Best Cooking Sauces UK: Curry, BBQ, Asian Sauces & Cooking Pastes
Discover cooking sauces for curries, noodles, stir-fries, BBQ dishes, marinades, street food and professional kitchens. Compare ready-to-use sauces, concentrated bases and flavour pastes, then shop Nicol Retailer’s live Cooking Sauces range.
Choose the sauce by how you want to cook
Cooking sauces vary considerably. Some are ready-to-use finished sauces, some are concentrated bases, while others are flavour pastes designed to form one part of a finished dish. The right choice depends on your recipe, serving quantity and preparation method.
Curry Sauces
Explore curry sauces and mixes for katsu, korma and other curry-style dishes served with rice, noodles, vegetables or proteins.
Shop Curry & Cooking SaucesBBQ Sauces
Choose smoky, sweet, spicy and sticky sauces for burgers, ribs, chicken, vegetables and grilled dishes.
Shop BBQ Cooking SaucesAsian Sauces & Pastes
Explore ramen soup bases, gochujang, chilli pastes, tamarind sauces and aromatic cooking pastes for Asian-inspired dishes.
Shop Asian Cooking SaucesProfessional Sauces
Find larger packs, concentrated sauces and professional formats for restaurants, cafés and catering kitchens.
Shop Foodservice SaucesCooking sauce buying guide
Use the sections below to compare the main sauce styles and choose the best format for your meal.
How to choose a cooking sauce Curry sauces Asian sauces & cooking pastes BBQ sauces, marinades & glazes Tomato-based cooking sauces Vegan cooking sauces Cooking sauces for catering Ingredients & allergens Cooking sauce FAQsHow to choose the best cooking sauce
The best cooking sauce is the one that suits the dish, preparation method and flavour you are trying to create. Rather than choosing only by brand, check how the sauce is designed to be used.
Ready-to-use sauces
These are designed to be incorporated directly into a dish or used with relatively little additional preparation. They can be useful when speed and consistency matter.
Concentrated sauces & bases
Concentrates can provide a starting point for sauces, soups or finished dishes. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions because dilution and preparation requirements vary.
Cooking pastes
Pastes are often concentrated sources of herbs, spices, chillies and aromatics. They may be used in marinades, sauces, curries or stir-fries rather than served as a finished sauce on their own.
Shopping tip: check the product description, pack size and preparation instructions before ordering so you know whether you are buying a finished sauce, a concentrated base or a flavour paste.
Curry sauces for quick, flavourful meals
Curry sauces can make it easier to build a complete meal around rice, noodles, vegetables, chicken, tofu or other proteins.
The live range includes products such as katsu curry sauce, korma sauce and professional curry sauce mixes. Different products have different preparation and serving requirements.
Check whether the sauce is ready to heat and serve, needs dilution, or is intended as a base for additional ingredients.
- Rice
- Noodles
- Chicken
- Vegetables
- Tofu
- Katsu-style dishes
- Buffet meals
- Foodservice menus
Asian sauces, soup bases & cooking pastes
Nicol Retailer’s Cooking Sauces category contains a broad selection of Asian-inspired sauces and flavour bases. These include ramen soup base, gochujang Korean chilli paste, sweet tamarind sauce and aromatic cooking pastes.
These products can be used across noodle dishes, rice bowls, curries, stir-fries, marinades and dipping sauces depending on the individual product.
Gochujang
Gochujang is a thick Korean chilli paste with spicy, savoury and sweet characteristics. Nicol Retailer’s current Sempio product is presented for uses including stir-frying, dipping and marinating.
Tamarind sauces
Tamarind brings a distinctive sweet-and-sour character. The current Street Food Sweet Tamarind Sauce, for example, is positioned for dipping, glazing and incorporating into recipes.
Aromatic pastes
Products combining chilli, lemongrass, lime leaf, ginger and other aromatics can provide a concentrated flavour base for curries, marinades and street-food dishes.
BBQ sauces, marinades & glazes
Barbecue sauces vary from sweet and smoky to hot, spicy, sticky or tangy. The current Cooking Sauces range includes American-style BBQ sauces, jerk BBQ marinades, chipotle products and other grill-focused flavours.
Some sauces work as table condiments, while others may also be suitable for marinating, glazing or cooking. Always follow the specific product instructions.
