My neighbor's kid told me his dad's 'secret recipe' is just ketchup and soy sauce

I was outside yesterday and the little guy from next door was telling me about his dad's amazing cooking. He said, with total seriousness, 'He puts the red sauce and the brown sauce together and it makes magic.' I figured out he meant ketchup and soy sauce. I tried it tonight on some plain rice with a fried egg, and you know what? For a sauce made from two of the cheapest condiments in my fridge, it wasn't half bad. It's salty, a little sweet, and costs maybe ten cents a serving. It got me thinking about how many other 'magic' sauces are hiding in plain sight, made from stuff we already have. What's your go-to cheap sauce or seasoning trick that feels fancier than it is?

3 comments

3 Comments

leo6121mo ago

That mayo-sriracha mix is a classic for a reason. It works on everything from fries to a boring sandwich. You can build on it too, like adding a tiny bit of honey for sweet heat, or some lemon juice to cut through the richness. It feels like a real sauce but takes ten seconds to make.

jake_owens1mo ago

My grandma swore by mixing mayo and sriracha for a quick spicy dip.

the_dylan28d ago

Your grandma knew what was up. That combo is dead simple but punches way above its weight class. Can't go wrong with a classic that actually works.