Pickled Horseradish Sauce Recipe and Directions

Step 1 - Selecting the horseradish

The most important step! You need horseradish that are FRESH and crisp. Limp, old horseradish will make nasty tasting canned horseradish. Guests will probably throw them at you.. Select firm, crisp horseradish. Remove and discard any soft, diseased, spotted and chewed up horseradish.

How much horseradish and where to get it

You can grow your own, pick your own, or buy them at the grocery store. About 3 or 4 plants with of 1-inch diameter roots makes about 4 four-ounce jars - similar to the ones in the grocery store.

Step 2 - Wash the horseradish

I'm sure you can figure out how to scrub the horseradish in plain cold or lukewarm water using your hands or a vegetable brush. Wash horseradish roots thoroughly to remove as much dirt as feasible.

Combine ingredients and fill into sterile jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Seal jars tightly and store in a refrigerator.

Step 3 - Trim the ends and cut into smaller pieces

Cut the small roots off and with a vegetable peeler and a sharp knife, peel off brown outer skin.

Step 4 -Grate the horseradish!

I prefer to use a blender, pouring the vinegar or lemon juice in to help liquefy the roots and keep the blender moving it around. But the peeled roots may also be grated in a food processor or cut into small cubes and put through a food grinder. Grating horseradish releases the enzymes that cause the hot flavor. And the finer the grind, the hotter the heat!

Step 5 - Mix in remaining vinegar, salt and ascorbic acid.

I prefer not to use any salt, and for ascorbic acid, I use "Fruit Fresh". Just mix them up (again I do this in the blender). Note that adding the vinegar stops the heat from developing, so if you like very hot horseradish, let the grated horseradish sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes before adding the vinegar!

Step 6 - Store the jars in the refrigerator

Just put the lids on and put them in a colder part of your fridge!

Try to use them within 2 months!

You're done!