Simple Horseradish Sauce

Simple Horseradish Sauce

Simple horseradish sauce is my latest and greatest recipe. This horseradish recipe utilizes fresh horseradish root, and there is simply no comparison. I will not buy horseradish sauce in the store ever again because making my own is just too easy and delicious! 

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My recent recipes have all focused on learning about where food comes from and how to make it myself instead of simply buying it in the store. My favorite aspect in many of these recipes is how easy it is to make my own. This is why this simple horseradish sauce is another new favorite recipe of mine. 

Being able to make my own sauces like this completely from scratch really makes both the homemaker and prepper in me happy, and I just continue learning as I go.

What is Horseradish?

What is horseradish? It is a root that is part of the mustard family. The mustard family includes kale, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and radish. The flavor and smell of horseradish is very mild, bordering on almost absent until it is grated or ground.

During the grinding process, as the root cells are crushed, isothiocyanates are released. Vinegar stops this reaction and stabilizes the flavor. For milder horseradish, vinegar is added immediately. 

Because vinegar stabilizes the horseradish, if you want a mild horseradish, add vinegar immediately. If you prefer a stronger horseradish, wait a minute or two. Think of it the same way you would garlic or onions that have been minced. The longer either are left to sit out, the stronger the smell and taste become. Horseradish works exactly the same way. 

Horseradish is a healthy flavorful addition to meals, having a whopping six calories per tablespoon of prepared horseradish. Talk about free flavor in a meal! I’m a big fan of mustard for the same reason. It’s basically calorie-free. 

Simple Horseradish Sauce Ingredients

1 cup horseradish root, peeled and cut into cubes. 

½ cup white vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

Simple Horseradish Sauce Directions

If you want a mild horseradish, put all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until creamy. If a more robust or hot and spicy flavor is the goal, just start blending the horseradish alone. Wait a minute or two, then add the remaining ingredients and blend again until creamy. 

If you want a creamier sauce, add ½ a cup of mayonnaise or sour cream. My personal preference is sour cream simply because I prefer the tangy flavor and the consistency of sour cream over mayonnaise. 

Simple Horseradish Sauce Notes

Be very careful when working with horseradish. The smell once it is in the food processor becomes violently strong! I had clear sinuses and then some! Cleared out sinuses that I didn’t even know I had. I feel like if I ever had kids, their sinuses would be clear from that horseradish too. It was a lot more intense than I had expected. 

If you are sensitive to chopping up onions, you will need these onion goggles to help with that and the horseradish too. Open a window and keep the area of your kitchen well ventilated, as well as tissues or a towel handy. I find pressing a damn kitchen towel over my eyes for a few seconds really helps to control the watery eyes from the horseradish, or even onions. 

Before horseradish is ground up in the food processor, the smell is very mild. It will catch you off guard if this is your first time making this simple horseradish sauce. 

Recipe Additions

For a quick cocktail sauce, mix the horseradish with ketchup until the desired flavor is reached. 

A great breakfast addition would be to add this horseradish to eggs or omelettes for a burst of added flavor without calories. 

For lunch, add the horseradish to any prepared dressing or coleslaw mixture. This would be a perfect spicy addition to ranch dressing. Other great additions would be to use it in devilled eggs or potato salad for a spicy kick. 

For dinner, horseradish is the perfect additional compliment to potatoes. Grate some into mashed potatoes. Or add into sour cream for a delicious baked potato topper. Adding horseradish to potatoes is on my list of things to try! Do you have any favorites? 

Horseradish Pairings

Horseradish pairs well with potatoes, beets, peas, broccoli, and leeks. 

I originally decided to learn to make horseradish as a side dish to a prime rib dinner, because that is a staple for me when paired with a good au jus. Simple horseradish sauce is a delicious addition to roast beef sandwiches. I’ve always loved horseradish on roast beef, but I’ve never been a big fan of store bought horseradish. It is never quite what I want, and part of my motivation for making it myself. 

Storing Horseradish

Once you’ve prepared this simple horseradish sauce, keep it in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator or freezer. It will stay fresh and edible for approximately four to six months in the refrigerator, and even longer in the freezer. If you plan to store it, save adding mayonnaise or sour cream until you are ready to serve or use. 

Horseradish roots will last much longer if left unpeeled and unprocessed. I haven’t explored this much, but the general consensus seems to be that horseradish untouched in root form will last roughly a year. 

Discussion

Have you ever made this simple horseradish sauce? Do you enjoy horseradish as a compliment to specific foods? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! Check out my other condiment and sauce recipes!

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