How to make cocktail sauce

It’s a sunny afternoon, and you’ve decided to host an impromptu seafood feast. You can already envision the shrimp cocktail that will steal the show, but there’s one crucial element missing: the perfect cocktail sauce. As you unravel your culinary plans, a question lingers in your mind–how do you make that tangy, flavorful sauce to complement your succulent shrimp? You want something that’s not only delicious but also easy to whip up, without requiring an extensive list of ingredients.

To make cocktail sauce, combine 1 cup of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of horseradish (adjust to taste), 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and a dash of hot sauce. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

For a more detailed approach, start by gathering your ingredients: 1 cup of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of prepared horseradish (preferably fresh or jarred, depending on your preference for heat), the juice of 1 lemon, and a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce like Tabasco for a spicy kick. In a mixing bowl, pour the ketchup and add the horseradish; the horseradish is what gives cocktail sauce its signature zip, so adjust the amount based on how tangy you want it to be. Next, squeeze in the lemon juice and mix until smooth, then add the hot sauce to taste. Once you have everything blended to your satisfaction, cover the bowl and let the sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This resting time not only melds the flavors together but also enhances the overall taste, making it a perfect complement to your shrimp cocktail or any seafood dish. Enjoy your feast!