Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (2024)

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We'll share how to make basic horseradish sauce, cream sauce and co*cktail sauce with fresh horseradish root and common pantry ingredients. The kick of homemade sauce knocks the socks off of most store bought sauce!

Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (1)

My first foray into horseradish sauce happened as a result of conversation with my son's piano teacher, Miss Betty. (Some of you may remember her from her rye bread and pickle recipes.)

Betty and her husband have a huge patch of horseradish, but this year her husband said he didn't want to make homemade horseradish sauce because it was too much work. (They are getting up in years, so the digging and cleaning is becoming more of a chore.)

Never one to miss an opportunity to learn to try something new in the kitchen, I told her that we'd be happy to give her a hand.

Digging Horseradish

My youngest and I went over in the morning to dig the roots. Warning – horseradish roots can be deep and strong! While attempting to muscle the roots out of the ground, my son bent the handle of the steel garden fork. (Time to check out whether or not the “Lifetime Warranty” covers horseradish damage…)

We weren't quite sure how much to dig, so we dug quite a few – and ended up with enough horseradish sauce for a small army. 🙂

Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (2)

After digging, we washed the worst of the mud off with a garden hose. Then we went back to our kitchen and did the peeling and chopping.

Because we had so much horseradish, I placed the cubed horseradish in water with citric acid in it to prevent browning. You could also use salt water or water with lemon juice.

Betty and her husband normally work in small batches (1 cup of horseradish, as specified in the recipe), so they skip the anti-browning treatment.

Betty shared her family's two horseradish sauce recipes with me – one basic pickled sauce, and one creamy sauce made with the basic sauce. You can use apple cider vinegar if you prefer, but it will give the sauce a darker color.

Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (3)

Fresh Horseradish Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup horseradish, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor at high speed. Blend until creamy. Put in a jar and store in the refrigerator.

Note: If you don't have a food processor or blender, grate of finely chop the horseradish root and blend with other ingredients. To enhance the “kick” of the horseradish, grate or grind it first, and then wait a few minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

There is no USDA approved method for canning horseradish sauce. Store it in the refrigerator or freezer.

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Easy Horseradish Sauce

Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (4)

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Simple recipes for homemade horseradish sauce – plain or cream style – made with fresh horseradish root.

  • Author: Betty Schleis
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1.5 cups 1x
  • Category: Condiment

Ingredients

UnitsScale

For basic sauce:

  • 1 cup horseradish, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For creamed sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For Basic Sauce:

  1. Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor at high speed. Blend until creamy. Put in a jar and store in the refrigerator.

For Creamed Sauce:

  1. In a small bowl, blend all ingredients. Makes about 1 cup. Store in refrigerator.

Notes

  • If you don’t have a food processor or blender, grate the horseradish root as finely as possible and blend with other ingredients for the basic sauce.

Creamy Horseradish Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a small bowl, blend all ingredients. Makes about 1 cup. Store in refrigerator.

Horseradish co*cktail Sauce

Another simple use of the basic horseradish sauce it to mix it to taste with ketchup for a quick co*cktail sauce. This is my sons' favorite way to eat horseradish.

A Note on Horseradish

Betty and I were talking about how very few people make homemade horseradish sauce anymore, even when they have access to a horseradish patch.

The big batch we did took a couple hours (with digging and cleaning), but we ended up with four quarts of sauce. (I'm gifting out horseradish to local friends and family this fall.) If you were making only a cup, it wouldn't take much time at all.

I think that perhaps our modern palates are spoiled by the abundance of food choices available in the average grocery store, and how much fresh produce is available all year round.

In the olden days, folks were more appreciative of the zip of horseradish when they had to rely on storage foodall winter. The same might be said of heavy spiced cakes and cookies.

I find when baking that spice cakes and cookies are much more appreciated by the older crowd, while young palates more commonly go for chocolate or vanilla.

Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (5)

Watch out for the Horseradish Kick!

Be careful when working with the ground horseradish root! I could smell the vapors as we were chopping, but it wasn't until I leaned over the bowl of the food processor that the full effect hit me.

My eyes started watering, my nose started running – I cleared sinuses that I didn't know I had. I had to step away for a moment and wipe the tears, and when I came back, I made sure to keep the sauce at arms' length.

Horseradish and wasabi are both rooty members of the cabbage family. They release a compound calledallyl isothiocyanate, which is responsible for that pungent burn. The pungency will fade over time as the sauce sits in the fridge, but when it's fresh, watch out!

Using Your Sauce

Horseradish sauce is commonly served with beef, such as roast beef sandwiches, beef tenderloin or standing rib roast. The boys have taken to adding a bit of sauce in all sorts of things, like mac and cheese.

Horseradish is one of those foods that people either love or hate, but if you're on the fence, you may want to give it a chance.

Why?

Though used as a condiment, horseradish contains glucosinolates and isothiocyanates.

Historically, it's been used to fight bacterial and fungal infections, improve breathing issues, detoxify the liver, and more.

If you access to some in the garden or farmers market, give it a try.

