by Mike Stratfold

Created on: November 03, 2009   Last Updated: November 04, 2009

To make the best cocktail sauce in my opinion you have to have the right ingredients to start with and add a dash of love to make it perfect. I find that this sauce is best eaten in summer time and consumed with seafood, preferably prawns and with a nice chilled glass of white wine, chilled to nine degrees or so.

Let's start with my special recipe that I think I have perfected over the last few years.

You will need the following items and ingredients:

1) 100 ml tomato sauce or ketchup in your country

2 )100 ml of mayonnaise, home made mayo is better but a shop bought one should do the trick

3) the juice and zest chopped rind of one lemon, obviously separated

4) 5 drops of Tabasco sauce, or more if you like it spicy

5) 5 ml of Worcestershire sauce

6) a dash of barbecue sauce

7) a small dash of honey

8) a small mixing bowl

9) a small whisk or a mixing spoon although a whisk is preferred

First add the tomato sauce and ketchup to the mixing bowl and beat or whisk well.

Then add the finely chopped lemon zest and lemon juice and other ingredients.

Taste as you go and if you like it a bit spicy then you can add some cayenne pepper and some more tabasco sauce.

It is important that you then whisk this well to get the flavors to mix through the sauce.

Once you have done this please place glad wrap over the top and store in the fridge a half an hour before use for best results.

For another added dimension you can add chopped lemon thyme which will enhance the natural lemon flavor even further.

Another additional item or items if you want to is a dash of nice white wine like a Sauvignon blanc or a Chardonnay varietal wine. Only add a dash, or alternatively, some people have been known to add a dash of beer.

If you find that you have a large number of guests then you can double the recipe or just add additional equal portions of both the tomato or ketchup sauce and the mayonnaise.

This cocktail sauce is tried and tested with the best fresh prawns which are freshly caught and peeled and then generously dipped in this sauce. If you like my cocktail sauce then I have heaps of other recipes as I am a sauce man.

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