Hockey sauce is a combination of tartar sauce and ketchup, which together are considered essentials for any self-respecting hockey fan. It is usually served with a side of french fries to make it an complete meal and satisfy even the biggest food enthusiasts.
Though it might seem like a magical combination, the two condiments didn’t always go together. Ketchup was originally created as a way to attract customers to Edward Mulcahy’s Irish Dairy restaurant in Chicago in the early 20th century. At the time, patrons would enjoy sitting at small tables in the dining room or on the sidewalk across the street from the restaurant, enjoying fresh lemonade and hot dogs with ketchup. Some sources say that the combination occurred by accident when a cook mistook ketchup for tartar sauce while preparing a steak for a customer. Regardless of how it came to be, the two most favorite ingredients of sports fans around the world have now been combined into one sauce.
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Where Does The Name Come From?
The name “Hockey Sauce” is both a play on words and a reference to the sport itself. The name “hockey” comes from the sport of hockey, which itself is derived from a French word for “chicken,” due to Europeans and Americans often ordering chicken to accompany beer back in the day. The word “sauce” is used in reference to the condiments traditionally served with the dish, as well as the sauce-like nature of the product itself.
Interestingly enough, there is also a dish called “Hockey Pie”, which is essentially a pizza with various ice cream and frozen fruit toppings served in a pie shell. It is usually served in a restaurant setting with a side of chipped beef or chicken tenders, along with potato salad and coleslaw. Not too bad for a pizza, eh?
How To Make It
So you want to make some Hockey Sauce, huh? It’s very easy. All you need is ketchup and tartar sauce, and you can put them together in a bowl and mix well. Voilà! You now have a delicious new dip, sandwich spread, or barbecue sauce to try out. Feel free to experiment and see what you can come up with.
Some sources say that adding anchovies or other fish products to your homemade ketchup may improve its flavor. Be careful though, as too much fish may make the sauce too salty. You can also add tomato paste or mustard powder for some more texture and flavor. Just make sure you don’t add any of these items too early in the cooking process or else the acidity of the tomatoes or the tanginess of the mustard will deteriorate.
The Varieties
There are so many different varieties of hockey sauce out there. For some reason, people in Canada seem to love their hockey sauce varieties the most. According to Reddit user u/Popsugar_Candy, they enjoy making and eating different varieties of sauces due to the amount of time it takes to make them. They mention that some of their favorites are:
- Roasted Garlic
- Chipotle ChilIpere
- Chipotle Chile Pepper Sauce
- Hickory Smoked Sauce
- Honey BBQ Sauce
- Mustard Sauce
When Should You Use It?
Use your homemade sauce anytime you’d use store-bought versions of the two condiments put together. Feel free to give it a try and see how much you enjoy it. You can also try some of the recipes available on this website to see what other delicious combinations you can come up with.
Where Should You Serve It?
Anything and everything! You can use it as a dip or spread, or even pizza sauce. Anything that uses cream cheese as a base works perfectly with it. You can also use it as a marinade for meats or vegetables, or even as a substitute for soy sauce on rice dishes or potato salads. The sky’s the limit!
Some sources say that a single jar of store-bought hockey sauce can last you a whole year, which is a whole lot of dipping! So don’t be afraid to make a large batch, and use it wherever you please. Just remember, you’re the chef of your kitchen, and there’s no wrong way to use your newly made pasta sauce or chili sauce!
Final Takeaway
So should you try out Hockey Sauce? I think so! Not only is it easy to make, but it also has tons of delicious varieties to choose from. Though a little salty, it is still one of the best condiments around. So unless you’re really a fan of ketchup or mustard, you should make some homemade sauce and try it out. Who knows? You might just like it and decide to make it a habit.