Quick Sauces, Dips, and Dressings to Boost the Flavor of All Your Favorite Summer Dishes

A smart condiment in your refrigerator is a potential powerhouse. With the right applications, one little container of aioli or dressing can enliven everything you eat over several days—sometimes, even longer. And there's a strong argument for skipping the store and making fresh condiments from scratch: the taste of summer is much more vivid when you've whipped up a quick flavor-enhancer at home.

You can use these 12 recipes sparingly, as just a bit of zing in the salad or a brushed-on, zippy tang on grilled vegetables, or you can slather them on as a marinade or heavy dressing. In the case of most summer dishes, you'll want to let the base ingredients shine through with their sunny flavors, but sometimes, a thick, creamy aioli—and lots of it—is just what a sandwich or side dish calls for.

That's the versatility of these easy condiments—that you decide how you're going to use them. Either way, the combination of sweet produce, grilled meat, and herby sauces is completely irresistible on the summer table.