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

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 co*cktail sauce is made of? ›

In the United States and Canada it generally consists of, at a minimum, ketchup or chili sauce mixed with prepared horseradish. Lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce are common additives, often all three.

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

Five 2-Ingredient Sauces for Shrimp co*cktail
  • 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. ...
  • Sriracha Mayonnaise Sauce. ...
  • Ketchup-Mustard Sauce. ...
  • Avocado Hot Sauce. ...
  • Sour Cream-Chipotle Sauce.
May 1, 2019

How do you use co*cktail sauce? ›

co*cktail sauce pairs well with various seafood, such as shrimp, crab, and oysters. It can also complement fried foods like calamari or fish sticks. Some people even use it as a dipping sauce for fries or as a zesty condiment for sandwiches.

How long will homemade co*cktail sauce last in the refrigerator? ›

According to the USDA, bottled co*cktail sauce can last in the fridge after it's been opened for up to six months like ketchup. But how long does homemade co*cktail sauce last in the fridge? The general consensus is one to two weeks.

What is co*cktail sauce for shrimp made of? ›

Combine: Add ketchup, lemon juice, and prepared horseradish to a bowl then mix well to combine. Taste and adjust to your preference (more horseradish if you want more of “punch” and more ketchup if you prefer milder. Serve: Refrigerate shrimp co*cktail sauce for at least an hour then serve cold, with cooked shrimp.

What can I dip shrimp in? ›

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What sauces go good 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

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.

Do you refrigerate co*cktail sauce? ›

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.

What makes a co*cktail taste good? ›

A great co*cktail should have a harmonious blend of flavors, with no one ingredient overpowering the others. This means finding the right balance of sweet, sour, bitter, and strong. Next, consider the ingredients. Quality ingredients are essential for a delicious co*cktail.

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 unopened expired co*cktail sauce still good? ›

All of the ingredients that go into co*cktail sauce are very shelf stable. However, over time the sauce will eventually get a jelly-like consistency and liquids will raise to the top. This takes several weeks. Maybe a month or longer-but it will start losing it's nice flavor after a week or so.

Why does co*cktail sauce turn to jelly? ›

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.

Why does homemade co*cktail sauce congeal? ›

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.

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 made of ketchup and horseradish? ›

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.

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 is pink sauce made from? ›

Ingredients disclosed on the Pink Sauce website include water, sunflower seed oil, raw honey, distilled vinegar, garlic, pitaya or dragon fruit, pink Himalayan sea salt, dried spices, lemon juice, milk, and citric acid.

References

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