Last Updated June 1st, 2021 at 01:23 pm by Lisa
Fresh Cocktail Sauce made in minutes for easy appetizers like Shrimp Cocktail. Dollop this seafood sauce on oysters, clams, crab, and more!
There are over 15 ways to use your leftover classic seafood sauce, also called shrimp cocktail sauce, in creative new ways...
Shrimp Cocktail History
Sauces and condiments for seafood originated in the 19th century and there are several types of cold or room temperature recipes.
No one knows where the name came from, but in the 1920s shrimp were often served and garnished with cocktail sauce. Some sources link the serving of the dish in cocktail glasses during the ban on alcoholic drinks during the 1920s prohibition era in the United States.
Who knows, but maybe that is how it got its name. Shrimp Cocktail became a wildly popular appetizer in the 1960s and 70s in the United States.
My Mom served it for parties, and it was a Christmas Eve tradition in our home. She would serve large shrimp on iced bowls with crushed ice, topped with cocktail sauce.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's so fresh, the celery adds a clean crunch.
- The zip of prepared horseradish is so good.
- Add Tabasco for additional heat if love hot sauce.
- Using real lemon juice and zest gives it brightness.
- The stuff in the jar is no match for homemade!
- Use your leftover sauce in creative ways.
Let's Make It!
- ¼ cup Chili Garlic Sauce Heinz or Vietnamese brand
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 cup celery 3 stalks finely chopped
- optional: ¼ teaspoon hot sauce Tabasco
- Mix the ingredients; chili garlic sauce, ketchup, lemon zest and juice, Worcestershire sauce, prepared horseradish, celery, Tabasco hot sauce in a small bowl, chill in the fridge in an airtight container.
- It will keep up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
Classic use is on seafood; shrimp cocktail, crabs, oysters, and crab.
Use the leftovers on
-Mix Bloody Marys, add tomato juice, and season
-Top ham and cheese omelets
-Dip deep-fried mushrooms
-Drizzle on crab cakes
-Sauce for burgers or hot dogs
-A dip for mozzarella sticks
-Top deviled Eggs
-Mix into meatloaf
-Eggroll dip
-Use as Onion Ring dip
-Drizzle on avocado toast
-Cocktail Sauce jar unopened keep 4-6 months on the pantry shelf
-Cocktail Sauce jar opened use within 1 month, keep refrigerated
-Homemade Cocktail Sauce use in 1 – 2 weeks, keep refrigerated in an airtight container
More Sauce Recipes
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Cocktail Sauce Plus 15 Uses!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Chili Garlic Sauce Heinz or Vietnamese brand
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 cup celery 3 stalks finely chopped
- optional: ¼ teaspoon hot sauce Tabasco
Instructions
- Mix all the cocktail sauce ingredients; chili garlic sauce, ketchup, lemon zest and juice, Worcestershire sauce, prepared horseradish, celery, Tabasco hot sauce in a small bowl.
- Keep chilled in the fridge, use within a week.
Notes
chili garlic sauce:
Heinz or any Vietnamese brand works well in this recipe and are easy to find in any grocery store.use leftover cocktail sauce:
Classic use is on seafood; shrimp cocktail, crabs, oysters, and crab- Mix Bloody Marys, add tomato juice, and season.
- Top ham and cheese omelets
- Dip deep-fried mushrooms
- Drizzle on crab cakes
- Sauce for burgers or hot dogs
- A dip for mozzarella sticks
- Top deviled Eggs
- Mix into meatloaf
- Eggroll dip
- Use as Onion Ring dip
- Drizzle on avocado toast
how long to store:
-Cocktail sauce jar unopened keep 4-6 months on the pantry shelf-Cocktail sauce jar opened use within 1 month, keep refrigerated
-Homemade cocktail sauce use in 1 – 2 weeks, keep refrigerated in an airtight container
Oh my goodness this cocktail sauce is the best! So easy to make and such great flavors. Perfect for shrimp cocktail and so much more!