Food and Recipes Seasonings 10 Classic Southern Condiments and Seasonings By Hannah Hayes Hannah Hayes Hannah Hayes is an Editor for Wildsam. Previously, she was the Travel + Culture Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 29, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: tabasco.com/baumerfoods.com/texaspete.com While fried chicken, jambalaya, tomato sandwiches, or BBQ chicken may be the names that first come to mind as the tastes that define the South, it's really the background players that give them those flavors synonymous with Southern food. From a dollop of Zatarain's Creole Mustard in a New Orleans-style remoulade to Old Bay Seasoning in a crab boil, these are the 10 classic condiments and seasonings that make up the essences of our region. 01 of 10 Duke's Mayonnaise Courtesy of Duke's Mayonnaise While we know and love Blue Plate fans and have Bama Mayo loyalists as kin (maybe even a few Hellman's users as coworkers too), Duke's is regarded as the one, true mayo in our offices, our test kitchen, and our hearts. Buy It: $17.99; amazon.com 02 of 10 Tabasco, Crystal, and Texas Pete Hot Sauce tabasco.com/baumerfoods.com/texaspete.com Okay, this technically counts as three, but together they comprise the holy Southern hot sauce trinity. Many of our editors and chef friends use all three for different situations. Buy It: Tabasco, $6.54; amazon.com Buy It: Crystal, $13.20; amazon.com Buy It: Texas Pete, $9.29; amazon.com 03 of 10 Old Bay Seasoning via amazon.com The essence of Maryland, it's non-negotiable for crab boils, but sometimes we like to get wild with it, even as far as stirring it into Duke's mayo for a fried okra dipping sauce. Buy It: $6.99; amazon.com 04 of 10 Big Bob Gibson's White Sauce bigbobgibson.com From rocket ships to Lionel Richie, Alabama has given the world so much, but perhaps one of the greatest gifts of all is this mayo-based BBQ sauce that turns BBQ Chicken and anything else graced with its presence from tremendous to transcendent. Big Bob Gibson's (home of the four-time Memphis in May-winning pitmaster Chris Lilly) sauce is the one by which all others are measured. Buy It: $11.98; amazon.com 05 of 10 Zatarain's Creole Mustard via amazon.com This vinegar-laced, course-ground mustard was one of the first products made by Emile Zatarain. Now, it's just as necessary in New Orleans cooking as red beans and rice. Buy It: $9.98; amazon.com 06 of 10 Steen's Cane Syrup Steen's Another Louisiana treasure and still family-owned, Steen's Cane Syrup can do anything maple can with a tangier, deeper flavor. Buy It: $15.54; amazon.com 07 of 10 Palmetto Cheese Squire Fox Yes, meemaw, homemade is best, but Palmetto Cheese is a close second. Buy It: $5.49; palmettocheese,myshopify.com 08 of 10 Wickles Pickle Relish via amazon.com Wickles Relish on a burger is like the rug in The Big Lebowski, it really ties the whole thing together. Buy It: $6.80; amazon.com 09 of 10 Tajin via amazon.com Texas friends in the room? You know what we're talking about. While it's may not be made in the South (just across the border in Mexico) this seasoning salt made with chiles, sea salt, and lime adds a perfect burst of spice, salt, and zing to tacos, rice, literally anything. Sprinkle it liberally on fruit slices and you can thank us later. Buy It: $5.38; amazon.com 10 of 10 LouAna Peanut Oil via amazon.com We may be stretching it here, but the flavor peanut oil imparts is integral to Southern-style fried chicken. We accept no substitutes. Buy It: $5.05; amazon.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit