Essential Condiments for Vegetarians

Tofu, veggie burgers, and vegetables are a great start to any vegetarian meal, but there are other essentials that vegetarians must keep in their refrigerator at all times. Those essentials are condiments. Meat eaters usually keep the basics-ketchup and mustard, but vegetarians need a little bit more to spice up their cuisine.

So here is a list of what I consider to be the most essential condiments for vegetarians.

1) Soy Sauce:

I could not live without soy sauce. It is great on veggies. You can use it to create a stir fry, or just add a little on top to give your veggies some flavor after you put them on your plate. Soy sauce is also good for marinating tofu. You can soak the tofu in soy sauce before cooking it and your tofu will have a nice Asian taste to it. You can also scramble tofu with soy sauce and vegetables.

2) Mustard:

It doesn't matter what type of mustard it is, mustard is essential. I mix mustard into pasta salads, tofu egg salad, and I like to put it on veggie burgers. Get creative with mustard. There are so many types available at the store nowadays and it doesn't have any fat or very many calories. Mustard is the perfect complement to many vegetarian dishes.

3) Mayonnaise (Soy or regular)

Depending upon your status as a vegetarian, mayonnaise or soy mayonnaise is a staple for every vegetarian. It adds flavor to sandwiches and salads, and you can also create a tasty dip for raw vegetables. My favorite dips are the Hidden Valley Ranch dip packages mixed with mayonnaise. Soy mayonnaise tastes pretty good, so if you don't eat regular mayonnaise, don't be afraid to try the soy version.

4) Salsa

I think salsa is one of the absolute best condiments you can have in your refrigerator as a vegetarian. I use it to dip raw veggies in as a snack. Salsa is fat free and extremely low in calories, so load up. You can also use salsa to top a veggie burger. It's a great alternative to ketchup.

5) Horseradish

Horseradish can be bought in several different forms, but I use the bottled horseradish sauce that is made by Kraft. This version is not vegan, but it is so good! I like to dip veggies in it, and I also put it on my veggie burgers and veggie chicken burgers. For vegans, there is prepared horseradish that is meat and dairy free. I think that this type of horseradish adds a nice kick to a veggie stir fry or sauces.