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The sauce has a rich and creamy texture, with a tangy and slightly spicy flavour. The mayonnaise provides the creaminess, while the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce adds a sweet and savoury taste. The vinegar, garlic, and onion provide a slight tang and the spices give the sauce a little kick. Comeback sauce can be used as a dip for fried chicken, seafood, or french fries, or as a topping for sandwiches, burgers, and salads. It can also be used as a sauce for barbecued meats, or as a dressing for coleslaw.
The sauce is named after its popularity in the 1930s when it became a staple condiment for fried chicken and seafood. The story goes that customers would often ask for the sauce to be brought back to their table, hence the name “comeback sauce”.
What we do know for sure is that comeback sauce originated in a Greek-owned restaurant in Comeback sauce originated in a Greek restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi. Greek immigrants, who settled in north-central Alabama and worked in the mining and steel industries, opened restaurants in Birmingham before migrating to Jackson. The Mayflower, Primos, Dennery’s, Crechale’s, and the Elite in Jackson were among these restaurants. The sauce was introduced either at the Mayflower Café in the late 1930s or one of the Dennery-owned restaurants in the early 1940s. The sauce quickly became a staple in Greek restaurants in Jackson and later spread beyond Jackson to other parts of Mississippi and Southern states. The classic recipe for comeback sauce consists of ketchup, mayonnaise, chilli sauce, yellow onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, paprika, black pepper, salt, salad oil, and lemon juice. True comeback sauce uses grated yellow onion with juice and minced fresh garlic, not onion powder or garlic powder.
The sauce is very versatile and can be customised to suit individual tastes. Some variations of the sauce include the addition of hot sauce, mustard, or horseradish for a spicier flavour, or the substitution of sour cream for mayonnaise for a tangier flavour. Comeback sauce is a popular condiment in the southern United States and is enjoyed by many people for its rich and tangy flavour. Whether used as a dip or a sauce, it adds a delicious touch to any dish and is a must-try for anyone looking for a classic southern flavour.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon water
- ⅔ cup chilli sauce
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 dash hot sauce
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 small yellow onion, grated, with juice
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 dash paprika
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
Method
- Assemble all ingredients and process in blender or food processor. Store in refrigerator for up to one week.
