Forget meat, did you know that vegan and vegetarian BBQs are among the hottest food trends this summer? Perfect timing, as I have a just received a selection of Stokes Summer Sauces to try. I could not find a better excuse to get the grill going.
Founded in 2004, Stokes are based in Suffolk where they make a range of tasty sauces ranging from mayonnaise and ketchup to chutneys, condiments and marmelades. All recipes are developed in-house using only the best ingredients to ensure maximum flavours. For example, the Tomato Ketchup is made with juicy Italian tomatoes, while the creamy Real Mayonnaise is made with extra virgin olive oil and free range eggs and the traditional British Brown Sauce is built on a healthy splash of real date puree.
Nowadays Stokes employs over 60 people producing over 50 different lines in their Suffolk “Saucery”. As everything is made in small batches, you can really taste the craftmanship and authenticity of each product. What’s more is that all glass jars and bottles are not just recyclable but also fully reusable.
I received the following Stokes Summer Sauces to review.
Tomato Ketchup – slightly less sweet and darker than conventional ketchup, each jar is crammed with juicy Italian tomatoes. Perfect as a sauce or condiment, I found Stokes’ Tomato Ketchup tastier than other usual supermarket brands. It has a lot of depth and flavour. Our ketchup-addicted kids approved too. Other flavours in the range include: Chilli Ketchup, Chipotle Ketchup, Curry Ketchup and Bloody Mary Ketchup.
Classic English Mustard – I find English mustard way too overpowering and generally prefer Dijon mustard myself. But if you like English mustard this one has a certain smoothness with a well-balanced hot and strong flavour that is not too overwhelming.
Real Mayonnaise – made with free range eggs, rapeseed oil and extra virgin olive oil this great tasting condiment is perfect for salads, burgers, dips etc.. If you fancy a twist try some of the other flavours in the range such as: Chilli Mayonnaise, Lemon Mayonnaise, Garlic Mayonnaise, Mustard & Honey Mayonnaise or the Blushed Tomato Mayonnaise.
Original Barbecue – made with honey, molasses and black treacle this is another classic recipe with a sweet and smoky flavour. It is quite versatile so you can use it as a sauce, dip or marinade.
Sweet & Sticky BBQ Sauce – whether used as a sauce, dip or marinade this is another strong contender for a successful meat free BBQ. This sauce has a sweet (maple syrup) & sticky flavour with a kick of horseradish.
Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce – don’t expect anything too spicy here, the red chillies add some mild heat which balances out with the sweetness of black treacle(this sauce is not suitable for vegetarians as it contains anchovies).
Burger Relish – simple and delicious, this is a fragrant sweet red pepper, onion and tomato salsa. It has a true homemade feel to complement all types of burgers. I liked it so much, I decided to use it for the vegan Lentil & Quinoa Burger recipe below.
![Lentil & Quinoa Burger [vegan] by The Flexitarian](https://theflexitarian.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Lentil-Quinoa-Burger-vegan-by-The-Flexitarian-v8.jpg)
I often wish I was more organised to make my own sauces and condiments. Then again, we really enjoyed the selection of Stokes Summer Sauces we received so it feels like the next best thing to homemade.
The warm weather has been pretty amazing so far and I am sure we will have plenty more opportunities to fire up the grill. I thought I would let you know about the amazing competition Stokes is running to WIN The Ultimate BBQ. All you have to do is to tell Stokes ‘Why you love barbecues’? It could not be more simple.
The First Prize is an amazing Grillstream BBQ whose unique double grill means no flare-up, burn-free cooking and easier cleaning. The large cooking area, back-lit LED control knobs, ergonomic design and stylish finish will sensationalise your garden cooking. The lucky winner also gets a full dinner set from Cornishware – a splendid collection of plates, bowls, cups & saucers to grace an elegant evening outdoors.
There will also be 10 Runners Up Prizes of British-grown, fast-lighting, gourmet BBQ charcoal from The Oxford Charcoal Company. As well as a personalised mug from Cornishware. ALL winners will also receive a selection of delicious Stokes BBQ sauces as well as a prestigious Stokes apron.
If you fancy trying your luck, head over to Stokes Summer Sauces Competition page.
Disclaimer: this review and recipe are sponsored by Stokes.
Other things you might enjoy reading
Such great sauces!