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? ›

If you can't find fresh horseradish, it should come as no surprise that one of the best substitutes is prepared horseradish sauce! Just keep in mind that the flavor may be slightly different than using fresh horseradish.

Does horseradish root need to be peeled? ›

Wash and scrub horseradish roots thoroughly with a clean vegetable brush and peel off the brown outer skin. The peeled roots may be grated in a food processor or cut into small cubes and put through a food grinder.

Is fresh ground horseradish the same as 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. When selecting, look for light brown, hard roots; avoid those that are green, moldy or spongy.

What is raw horseradish good for? ›

Horseradish root is naturally rich in antioxidants, which can help protect your body from cellular damage by attaching themselves to free radicals. Early studies also suggest that horseradish may prevent the growth of colon, lung, and stomach cancer cells, though more research in humans needs to be done.

Why do you put vinegar in horseradish? ›

Vinegar stops the enzymatic action of the processed root and stabilizes the degree of hotness. Keep the horseradish chilled after making and seal as soon as using. Add at the end of cooking to keep as much heat for the dish."

Why is my homemade horseradish bitter? ›

Once grated, horseradish must be used immediately or covered in vinegar. Otherwise the root darkens, loses its pungency, and becomes bitter.

Why is my fresh horseradish not hot? ›

This is because the root contains highly volatile oils which are released by enzyme activity when the root cells are crushed. If exposed to air or stored improperly, horseradish loses its pungency rapidly after grinding.

Can I plant horseradish root from the grocery store? ›

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.

Can you plant a piece of horseradish root? ›

Planting. Horseradish is easy to grow from long pieces of root (thongs) or from young potted plants. These should be planted in spring or early summer, ideally in a large container, in sun or partial shade. They can also be planted in a small raised bed or similarly enclosed site.

What part of the horseradish plant do you use? ›

The International Herb Association named horseradish, Armoracia rusticana, as their Herb of the Year 2011. This perennial plant in the cabbage family (Brassicaceae) is now grown for its root that is used to create a condiment, although in the Middle Ages both the leaves and root were used medicinally.

What can I do with fresh horseradish root? ›

Cooking with Fresh Horseradish

Horseradish + Beef: The classic horseradish cream sauce, and variations include a horseradish sour cream sauce for salmon and a horseradish cheese sauce to serve with vegetables. And try a dollop on a baked potato!

How to tell if horseradish root is bad? ›

Root discoloration and decay tell a grim tale of what's happening underground. If the roots of your horseradish look more like a horror movie prop than healthy plant parts, you're likely dealing with root rot. They should be firm and vigorous, not mushy and brown like a forgotten fruit at the bottom of your fridge.

Can you eat horseradish leaves raw? ›

If you are a fan of the pungent flavor that horseradish posses, then you will want to reconsider letting those greens go to waste. The leaves can be used raw in salads, but their hearty texture holds up well to cooking, allowing for a wide range of uses.

What do you eat with fresh horseradish? ›

Best horseradish recipes
  1. Lemon and horseradish prawns with fettucini. Low-Gi and full of fresh, punchy flavours, this prawn fettucini dish is the perfect lunch or a light dinner, plus, it's ready in just 15 minutes. ...
  2. Carrot, parsnip and horseradish gratins. ...
  3. Horseradish, smoked trout and mascarpone baked potatoes.

Is raw horseradish edible? ›

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.

When should I dig up horseradish root? ›

Horseradish grows the most during late summer and early autumn. For this reason, delay fall harvest until late October or early November, or just before the ground freezes. Harvest by digging a trench 12 to 24 inches deep along one side of the row.

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