This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read our disclosure policy.
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.
Sign up for my freenewsletterfor all the latest recipes and join me onFacebook,InstagramandPinterestfor more cooking inspiration!
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!
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Author: Valerie Brunmeier
Keyword: co*cktail sauce recipe
Print RecipePin RecipeRate Recipe
Prep Time:5 minutesminutes
Total Time:5 minutesminutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
½cupketchup
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.
Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at @fromvalerieskitchen for a chance to be featured
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.
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 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.
The Golden Ratio is just this simple recipe: 2 parts spirit (rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, gin, cognac etc.) 1 part sweet (honey, simple syrup, agave syrup, triple sec, liqueur, fruit syrups etc.) 1 part tart (lemon, lime, grapefruit etc.)
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.
STORAGE – St. Elmo co*cktail Sauce should be stored cold and not left at room temperature longer than 7-10 days or it will begin to lose spiciness. If stored, the sauce typically has a best-by date of approximately 6 months.
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?
It would make sense to think that the name co*cktail shrimp comes from the co*cktail sauce, but it's the opposite. co*cktail sauce as we know it now was made after co*cktails with shrimp and other seafood became popular. In fact, the sauce was made to go with them.
How Long Can You Keep Homemade co*cktail Sauce? Kept it in an airtight container, in a refrigerator, this sauce will stay fresh for up to 6 months. You can also freeze co*cktail sauce for at least 6-12 months.
You can store unopened jarred co*cktail sauce at room temperature up until its expiration date. Once opened, though, it is far more ideal to store the sauce in the refrigerator, where it will last for up to six months.
What Is Mayo Ketchup? A staple of the Puerto Rican table, Mayo Ketchup is also a popular condiment in many different countries, where it can be known as fry sauce, salsa rosada, or pink sauce. The combination of mayonnaise and ketchup creates a rich and creamy dressing with slightly honeyed and tart notes.
Fancy ketchup is a U.S. grade A ketchup that has good color, good consistency, good flavor, and is free from defects, according to the USDA. Grade A ketchup must also have at least 33% tomato solids — making it thick enough to stay in place on your food.
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.
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.
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.
Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
