How to Make Horseradish Sauce

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Last Updated: May 6, 2021 Tested

Horseradish sauce is a creamy, spicy, delicious accompaniment to roasts, steaks, and sandwiches, and it’s very quick and simple to prepare! Use fresh, grated horseradish root if you can, and combine it with sour cream, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, and salt and pepper. Let it chill for a few hours before using it for the best consistency, and save the leftovers to use over the next few weeks.

Ingredients

Classic Horseradish Sauce

1 cup (240 mL) of sour cream
1/4 cup (3.5 grams) of fresh horseradish, grated
1 tablespoon (15 mL) of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) of salt
1/4 teaspoon (.5 grams) of ground black pepper

Makes 1 and ¹ ⁄ ₄ cup (237 and 59 mL)

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Whipping up a Classic Recipe

1
Peel and grate 1/4 cup (3.5 grams) of fresh horseradish root. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the rough skin and discard it or add it to your compost pile. If you have a food processor, use it to mince up the fresh horseradish. If not, use a clean cutting board and sharp knife to finely mince the root. The finer the mince, the more flavorful your dip will be. ^{[1]
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- Fresh horseradish can be super pungent and can irritate your nose and eyes, so avoid touching your face after handling it. Open a window if the scent gets to be too strong.
- If you don’t have access to fresh horseradish, you can also use the jarred and preserved variety you find at the grocery store. Substitute 1/2 cup (7 grams) of bottled horseradish for the 1/4 cup (3.5 grams) of fresh horseradish. ^{[2]
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2
Add the horseradish and other ingredients to a medium-sized bowl. Measure out 1 cup (240 mL) of sour cream, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of white wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon (.5 grams) of ground black pepper. Put everything into the mixing bowl along with the grated horseradish root. ^{[3]
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- For an even punchier sauce, substitute the Dijon mustard for the same amount of whole grain mustard.
- You can use low-fat sour cream, but the consistency of the sauce won’t be as creamy and the flavor not quite as rich as it would be with regular sour cream.
- The white wine vinegar neutralizes the enzymes that were released when the horseradish root was grated. The longer you wait to add the white vinegar to the horseradish, the spicier your sauce will be.
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3
Whisk together the ingredients to get a smooth and creamy consistency. Combine the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the grated horseradish has been evenly dispersed throughout the sauce. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides occasionally to ensure everything is incorporated together. ^{[4]
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- If the scent of the horseradish is bothering you, do the mixing in front of an open window. You could even take the bowl outside and mix it in the fresh air.
4
Refrigerate the sauce for a minimum of 4 hours before serving it. After the sauce has been mixed, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it into the fridge. Let it chill for at least 4 hours for the best consistency. ^{[5]
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- If you want to serve the horseradish sauce with dinner, make it in the morning and leave it in the fridge all day until it’s time to eat.
5
Save leftover horseradish sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. After you’ve used the horseradish sauce, put any leftovers into an airtight container. Keep the container in the fridge, and continue using the sauce as an accompaniment to dishes over the next several weeks. ^{[6]
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- Remember to label the sauce with the “date made” so you use it before it goes bad.
- Freeze homemade horseradish sauce for up to 3 months in a resealable freezer bag.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Horseradish Sauce

1
Spread horseradish sauce over prime rib , roast beef , and steaks . After you’ve prepared and sliced your meat of choice, take a large spoonful of the horseradish sauce and drizzle or spread it overtop of the cut of meat. Add as little or as much as you’d like, just depending on how spicy of an accompaniment you’d like. ^{[7]
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- Horseradish sauce pairs nicely with the richness of red meats.
2
Add horseradish sauce to your next sandwich for a flavorful punch. Spread it on a cold roast beef sandwich, or add it to your next grilled rueben. Even pulled pork or grilled cheese sandwiches can be elevated to the next level with the addition of the spicy horseradish sauce. ^{[8]
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- Crispy lettuce, thinly sliced onion, pickles, tomatoes, meats, and cheeses—try creating your own sandwich masterpiece featuring horseradish sauce.
3
Mix horseradish sauce with applesauce for a sweet and spicy variation. Add 1 tablespoon (.8 grams) of fresh horseradish sauce to 1 cup (240 mL) of applesauce. Heat up the sauce, and serve it overtop of pork dishes, like pork chops or pork tenderloin. ^{[9]
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- Try adding 1 teaspoon (2.3 grams) of cinnamon to the applesauce and horseradish. The cinnamon will meld well with the sweetness of the applesauce and the spiciness of the horseradish.
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4
Serve horseradish sauce along with potatoes for a delicious side dish. Baked potatoes, fries, and even sweet potatoes are great options. Serve a side of horseradish sauce along with your next potato dish. Either put the horseradish sauce into a small bowl, or drizzle it overtop of the potatoes. ^{[10]
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- If the horseradish sauce is too thick to drizzle when you take it out of the fridge, leave it out on the counter for 30 minutes so it softens slightly.
5
Pair horseradish sauce with a crusted fish recipe. The crunch of the crust and the spice of the sauce will turn your fish dish into a culinary experience. Take a spoonful of sauce and either spread it over freshly baked or fried fish, or serve it in a small bowl on the side to control how much sauce gets onto each bite. ^{[11]
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- Halibut, cod, and other fish that don’t have overpowering flavors are great to pair with horseradish sauce.
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Community Q&A

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Question

I bought a jar of very hot horseradish because it was all they had. Is there a way to make it milder?

Community Answer

Thinning it with a condiment can help. You can add ketchup to it to make cocktail sauce, or try sour cream, mayo, or plain yogurt.

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How long will the horseradish be good for?

Community Answer

Homemade horseradish lasts about four months when kept in the fridge. Make sure to store it in an airtight container/jar or it will "go off" very quickly.

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Can creamed horseradish sauce be frozen?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

It can be. Put it into an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag and save it in the freezer for up to 6 months. You could also put the sauce into an ice cube tray, freeze it, and then transfer the frozen cubes into a plastic bag. Then, whenever you need some, you can easily pull out a cube or two to defrost.

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Tips

Experiment with putting horseradish sauce on different dishes or even mixing it with other sauces. You may find a new favorite!

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Warnings

Avoid touching your face when chopping horseradish! It can cause a painful burning sensation.

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Don’t serve horseradish sauce in a silver dish, as it will tarnish it. ^{[12]
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Things You’ll Need

Whipping up a Classic Recipe

Vegetable peeler
Food processor or cutting board and knife
Medium-sized mixing bowl
Plastic wrap
Measuring cups and spoons
Whisk
Spoon
Spatula
Airtight container

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How to Make Horseradish Sauce

Ingredients

Classic Horseradish Sauce

Steps

Whipping up a Classic Recipe

Using Horseradish Sauce

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You’ll Need

Whipping up a Classic Recipe

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References

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