Dulcet - Quirky Ketchups, Rubs, and Marinades
We saw Dulcet at the Fancy Food Show earlier this year, and they recently launched a new line of exotic ketchups that we tried, along with a few of their other items. They also make a range of sauces, dressings, and mustards, with varieties like Madras Curry and Creole.
First up- the ketchup. We were a little skeptical- but these are ketchups that bear no real relation to the normal Heinz variety. They do have a tomato base, and you could use them on burgers or fries. You’d impress even the most jaded epicureans- but the real trick is to use them on barbecue, sausages, ribs and use them as a replacement general condiment rather than think of them as a straight-up ketchup. The Mild Indian Curry smells wonderful and tastes pretty authentic, and worked well as a dip, as it is fairly thick- we liked the balance of sweet and spice. The same was true of the Peppery Moroccan ketchup- both used sea salt, and tasted fresh.
We also tried their Moroccan spicing in two other products- the sauce & marinade, and the spice rub. Each used a similar set of spices to a similar effect- ginger, garlic, a bit of cinnamon combining for a sweet/savory combination that goes well with fruits and nuts, and lamb or veggies especially well. They suggested a saute using the marinade, which worked out pretty well, and was quite easy to make to boot. The spice rub was a bit harder to use as grilling season hasn’t officially started yet, but Dulcet listed some nice recipes on their site that use the ingredients, and you don’t even need a tagine!
You can find Dulcet products at local Whole Foods stores, and even some Crate & Barrel and Pier 1 stores. The marinades are $8 a bottle, the spice rub and ketchups run $7 each.
