When consuming dry foods that require a wet touch, we often reach out for the gooey, smooth sauce and ketchup that add a distinct flavor to the food and satisfy our palette. When vegetables seem bland, a dash of sauce instantly uplifts their flavor profile. Samosa feels incomplete without its zingy partner- tomato sauce. The burst of flavors they bring upon our tongues is why they are so hugely popular across the world. From the first recorded recipe of sauces dating back to 25 BC, sauces have traveled through the ages and are now gracing dinner tables from China to Mexico to India to Indonesia to the US in traditional as well as fast food recipes. These legendary smooth pastes have made a place in every corner of the world and are now an inevitable part of our food.

Knowing our favorite meal accompaniments

Sauces and ketchup, though sometimes considered the same, differ slightly. Sauces are liquid or soft mixtures served with or used to prepare food to add flavor or enhance its appeal and can be made with various ingredients. At the same time, ketchup is a smooth sauce usually consisting of puréed tomatoes, onions, vinegar, sugar, and spice, among others.

Another favorite side accompaniment is the humble mayonnaise, usually enjoyed with burgers, sandwiches, and fries. It is a creamy, thick sauce made of egg yolks, oil, seasonings, and lemon juice or vinegar. It may also be used as the base for different sauces like thousand island salad dressing and tartar sauce. For instance, aioli is garlic-flavored mayonnaise and hollandaise, a cooked mixture of butter, egg yolks, and lemon juice.

Some varieties of ketchup, sauce, and mayonnaise include

Tomato ketchup- The most desired of them all! With tomatoes being the primary ingredient, it is a staple side that goes with all fast food.

Mushroom ketchup- A different kind of ketchup that offers a savory taste to grilled meat and soups.

Jalapeno ketchup- For those desiring a spicy twist to their food, this sauce is sure to light up their taste buds!

Banana ketchup- Naturally sweet with no added sugar, this is an important part of Caribbean meal preparation.

Cauliflower sauce- Low in calories and nutritious, this sauce only requires three ingredients- cauliflower, salt, and garlic.

Pesto sauce- Made using spinach, garlic, salt, black pepper, olive oil, pine nuts, and lemon, this is widely used in pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, and salads.

Marinara sauce- Delicious and versatile, this sauce can be used with almost all kinds of food. It is prepared using tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, oregano, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.

Lime mayonnaise- Adding lime to mayonnaise gives a smooth texture and offloads a subtle punch of flavor, making it a favorite with burger aficionados.

Barbeque mayonnaise- This variant releases a smokey flavor element into the meat and adds an extra layer of flavor to lamb paprika meatballs.

What’s trending?

The sweet and spicy crossover

Consumers usually love sweet-tasting sauces, but since the pandemic, spicy sauces have been on the rise. This makes the combination of sweet and spicy flavors a big success. Products like spicy honey are witnessing huge interest from consumers.

Plant-based mayonnaise

For health-conscious consumers, plant-based diets play a huge role and this reflects in their choice of mayonnaise as well. Eggs are replaced with plant-based alternatives, vegetable oils with healthier alternatives, and fattier ingredients with others of low energy intensity.

Tropical and citrus flavors

Citrus and tropical flavors are entering the sauces domain with a 43% growth for yuzu (a citrus fruit from Asia) and 92% growth for yuzu paste as a home cooking ingredient.

Botanical and herbs in sauces

The interest in botanicals has been on the rise in the past few years. In the sauces and dressings category, there has been a 30% year-over-year growth in consumer interest. These include dandelion, shiso leaves (a Japanese relative of mint), and more.

Overall health and well-being are in focus

Ingredients that offer functional benefits such as immune system strengthening and clean eating with low or no preservatives and additives are witnessing a rising demand among consumers. It is observed that “no preservative” dressings and sauces are 35% more popular than last year.

With various new-age brands coming up in the market, there are a few that occupy the top position in India. The major brands in the sauces, ketchup, and mayonnaise category include Cremica, Kissan, Del Monte, Kraft Heinz, Wingreens Farms, Nestle, Panama Foods, Kollur Food Products, Dr. Oetkar's Funfoods, Veeba, among others. Amassing love and popularity across the world, it is safe to say that sauces, ketchup, and mayonnaise are forever!