horseradish sauce

For years I have been buying bottled Woeber's Horseradish Sauce.  It was a favorite of my sons'  to have with Honey Baked Ham at Easter...that sweet/hot combination is addicting.

I would generally buy just one bottle per year, though. Their label lists mostly unhealthy ingredients, like soybean oil, corn syrup, chemicals and preservatives.

It never occurred to me to try to make horseradish sauce from scratch...until I came across a recipe on another blog.

Horseradish Sauce
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 T yellow mustard
1 heaping T horseradish
1/2 t lemon juice
1/2 t Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t seasoned salt
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper

oops...forgot to show lemon juice too

I wasn't sure if the recipe needed  fresh horseradish or if I could use the kind in a small jar in the refrigerated section at the grocery.

But, since I have never used fresh horseradish, it seemed like a good time to give it a try...especially since I didn't need that much.

First you wash and peel the horseradish root...

Then finely grate it...

 

If you really, really like horseradish you can use more, of course.

I read online, after peeling, let the grated horseradish rest for about 15 minutes before mixing any other ingredients in with it.  That lets it develop flavor and heat.

Meanwhile, whip the whipping cream until stiff, then fold in the remaining ingredients.

Add the grated horseradish and refrigerate.

This recipe makes about 1 cup.    I make a double batch.

On this day we had it with Parmesan Pork Chops...accompanied by cheesy cauliflower, broccoli nut slaw and deviled eggs.

My family really likes it and found it's good on ham and roast beef and can also be used as a sandwich spread.  My husband even finished up one batch by using it as a dip for Ritz crackers.

It holds up well for at least 2 weeks in the fridge.

The first time I made this sauce - this strange looking piece of horseradish root was all they had at the grocery.   I didn't know any better, but these pieces are the top of the root, the part that the leaves sprout out of.

That darn thing was so woody and tough, I could hardly peel it!   Instead, look for the slim tapered sections of the root...the part that grows deep in the ground.

I think I will try potting this up in some dirt to see if it will grow into a plant.  If it does, I will have my own horseradish patch.