Here are practical options for sauces and spreads that contain no artificial ingredients, plus tips for buying and simple recipes you can make at home.

Quick tips for buying (how to verify "no artificial ingredients")

• Read the ingredient list: look for real-food ingredients (vegetables, oils, herbs, salt, vinegar, sugar, nuts) and avoid items that look like chemicals (long unfamiliar names).
• Look for short ingredient lists — fewer whole-food ingredients usually means fewer additives.
• Certifications/claims to check: Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, “No artificial colors/flavors/preservatives.” Note these are claims on packaging; always verify the ingredient list.
• Common additives to watch for: artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5), artificial flavors, TBHQ, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, high-fructose corn syrup (if you want minimal processing), and many long chemical-sounding emulsifiers.
• When in doubt, choose minimally processed single-ingredient spreads (nut butters with just nuts and salt, whole-milk yogurt) or make your own.

Store-bought categories that commonly have clean/short-ingredient options

• Tomato sauces & pasta sauces: Many jarred sauces are just tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, salt. Look for “tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, basil” and no added flavorings or preservatives.
• Mustards: Basic Dijon or yellow mustards often contain mustard seeds, vinegar, water, salt — no artificial ingredients.
• Ketchup: Some premium ketchups use tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, spices — look for “no preservatives, no artificial colors/flavors.”
• Mayonnaise & aioli: Many are simply oil, egg yolk, vinegar or lemon, and salt. Look for brands that list only those ingredients.
• Hot sauces & chilies: Many hot sauces are just peppers, vinegar, and salt.
• Nut & seed butters: Many jars are just roasted nuts (peanuts, almonds, cashews), sometimes with salt and maybe oil. Choose products that list only nuts (and salt).
• Hummus and bean spreads: Many varieties are simply chickpeas (or other beans), tahini, lemon, garlic, olive oil, salt.
• Pestos: Typically basil, olive oil, nuts (pine nuts or walnuts), Parmesan, garlic, salt — check for no added stabilizers or preservatives.
• Fruit spreads & jams: “No sugar added” or small-ingredient jams can be fruit, sugar, pectin, lemon juice; some brands avoid artificial colors/flavors.

Simple homemade recipes (no artificial ingredients)

• Basic tomato pasta sauce (makes ~4 cups): sauté 2 tbsp olive oil + 1 small chopped onion + 3 garlic cloves; add 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp dried oregano, simmer 20–30 min. Finish with fresh basil.
• Classic mustard: grind 1/4 cup mustard seeds, mix with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup water, stir in 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp honey, rest 12–24 hours.
• Simple mayo: whisk 1 egg yolk + 1 tsp Dijon + 1 tsp lemon juice, slowly drizzle 1 cup neutral oil while whisking until thick; season with salt. (Use food-safety precautions with raw egg.)
• Hummus: 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (reserve liquid), 3 tbsp tahini, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt — blend adding reserved liquid to reach desired texture.
• Basic pesto: 2 cups basil, 1/3 cup pine nuts (or walnuts), 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 2 garlic cloves, pinch salt — blend.
• Peanut butter: roast shelled peanuts 7–10 min at 350°F, cool slightly, blend until smooth; add salt or a touch of honey if desired.

Label-reading examples (what to accept vs. question)

• Good: “Ingredients: tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, basil.”
• Questionable: “Ingredients: tomatoes, water, sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, xanthan gum.” (“Natural flavors” and gums are signs of processing.)
• Avoid if you want zero artificial ingredients: anything listing artificial colorants, “artificial flavors,” or preservatives like TBHQ.

If you’d like, I can:

• Suggest specific brands available where you are (I can look up current ingredient lists), or
• Provide more detailed recipes (vegan mayo, sugar-free ketchup, tahini variations), or
• Create a shopping checklist tailored to your dietary needs (low-sodium, no added sugar, nut-free).

Which would you prefer?