- Burgers
- Chicken
- Ribs
- Pulled meat
- Steak
- Vegetables
- Loaded fries
- Street food
Tomato-based cooking sauces
Tomato-based sauces can form the foundation for pasta dishes, casseroles, braised foods and Mediterranean-style recipes.
The Cooking Sauces archive includes specialist finished and concentrated tomato sauces, while Nicol Retailer also has a separate Tomatoes & Pizza Sauce category for passata, tomato purée, peeled tomatoes and pizza sauces.
Use the separate tomato category when you want a tomato ingredient or pizza-specific product rather than a broader prepared cooking sauce.
Vegan cooking sauces & flavour pastes
Several products in the Cooking Sauces range also appear within Nicol Retailer’s vegan or plant-based ranges. Examples currently include Sempio Gochujang, Sharwood’s Sweet & Sour Sauce, Knorr Curry Sauce Mix and selected BBQ products.
A vegan classification does not mean a product is automatically free from gluten, soya, mustard or other allergens. Always check the current product details and packaging.
For wider plant-based sauce shopping, visit the main Sauces & Condiments Online UK pillar.
- Vegetable curries
- Tofu dishes
- Noodle bowls
- Rice dishes
- Plant-based BBQ
- Stir-fries
- Marinated vegetables
Cooking sauces for restaurants & catering
Professional kitchens may use cooking sauces to support consistency, preparation speed and menu flexibility. Larger packs can be useful when the same sauce is required across multiple portions or services.
When buying for foodservice, consider more than the size of the pack. Check the preparation method, yield, dilution requirements, storage instructions and allergen information.
- Review pack size and expected number of portions.
- Check whether the sauce requires dilution.
- Consider how the product will fit existing menu preparation.
- Check storage instructions before and after opening.
- Review ingredients and allergens for professional service.
For wider professional purchasing, visit Catering & Bulk Food .
Cooking sauce ingredients, allergens & dietary suitability
Cooking sauces can contain a wide range of ingredients and allergens. Depending on the product, these may include wheat, soya, fish, milk, mustard, sesame or other allergens.
For example, Nicol Retailer’s current Sweet Tamarind Sauce lists fish, soya, wheat and gluten-related allergens, while its Sempio Gochujang contains soya and wheat.
Recipes can differ between brands and products. Always check the current product page and packaging rather than assuming two sauces of the same style have identical ingredients.
Dietary reminder: product categories and guide descriptions help with browsing, but the current product ingredient and allergen information should be checked before purchase and consumption.
Explore the complete sauces & condiments range
This guide focuses specifically on cooking sauces, curry sauces, BBQ products and flavour bases. For ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, salad dressing, relishes and wider condiment shopping, visit the main Sauces & Condiments Online UK pillar.
When you are ready to shop, browse the live Cooking Sauces archive for current products and availability.
Cooking sauces FAQs
Common questions about choosing and using cooking sauces.
Where can I buy cooking sauces online in the UK?
Browse Nicol Retailer’s Cooking Sauces category for the current range.
What types of cooking sauce does Nicol Retailer sell?
The range includes curry sauces, BBQ sauces, cooking pastes, Asian-inspired sauce bases, chilli products and professional cooking sauces. Availability varies, so check the live category.
What is the difference between a cooking sauce and a condiment?
A cooking sauce is generally intended to form part of a prepared dish, whereas a condiment is commonly served alongside or added to finished food. Some products can be used in both ways, so follow the individual product instructions.
Does Nicol Retailer sell curry sauces?
Yes. Current examples in the Cooking Sauces range include katsu curry sauce, korma sauce and professional curry sauce mixes.
Can I buy BBQ sauces for marinades?
Yes, the Cooking Sauces range contains BBQ sauces and marinade-style products. Check the individual product instructions to confirm whether a specific sauce is suitable for marinating or glazing.
Does Nicol Retailer sell Asian cooking sauces?
Yes. The current range includes products such as ramen soup base, gochujang, chilli pastes, tamarind sauce and other Asian-inspired cooking products.
Are cooking sauces suitable for vegans?
Some are, but not all. Check the current product classification, ingredients and allergen information before purchasing.
Can restaurants and caterers buy cooking sauces?
Yes. Several cooking sauces are supplied in larger formats suitable for professional kitchens. Check pack sizes, yield, storage and preparation requirements.