Horseradish Mustard Sauce

There’s nothing like a creamy horseradish sauce for beef recipes and rich meats.  It’s a very simple sauce with a very big flavor profile and a gentle kick that makes you want more.  In fact, it’s so good, you’ll probably want to make more than you think you’ll actually need, because you’ll definitely want to keep this heavenly spicy sauce around.

This sauce is an irresistible accompaniment for steak, prime rib, Corned Beef Meatballs and smoked meats like a Smoked Leg of Lamb, Smoked Pork Tenderloin or a Traeger Smoked Sirloin Steak.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Creamy, zesty and delicious – it’s so versatile and provides a little kick (but not too much) to anything it touches
• So easy – it’s one of the easiest one-bowl recipes you can make and it comes together in only a few minutes
• Only 5 ingredients – just a few ingredients make a spectacular and memorable sauce for steak and so much more
• Special diet friendly – one serving is low in lactose, making it FODMAP-friendly and is one of my favorite low-carb keto condiments.  See Variations for making a dairy-free paleo and Whole30 sauce.

Ingredients

One of the best things about this horseradish sauce, is how simple it is.

• Prepared horseradish – available in mild, hot or extra hot.  This gives a mild heat and makes this sauce come alive!
• Mustard – Dijon is best, but regular yellow mustard also works
• Sour cream – is creamy and sour, adding depth and texture
• Mayonnaise – the vinegar and creamy nature provide structure and extra creaminess
• Salt – brings the flavors together

What is horseradish?

It is a root that belongs to the Brassica family, along with broccoli, cabbage and mustard.  It doesn’t give off any scent until it’s cut. Once it's sliced into, it releases its peppery, zesty scent.

It can be used by itself as a condiment and is most often used as an ingredient in many dips and sauces.

If you follow a low-FODMAP diet, horseradish is one of the best low-FODMAP seasonings to add heat to a dish because it doesn't contain capsaicin found in chili peppers. However, it can potentially aggravate IBS symptoms if it's consumed in large amounts.

Some people confuse it with wasabi root, which is also from the Brassica family.  While it is a spicy root, similar to horseradish, wasabi root has a slightly different flavor and is a lovely green, where horseradish is white.

What is prepared horseradish?

It is grated horseradish combined with vinegar and other natural preservatives, such as citric acid.  Vinegar is used to stabilize the flavor and heat. You can find it in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.

Prepared horseradish differs from horseradish sauce.  The prepared version has minimal ingredients to preserve the grated root, where the shelf-stable sauce often contains other additives and preservatives and is meant to be served as a stand-alone condiment. Prepared horseradish is intended to be an addition to recipes, as opposed to being a condiment by itself.

Instructions

All you need is a bowl and a whisk or spoon to bring this simple recipe together.

Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl.

Stir or whisk until smooth and creamy.

TIP:  As it chills, the flavors blend and can intensify, so it’s even better as a make-ahead condiment.  It’s best to make it an hour before serving, but isn’t necessary.

How to serve

• Mustard sauce for lamb – it’s a wonderful condiment for the rich flavor of lamb.  Use it on lamb chops, roasted or Smoked Leg of Lamb and more.
• Spicy dipping sauce – try it as a wing sauce, as a cocktail sauce for shrimp or with party meatballs like these Corned Beef Meatballs.
• Holiday sauce – perfect as a holiday prime rib sauce, with leg of lamb, baked ham or corned beef
• Roast beef recipes – this is a divine horseradish sauce for beef tenderloin, brisket or any beef roast
• Sandwiches and burgers – create a wow-factor for ham or pastrami sandwiches and burgers
• Smoked meats – pairs incredibly well with Smoked Turkey Breast or Smoked Flank Steak.
• Deviled eggs or egg salad – add some heat and tanginess to the deviled egg yolks, or spice up a delicious Egg Salad – so good!

How to store

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks or consider freezing.

Variations

• Spicy sauce – add additional horseradish to taste for a spicier version
• Dairy-free – replace the sour cream with your favorite paleo or Whole30 mayo
• Wasabi sauce – use wasabi in place of horseradish

FAQ

More zesty sauces to try