More Made From Scratch Recipes

  • Grandma Catherine’s Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Church Dinner Chicken
  • Pickle Relish Sweetened With Honey
Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (6)

Originally posted in 2016, last updated in 2020.

Easy Horseradish Sauce Recipe with Fresh Horseradish Root (2024)

FAQs

How do you use fresh horseradish root? ›

How It Is Used. The easiest way to use horseradish is to simply cut off the brown peel and shred or grate some fresh horseradish to serve with roasted meats or as a flavoring for hearty soups or stews. Shred as close to serving time as possible, since horseradish turns bitter and discolors within a few hours.

Can you substitute fresh horseradish for prepared horseradish? ›

Fresh horseradish is both hotter and spicier than bottled prepared horseradish, which is pickled in vinegar, so if a recipe calls for prepared horseradish, use half the amount of fresh.

How do you grate fresh horseradish root? ›

Open any nearby windows and use safety glasses to protect your eyes from strong fumes. Cut the horseradish into 3-inch segments. Pulse in a food processor equipped with a steel blade until finely chopped but not mushy. (Alternatively, grate the horseradish finely on a box grater.)

How do you use real horseradish? ›

Method
  1. Add a few little chunks to vodka (in one week it'll be really punchy).
  2. Grate over sliced tomatoes. ...
  3. Grate into your mash potatoes.
  4. For a quick horseradish sauce, mix grated horseradish, crème fraiche, lemon zest, a little lemon juice, salt and pepper (great swirled into a beetroot soup).

How to cook with fresh horseradish? ›

- Mix fresh grated horseradish with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, a splash of white vinegar, salt, and pepper. This creamy horseradish sauce is excellent with roast beef or as a dip for vegetables. - Stir freshly grated horseradish into mashed potatoes for a zesty twist. Add butter, cream, salt, and pepper to taste.

Why do you put vinegar in horseradish? ›

The addition of vinegar to the ground horseradish neutralizes the enzymatic process of this compound. Vinegar stabilizes the flavor. The longer you wait to add the vinegar, the hotter the results will be. But don't wait longer than a few minutes, or the resulting flavor will be bitter.

Why is my fresh horseradish not hot? ›

Fresh crushed horseradish is at its strongest but once it is exposed to air, the pungency begins to wane. The key to making horseradish hot, and I mean HOT, people, is to finish it off with the next ingredient -- vinegar. Vinegar stabilizes the flavor and when you add it, will affect the spicy outcome.

What part of the horseradish plant do you use? ›

Roots left in the ground for two growing seasons become stringy and woody. Store horseradish roots for fresh grinding in dark plastic wrapping in the refrigerator. Protect the roots from light to prevent them from turning green. The most common way to prepare horseradish for table use is to peel or scrape the roots.

Can you grow horseradish from store bought horseradish? ›

Yes, you actually grow the plant from the same root you would eat! Plant the root in at least a 10-gallon pot or even in a 10-gallon plastic bucket with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage. You can also plant the horseradish directly into the ground, but I have had better success starting it in a pot first.

Will horseradish grow back after harvest? ›

Horseradish always returns the next year no matter how carefully you harvest, so you will have plenty of plants to dig and move to a new spot in spring.

How do I prepare horseradish root for eating? ›

  1. trim ends of horseradish, peel entire root, removing most of the brown areas and dice into approximately 1" pieces.
  2. Place horseradish cubes into food processor with about one to two tablespoons of cold water.
Sep 22, 2014

Can I freeze fresh horseradish root? ›

Yes, you can freeze horseradish, although it may lose a little pungency. It's best to peel it and grate it first, and then freeze it in small amounts so you can thaw just what you need. There are a couple of easy ways to do that.

Why does horseradish turn GREY? ›

Discoloration also occurs because ground horseradish is high in acid and the oxygenation process–which causes discoloration–is stimulated in the presence of acid. Juvik suggests a remedy: ”By adding a little cream to the just-ground horseradish, you can neutralize the acidity.

Can you eat raw horseradish root? ›

The fresh root of horseradish should be taken before meals. Take 3–4 grams (g) daily. Fresh horseradish can be used as a condiment or added to mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, co*cktail sauce, and salad dressings.

What is fresh horseradish good for? ›

9 Health Benefits of Horseradish You'll Love
  • Nutrients Galore. Horseradish packs a nutritional punch well above its weight! ...
  • Naturally Antibacterial. ...
  • Boosts Circulation and Clears Mucus. ...
  • Weight Loss Aid. ...
  • Speeds Up Metabolism. ...
  • Helps with Digestion. ...
  • Supports Immunity. ...
  • Anti-Cancer Properties.

What is raw horseradish good for? ›

Horseradish is a root vegetable known for its pungent odor and spicy flavor. Its compounds may provide a variety of health benefits, such as fighting cancer, infections, and respiratory issues. Horseradish is most often consumed as a condiment. Supplements are best consumed under the guidance of a medical professional.

How long does raw horseradish last in the fridge? ›

How to store horseradish. Horseradish can be stored for about four weeks in the fridge. If the root is already cut, it will last for about two weeks. You can also freeze horseradish for up to six months, either whole or finely ground.

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