Are you looking for the perfect sauce to accompany your shrimp, oysters, clams, crab legs, crab cakes and more? Look no further than this homemade Cocktail Sauce recipe that takes just 5 minutes to prepare, is free from all the junk ingredients found in the store-bought stuff, and tastes even better than the restaurant versions!
If you’ve followed my website for any length of time and have searched around it, you’ll know how obsessed I am with homemade sauces and condiments. I love a good challenge of replicated all those favorite condiments served at restaurants or sold on the grocery store shelves. And my objective is always to 1) make them without any of the junk ingredients and 2) make them taste even BETTER than the restaurant or store-bought stuff! When it comes to condiments, there’s nothing that beats homemade. The flavors are fresher and more vibrant and as easy as it is to make these sauces yourself, there is simply is no good reason to buy them! This Cocktail Sauce recipe is a prime example.
What is Cocktail Sauce?
Cocktail sauce, also known as seafood sauce, is a popular seafood condiment that is most commonly used as a dipping sauce for shrimp, crab legs, oysters, and clams. It’s a thick sauce, the texture of ketchup (its base ingredient), and has a tangy-sweet- spicy flavor profile. It’s main ingredients are ketchup (or sometimes chili sauce), horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Additional seasonings can be added for interest and variety.
Where Did Cocktail Sauce Originate?
Some have erroneously credited 1960’s British celebrity chef Fanny Cradock with the invention of this sauce when in fact it predates her. Even Constance Spry published a recipe for it more than 10 years earlier. Cocktail sauce is believed to have originated in the seafood-loving region of New England in the United States in the early 20th century. With its bustling fishing industry and seafood markets, it is believed that this sauce was created to accompany a variety of seafood dishes. Over time, the fame of this sauce spread throughout the U.S. where it has since become a favorite condiment among seafood lovers. A similar sauce, known as Marie Rose Sauce, is found in Great Britain.
How to Serve Cocktail Sauce
Cocktail sauce is a popular dipping sauce for shrimp, oyster, crab legs, as well as other seafood. Here are a few ways you can serve it:
Cocktail Sauce Recipe
This sauce takes just 5 minutes to make and will keep for up to a week.
Simply place all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until combined. You can use it immediately but for best flavor results let it chill in the fridge for at least a couple of hours before serving. To avoid cross-contamination, remember to discard any leftover sauce that has come in contact with seafood!
That’s it! Store your homemade cocktail sauce in an airtight container in the fridge where it will keep for up to a week. Enjoy!
For more delicious homemade sauces and condiments be sure to try our:
Tartar Sauce Big Mac Sauce Mignonette Sauce Best BBQ Sauce Horseradish Sauce Teriyaki Sauce Sweet Chili Sauce Sweet and Sour Sauce Romesco Sauce Eel Sauce Hoisin Sauce Black Bean Sauce Tzatziki Sauce Curry Ketchup Bearnaise Sauce Hollandaise Sauce
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