, choose the plain one or the one with lemon.
Mitchell's Mango Pickle in Oil (and other Mitchell's Indian Pickles)
Ingredients: MANGOES, VEGETABLE OIL, CHILLI POWDER, CUMIN SEEDS, ANISEED, KILONJI, FENUGREEK, MUSTARD, SALT, ACETIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE
I'm including this pickle here because even though it does contain sodium benzoate, it contains no added sugar and no processed free glutamate, and is absolutely delicious. This authentic mango pickle is the perfect accompaniment to Indian dishes and comes with a kick! Mitchell's makes a variety of Indian pickles that have all ingredients listed and do not contain sugar or hidden MSG, but this is one of our favorites.
Hot sauce:
Tropical Pepper Co. XXtra Hot Habanero
Ingredients:
This hot sauce is amazing, one of our favorites!
Hot Mama's Mango Pineapple Splash
Ingredients: MANGO NECTAR, PINEAPPLE JUICE, DISTILLED VINEGAR, SCOTCH BONNET PEPPERS, HOT PEPPERS, GARLIC, TUMERIC
This hot sauce brings sweetness and spice to the table, with a tropical twist!
Grace Hot Pepper Sauce
Ingredients: PEPPERS, WATER, VINEGAR, SALT
About as simple as it gets, with a good balance of flavors!
Martelli Hot Pepper Cream
Ingredients: HOT PEPPERS, SUNFLOWER OIL, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, GARLIC, CAPERS, SALT
This delicious hot pepper sauce is extremely flavorful and versatile!
Salsa:
Neil Brothers Salsa
Ingredients (Mercifully Mild version): TOMATOES, WATER, ONIONS, GREEN PEPPERS, TOMATO PASTE, CIDER VINEGAR, SEA SALT, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, JALAPENO PEPPERS, CONCENTRATED LIME JUICE, CILANTRO.
This is our newest go-to salsa. We like the spicier versions the best (just double check the ingredients because some of them have ingredients that are not Before Natural).
Bandito's Salsa - Hot and Spicy
Ingredients: ORGANIC DICED TOMATOES, ORGANIC TOMATO PUREE (WATER, ORGANIC TOMATO PASTE), ORGANIC GREEN BELL PEPPERS, ORGANIC GRAIN VINEGAR, ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, ORGANIC JALAPENO PEPPERS, SALT, ORGANIC GARLIC, ORGANIC CILANTRO.
This is one of my favorite salsas, and it is nice and thick and chunky. Before you buy it though, I just noticed that the ingredients may have changed and I'm not sure what "grain vinegar" is. I have sent an email to try to find out and will update this when I hear back! The medium variety has similar ingredients if you like your salsa a little milder.
Simply Natural Organic Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Ingredients: ORGANIC TOMATO PUREE, ORGANIC FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES, ORGANIC FIRE ROASTED CORN, ORGANIC ONIONS, ORGANIC BLACK BEANS, ORGANIC ROASTED ONIONS, ORGANIC WHITE VINEGAR, ORGANIC JALAPENO PEPPERS, ORGANIC ROASTED MINCED GARLIC, SALT, ORGANIC CHILI POWDER, ORGANIC CILANTRO, ORGANIC MARJORAM, ORGANIC THYME.
If you want a salsa that's a little different but still delicious and thick and chunky, just asking to have a corn chip dipped in it, try this one!
Herdez Salsa Casera
Ingredients: TOMATOES, ONIONS, SERRANO PEPPERS, IODIZED SALT, CILANTRO
Very good traditional salsa. If you're looking for a thick and chunky salsa this one is NOT it, but for using as a sauce on tacos or fajitas it is great. Herdez Salsa Verde used to also be Before Natural so I was very disappointed to find out they now add xanthan gum. Check the ingredients on the Salsa Casera before buying it in case they have also changed.