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Forget about the bottled stuff, this homemade co*cktail Sauce recipe is so much better than anything you can buy at the store. A short list of easy to stock ingredients creates this zingy condiment in about 5 minutes!
My Homemade Tartar Sauce recipe is another easy seafood sauce that rivals store-bought.
I recently bought some gorgeous shrimp for shrimp co*cktail and was positive I had a bottle of co*cktail sauce (or fish ketchup, as my boys have always called it) in my pantry. Well, nope! No sauce.
I had two choices. Mix up a homemade co*cktail sauce or skip the shrimp co*cktail. I went with the former and oh my!
I was shocked at how easy it is to create a super fresh, super delicious co*cktail sauce with ingredients I always have on hand. Why in the heck did it take me so long to do this?
I will now and forever make co*cktail Sauce from scratch. No more store-bought sauce for me.
Table of contents
co*cktail Sauce Ingredients
How to Make co*cktail Sauce
Storage Tips
Serving Suggestions
co*cktail Sauce Ingredients
Ketchup – Sweet and tomato-based – ketchup is the foundation for a good classic co*cktail Sauce.
Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a bit of umami flavor.
Lemon – Fresh lemon juice is a must. It really wakes up the flavor and helps balance it out.
Freshly ground black pepper – Just a pinch for flavor.
Tabasco Sauce – Add a little or a lot or leave it out altogether for a delicious, but milder sauce.
A big bonus to making your own co*cktail Sauce is that theheat can easily be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the horseradish and Tabasco. Make a super mild, kid-friendly sauce or spice it up as much as you’d like.
How to Make co*cktail Sauce
In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and 1 tablespoon of the horseradish.
Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and Tabasco.
Taste and add additional horseradish and/or hot sauce, if needed.
The sinus clearing zing in co*cktail sauce comes from horseradish. I recommend starting with a small amount and working your way up to the flavor you’re after.
Storage Tips
If you plan to use the co*cktail Sauce within a day or two, just cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
For longer storage, transfer the sauce to an airtight container before refrigerating. The acid in the lemon and ketchup should help it stay fresh and tasty for up to two weeks.
Serving Suggestions
What goes with co*cktail sauce? It goes beyond simple shrimp co*cktail!
A triple batch of this recipe can be used to make a stunning Mexican Shrimp co*cktail.
Serve it as a dipping sauce for Air Fryer Fish Sticks or Crispy Baked Fish.
Mix a little into a simple meatloaf recipe or spread it over the top before baking.
Place a small bowl on a platter with homemade Crab Cakes for a delicious appetizer.
Use co*cktail sauce for dipping Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket.
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co*cktail Sauce Recipe
5 from 2 votes
Forget about the bottled stuff, this homemade co*cktail Sauce recipe is so much better than anything you can buy at the store. A short list of easy to stock ingredients creates this zingy condiment in about 5 minutes!
1 to 2tablespoonsprepared horseradish, as needed (extra hot or creamed)
1tablespoonfresh lemon juice, or to taste
¼teaspoonWorcestershire sauce
Pinchof freshly ground black pepper
Few drops of Tabasco, to taste
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, 1 tablespoon of the horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and Tabasco. Taste and add additional horseradish and/or hot sauce, if needed.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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The standard ingredients (in roughly decreasing proportion) are ketchup, horseradish, hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco, Louisiana, or Crystal), Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. A soufflé cup is usually set in the middle of the platter of oysters along with a co*cktail fork and a lemon slice.
Curried Yogurt Sauce. This is a simple blend: start with 1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt, 1/4 teaspoon of curry powder, and lots of salt to bring out the flavors, then adjust as needed. ...
But how long does homemade co*cktail sauce last in the fridge? The general consensus is one to two weeks. The acidity from the lemon and ketchup will help preserve it, but it won't last as long as those store-bought options. Don't think you can eat it that fast?
So here's some of my favorite ways to use Classic co*cktail Sauce with smoked Maine sea salt and my Tequila Lime co*cktail Sauce with smoked Maine sea salt.
This easy Shrimp co*cktail sauce recipe is made with just three ingredients (ketchup, lemon juice and horseradish). It's so simple, takes a few seconds to make, and compliments the shrimp perfectly.
A combination of pungent horseradish and sweet ketchup make up the foundation of this classic co*cktail sauce, which is seasoned with lemon juice, hot sauce and a dash of Worcestershire. Drizzle it on a shrimp co*cktail or dab it sparingly on raw seafood. A little of this assertive mixture goes a long way.
Daikon and black radish are great swaps for fresh, raw grated horseradish, though they aren't as fiery and will yield a milder, juicier end product. Because of this, use twice as much daikon or radish as horseradish, though it will still be milder than horseradish.
Many co*cktail sauce recipes call for the basics: ketchup or chili sauce, horseradish, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and tabasco. We've decided to include these traditional flavors, while adding a few extra for our own twist. We swap out lemon juice for lemon zest, and add applesauce.
The change in consistency is primarily due to the pectin in the tomato sauce and the enzymes in the horseradish. To remedy this, stirring the sauce vigorously and adding additional liquids can help.
However, more likely, the tendency of the condiment to gel actually lies in science. Undergoing a series of chemical reactions between ingredients, co*cktail sauce is sort of like an edible experiment. When pectin-rich ketchup is mixed with acid-rich horseradish, the two ingredients cause thickening.
You can keep unopened co*cktail sauce in a cool and dark pantry. Once opened, remember not to leave co*cktail sauce outside, as sunlight and humidity will affect the ingredients and flavor. It's safest to store opened co*cktail sauce (or homemade sauce) in the fridge to keep it from spoiling.
There are only five ingredients in co*cktail sauce, and you probably have most of them in your cupboard already. Ketchup and chili sauce are added in equal parts. Heinz chili sauce has a tomato base, like ketchup, but it isn't sweet. Strangely, in defiance of its name, it doesn't contain chilis.
This can extend to 6 months if it is stored properly in the refrigerator. Homemade co*cktail sauce often doesn't last as long, usually 5-7 days in the fridge. Freezing isn't typically recommended for co*cktail sauce, as it may disrupt the texture and flavor.
Oysters, scallops, crab fingers, calimari, frogs legs, alligator, even fried fish. You could dip raw vegetables in co*cktail sauce, also. I mainly use it for shrimp or oysters.
Fry sauce is a condiment often served with French fries or tostones (twice-fried plantain slices) in many places in the world. It is usually a combination of one part tomato ketchup and two parts mayonnaise.
What is the difference between ketchup and co*cktail sauce by the way? Nick Coe: Not much. Basic co*cktail sauce is chili sauce, which is a type of ketchup that has more peppers… and then you add horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.
"co*cktail sauce" is a bit of a misleading name since, despite all these varying mix-ins, the appetizer isn't made with alcohol. Instead, the name refers to the dish's prevalence in Prohibiton-era eateries and how it was served inside a co*cktail glass.
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