Comeback Sauce

Hello, my fellow northerners, you're gonna love this southern staple, the simple no-cook condiment that's so good, people will definitely "come back" for more. (It's exactly what happens here!) It takes just 10 minutes to make, you may even already have all the ingredients on hand in your fridge and spice cupboard this very minute. After that? Just drizzle, dunk, daub or dip; spread, slather, swab or sop on anything except, well, a hot fudge sundae. (Sorry, old family joke. Couldn't help myself!)

Approachable, Homestyle Whole Food, Made from Scratch with Common Fridge and Pantry Ingredients. A Vintage, Easy Tried-and-True Recipe from the American South. One (Bowl) & Done (in Just Ten Minutes). An Easy Last-Minute Addition If the Meat Is a Little Dry, A Sandwich a Touch Boring, the Roasted Veggies Just Need a Drizzle of "Something". A New Addition to The Homemade Pantry, a Kitchen Parade Specialty. Easily Adapted to Your Family's Tastebuds. Year-Round Kitchen Staple. Budget Friendly. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Great for Meal Prep & Food Gifts. Potluck & Party Friendly. Vegetarian & Easily Converted to Vegan. Naturally Gluten Free. What're you waiting for?! So Good!!

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COMPLIMENTS!

• "You were right! I'm back!" ~ Seven-year old A, her first time tasting Comeback Sauce.

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"Comeback" in Real Life

This summer, my sister and her husband arrived from Texas with an eight-year old grandson in tow for a week of poolside relaxation and St. Louis-style tourism. We had such fun!

Their first day here, we invited another family for a late-afternoon swim and an early supper. The four kids played shy for about 15 minutes, then became instant buddies. Oh to make friends so quickly!

My dinner plan reflected the casual gathering, lots of kids, the outdoor heat. The main course was thin-sliced chilled pork tenderloin (Tropical Pork Tenderloin, roasted the day before) with sandwich pickles. On a whim, I mixed a batch of Comeback Sauce for the sandwiches.

"What's Comeback Sauce?" asked the seven-year old who, like many kids, is suspicious of anything new food-wise. "Oh, you'll love it," chimed in my Texas sister. "It's so good, you'll come back for more." And so she did, just a couple of minutes later! And so did everyone else! My Comeback Sauce was a a huge hit!

But then?

There was lots of tenderloin left over, so I sent some home with our guests. But man-oh-man, did I ever mess up. The kids liked the pork again but asked, "Where's the Comeback Sauce?" Oops. I quick-quick mixed another batch and sent it over.

Resources

Wanna know more? Comeback is kinda fascinating!

• Oxford Eagle: Iconic Restaurants Come and Go but Comeback Sauce Has Endured 100 Years
• Magnolia Tribune: The History of Comeback Sauce

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Recipe Overview: Comeback Sauce

• Comeback Sauce is a native of Mississippi, "born" into this world almost 100 years ago. It's an upgraded mayonnaise, an irresistible blend of mayo, tomato flavors and spices, often with a spicy kick. As with many recipes of this ilk, there's no "one" recipe but mine, I think, is a a keeper.
• When to Serve = Drizzle a little over plain chicken or pork, dip your raw or roasted veggies into it, slather it onto a hot burger, use as a dipping sauce for wings, onion rings and other fried foods. I don't love Comeback as a salad dressing but many other people do.
• Comeback Sauce is vegetarian but switch to a vegan mayonnaise and voila, it's vegan. It's also gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free (again, with a vegan mayo).
• Distinctive Ingredients = Mayonnaise + Chili Sauce + Spices (smoked paprika + garlic powder + onion powder + dry mustard + salt & pepper)
• Short Ingredient List = all the above + Ketchup + Lemon Juice + Hot Sauce (we use Frank's)
• Kitchen Tools = One Bowl + One Whisk or Fork to mix.
• Comeback is a pretty pale red color, the texture of a loose salad dressing.
• Comeback is a time-friendly DIY condiment, there's no cooking, just mixing. And there's no waiting for the flavors to meld, just mix and serve.
• Comeback is a pantry-friendly extra. In my kitchen, chili sauce is the only new item to keep on hand. But worth it!
• Comeback is a budget-friendly condiment, it uses what's already on hand yet it's way more special than plain mayo or plain ketchup or plain mustard, say.
• As written, my Comeback recipe yields a generous two cups. It's easily doubled or tripled, easily halved.
• This recipe works especially well for those Cooking for One or Two. Just make a small batch.
• So good! I hope you love it!


• If Comeback Sauce is a mayo-based condiment, my Famous Mustard Sauce (Carolina BBQ Mustard Sauce) is definitely a mustard sauce. It's also from the American South, also completely memorable, also a little bit out of the ordinary, something I really appreciate.
• Not quite what you're looking for? Check out my other condiment recipes, no doubt I love them, they fall into a recipe category I call Little Extras That Make All the Difference.

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COMEBACK SAUCE

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Time-to-table: 10 minutes
Makes a generous 2 cups

• 1 cup (224g) mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup (68g) Heinz Chili Sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup or additional Chili Sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon (or to taste) hot sauce (we use Frank's RedHot Original, could also use sriracha, Tabasco, etc.)
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (assumes Diamond Crystal, use less Morton's or sea salt)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

JUST WHISK! Stir all the ingredients together with a whisk or a big fork. Taste and adjust to taste, especially the hot sauce. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate. Better yet, it's less pretty but way more convenient, transfer into a plastic squeeze bottle (affiliate link) or two.

Comeback Sauce is ready to serve on the spot but also keeps a good week stored in the fridge, especially if left out or on the table only briefly.

ALANNA's TIPS The first time I made Comeback Sauce, it was very spur of the moment. I found a recipe and just went with it. But that recipe called for 1/4 cup of "chili sauce" and suggested sriracha, the hot sauce. Yikes! It pays to know your audience; I knew mine, including a bunch of kids, would never go for so much heat. So I skipped it entirely. (And remember, we all fell in love with that Comeback.) Later, I researched the history and conventions for Comeback Sauce and learned that many recipes specify Heinz Chili Sauce. I bought some, special, and decided that it totally belongs in Comeback. It's a lot like Heinz' own ketchup, just a little thicker, a little spicier, a little more savory. Frankly, Chili Sauce may become the house ketchup! For Comeback Sauce, I really like how the Chili Sauce adds a little texture that's welcome against the smooth mayonnaise. If you make Comeback Sauce for a gathering in your own home, I recommend mixing a double batch so that you'll have some to send home with your guests. They'll be grateful! I thought that a Duke's version of Comeback Sauce would be a good comparison to my homemade version. Whoah, it was such a disappointment, more like mayo mixed with some Thousand Island dressing, definitely a weak sister, still more mayo-ish than something special. We used about half, then pitched the rest.

FOR MORE INFO If you "skipped straight to the recipe," please scroll back to the top of this page for ingredient information, ingredient substitutions, tips and more. If you print this recipe, you'll want to check the recipe online for even more tips and extra information about ingredient substitutions, best results and more. See https://www.kitchenparade.com/2024/09/comeback-sauce.html .

Adapted from Southern Living.

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More Squeeze Bottle Deliciousness

more
~ Little Extras That Make All the Difference ~

• THE RECIPE Famous Mustard Sauce (Carolina BBQ Mustard Sauce) A tiny-bit spicy and a tiny-bit sweet and totally addictive.
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~ mayonnaise ~
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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, for more scratch cooking recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

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