co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2024)

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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.

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (1)

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?

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2)

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

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (3)
  • Ketchup – Sweet and tomato-based – ketchup is the foundation for a good classic co*cktail Sauce.
  • Horseradish– I have made this recipe with both cream-style horseradish and extra hot horseradish and they were both great.
  • 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.

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (4)

How to Make co*cktail Sauce

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (5)
  1. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and 1 tablespoon of the horseradish.
  2. Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and Tabasco.
  3. 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.

co*cktail Sauce Recipe (6)

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 (7)

co*cktail Sauce Recipe

5 from 1 vote

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!

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Keyword: co*cktail sauce recipe

Print RecipePin RecipeRate Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes minutes

Total Time:5 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, as needed (extra hot or creamed)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Pinch of 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.

  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5 tablespoons · Calories: 22 kcal · Carbohydrates: 6 g · Protein: 0.2 g · Fat: 0.04 g · Saturated Fat: 0.01 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01 g · Sodium: 195 mg · Potassium: 67 mg · Fiber: 0.2 g · Sugar: 5 g · Vitamin A: 103 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 5 mg · Iron: 0.1 mg

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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co*cktail Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is co*cktail sauce made of? ›

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.

Why does my homemade co*cktail sauce gel? ›

There is a natural reaction that occurs between the fresh horseradish roots and pectin in the tomato ketchup that can sometimes create a gel like consistency.

What can I use instead of co*cktail sauce? ›

Ketchup-Mustard Sauce

Equal parts ketchup and mustard make this the shrimp co*cktail sauce anyone can make since everything's already in the door of the refrigerator. I use Dijon mustard, but you can try a grainy, coarse mustard instead for some nice crunchy pops of mustard flavor.

What is a co*cktail ingredient? ›

Most commonly, a co*cktail is a combination of one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as juices, flavored syrups, tonic water, shrubs, and bitters.

Does homemade co*cktail sauce go bad? ›

If you are storing homemade co*cktail sauce, the guidelines differ, however. We recommend tossing from-scratch sauce after two weeks. While you can freeze co*cktail sauce, it is best not to, as it will change the texture. The best way to ensure no co*cktail sauce goes to waste is simply to use it more often.

How do you keep co*cktail sauce from gelling up? ›

A splash of water works best, but a dash of cream or mayonnaise can also do the trick and add a slight richness to the dressing. So long as you don't add more lemon juice (acid) to the sauce, nearly any liquid can help reduce the degree of gelatinization.

What is a substitute for horseradish? ›

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.

Why do you add alcohol to sauce? ›

It does this by acting as a bridge between your olfactory and physical sense of taste while also bonding with fat molecules. Alcohol evaporates quickly even after cooking, bringing the fragrance to your sense of smell, and using the water molecules of a dish to expand the depth of flavor.

What can you eat shrimp with besides co*cktail sauce? ›

There's a nice variety of seafood sauces to choose from: co*cktail Seafood Sauce, Tartare, Marie Rose / Thousand Island, or a Thai Chilli Lime Sauce for something fresher.

What sauce goes well with shrimp? ›

Since grilled shrimp cooks in mere minutes, spend a little time making a spectacular sauce to toss with them or serve alongside.
  • Green goddess dressing. Eric Wolfinger. ...
  • Miso butter. © Christina Holmes. ...
  • Oregano and lemon. © John Kernick. ...
  • Harissa. © Christina Holmes. ...
  • Aioli. © Con Poulos. ...
  • Romesco. © Edmund Barr.
Jul 8, 2022

What else is co*cktail sauce good with? ›

5 Ways To Use co*cktail Sauce
  • 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.
  • 1.Grilled Shrimp with co*cktail Sauce. ...
  • 2.Kielbasa with co*cktail Sauce. ...
  • Mexican Shrimp. ...
  • Bloody Mary. ...
  • 1 oz steak sauce.
Feb 8, 2019

What does co*cktail sauce contain? ›

Ingredients
  • ½ cup ketchup (such as Heinz®)
  • 1 cup tomato-based chili sauce (such as Heinz®)
  • ¼ cup prepared horseradish.
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar.
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice.
  • ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's RedHot®)
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt.
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder.

How to make the perfect co*cktail? ›

The Golden Ratio

Get a perfectly flavor-balanced co*cktail with the bartender's golden ratio of 2:1:1. That means, 2 parts spirit, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour. First, you'll begin with 2 parts of your spirit of choice: vodka, gin, rum – what have you. Secondly, add that to a mixing tin with ice.

What makes a co*cktail taste good? ›

Quality of Ingredients

When it comes to the ingredients for just about anything, fresh is best. Especially at high-end co*cktail lounges or mixology bars, you'll likely find fresh fruits and garnishes, a variety of house bitters, tinctures and shrubs.

What is ketchup and mayo mixed together called? ›

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.

Is co*cktail sauce unhealthy? ›

co*cktail Sauce is healthy, but it also has several nutritional values and health benefits. This tomato-based condiment is fat-free and adds advantages to the other ingredients like garlic, lemon, horseradish, etc. However, the sauce has high amounts of sugar and salt in it.

What's the difference between ketchup and co*cktail sauce? ›

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.

Is there any alcohol in co*cktail sauce? ›

"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.

References

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