The original post published in May 2011. I’ve updated the photos to spare myself some embarrassment from the total lack of photography skills in the early days of blogging.
Ask anyone from Mississippi if they know about Comeback Sauce and they will look at you shocked for even asking the question. Of course, everyone in Mississippi knows about Comeback Sauce. Even if you’ve never heard the name, you probably know it, too. The sauce that’s served by the steak house chain made famous by the onions that bloom, is reminiscent of Comeback Sauce. Chances are you’ve had it on a burger or sandwich at a new age sandwich shop. It’s a versatile sauce that also makes a great salad dressing. The origins are debated, but most attribute the sauce to a Greek immigrant who settled in Mississippi after WWII.
Most recipes agree on the proportions of mayonnaise to ketchup to chili sauce and heavy on the black pepper. After that, the amounts of all the other ingredients are up for grabs.
Del Monte Chili Sauce. Look for it on your condiment aisle. If you can’t find Del Monte, Heinz is a suitable substitute.
Chili Sauce is a condiment that is usually found on the same aisle as ketchup, mayo and mustard. Look for it on the top shelve. The bottle contains 12 ounces. I’ve always preferred Heinz, but, my store was recently out of Heinz and I bought Del Monte which I’ve found is just as good. It’s always nice to have an option. Chili Sauce and chili pepper are not the same.
I formulated this recipe to give it as much shelf life as possible. Since I opted for garlic powder and onion powder over fresh garlic and onion, the sauce will keep in your refrigerator for as long as you would keep mayonnaise and ketchup. But, don’t worry. It will be eaten long before you have to worry about it spoiling.
It’s uses are many. It’s a dip for vegetables and chips, a salad dressing, a sauce for seafood or a sandwich spread. I will be serving mine tonight with Salmon Patties. It is good on EVERYTHING, except Cheerios.
Comeback Sauce
Mix all ingredients well and store in refrigerator overnight. It needs to sit to let the flavors become “acquainted”. They shouldn’t rush into marriage.
yield: one pint
1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise (one of my Favorites)
1/4 cup Heinz ketchup
1/4 cup chili sauce ( I prefer Heinz or DelMonte. DO NOT substitute Thai Chili Sauce)
1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/4 cup light olive oil
juice of one lemon
Mix all ingredients well and store in refrigerator overnight.
Comeback Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise one of my Favorites
- 1/4 cup Heinz ketchup
- 1/4 cup chili sauce I prefer Heinz or DelMonte. DO NOT substitute Thai Chili Sauce
- 1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 1/4 cup light olive oil
- juice of one lemon
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients well and store in refrigerator overnight. It needs to sit to let the flavors become “acquainted”. They shouldn’t rush into marriage.
- Comeback Sauce goes with EVERYTHING.....except Cheerios.
Terri says
How long does this keep in the fridge?
Jackie Garvin says
Terri,
I developed this recipe to have as long a shelf live as possible. It will last as long as you would normally keep the principle ingredients which are mayonnaise and ketcup. If you make it up one batch at the time, you won’t have to worry about it going bad. It will disappear before you turn around good. 🙂
Phebe Reel says
I substituted this sauce for mayo/salad dressing to make tuna fish for sandwiches and it was fantastic. All I added to the can of Albacore tuna was 2-hardboiled eggs, a little sweet relish to taste and the comeback sauce. I also used the comeback sauce on my wheat bread intead of mayo/salad dressing. Comeback Tuna (my new name for my tunafish..hehehe) , tomatoes and lettuce… it was outstanding!!!
Jackie Garvin says
Phebe,
Thank you so much for sharing your Comeback Tuna recipe with us! It sounds delish. I have a sneaking suspicion your refrigerator will always host a jar of Comeback Sauce. 🙂
Michelle says
I have been trying to find this recipe for a while now! Thanks! Can’t wait to make it!
Jackie Garvin says
Hi Michelle,
I so glad you stopped by and found something you liked! Please visit us again. 🙂
The Slacker Mom says
I’m a northern girl and not a fan of mayonnaise but I have heard of this plenty of times on my many foodie exploits. I might just have to mix up a batch and see how it goes 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Slacker Mom,
Other than the consistency, you won’t even know mayo’s there. I hope you give it a try! 🙂
Kelly Stockstill says
I did a poll on Facebook to my fellow (South) Mississippians and the only one that had heard of it now lives in Jackson. So… It’s a North MS thing. I grew up in Poplarville which is an hour from Hattiesburg and New Orleans. South MS is like a different country compared to North MS. We’re influenced more by New Orleans and the Coast and the culture is a whole lot different. I had heard of Remoulade, but not Comeback sauce. Interesting though, and it does sound tasty. I have to admit I’ve never had Duke’s either, we grew up on Blue Plate!
Jackie Garvin says
Kelly,
I never heard of it either growing up and I’m from Mobile which is similar to South Mississippi in culture and heritage. I’m sure glad I found out about it, though!
As far as mayo goes, just use your favorite brand! 🙂
Beth says
The sauce is awesome with fried pickles!! Give it a try.
Jackie Garvin says
I’m sure it is, Beth! It goes really well with fried food. 😉
Lavinia says
If anyone’s looking, and doesn’t mind buying in bulk, Amazon.com has Duke’s Mayo for roughly $14 for four 32 oz jars… which works out to not very much at all.
Jackie Garvin says
Lavinia,
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m going to buy it. 🙂
Jody says
Oh my yummy goodness!!!! I came across this on Pinterest and tried making it this evening. Even before the ingredients had a chance to marry overnight it was heavenly! So Nich so that u ran out and picked up some little canning jars to include with Chrustmas gifts next week!!! I’m from Chicago and have never heard of Dukes so I used regular and it was still amazing. Might try amazon like someone mentioned earlier and serif it can possibly get any better. 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Jody,
Enjoy your Comeback Sauce! Your gift will make a lot of folks happy at Christmas! 🙂
Leslie says
What size jar do you use?
Jackie Garvin says
Leslie,
It makes a pint jar full. Enjoy! 🙂
Sylvie says
Would this be good as a dipping sauce for crudités? (raw veggies). Thinking of trying this for my son’s bday.
Jackie Garvin says
Sylvie,
I think it would be very good with crudites! It goes with everything….except Cheerios! 🙂
Belle says
How long will it last in the refrigerator?
Jackie Garvin says
Belle,
I formulated this recipe to give it as long a shelf life as possible. It will keep in your refrigerator as long as you would keep mayonnaise and ketchup. A long time! But, you won’t have to worry about it going bad before it’s eaten. 🙂
Michele says
Comeback Sauce rocks, Duke’s mayo rocks, and YOU rock, dear Jackie! I’ve been eating Comeback Sauce ever since I was a young child (LONG time ago!) when my grandparents took me to lunch at the Mayflower Cafe in Jackson MS where they serve it as salad dressing. Couldn’t get enough of it then, and can’t get enough of it now. I’m very cautious to make a batch only when I know there will be plenty of folks around 🙂
Jackie, chances are you’re already aware of this, but just in case… Martha Hall Foose provides the history of Comeback Sauce in one of my favorite cookbooks – ‘Screen Doors and Sweet Tea’. You’re absolutely correct about the Greek connection.
It’s always a pleasure to read your posts, dear Jackie! Blessings and (((hugs))) to you!
Jackie Garvin says
Michele,
I don’t have “Screen Doors and Sweet Tea” and have said one thousand times that I need to order it. No more putting it off. I’m ordering it now!
Thanks for your comments, Michele. I always love having you visit! 🙂
Mahala Saye says
This stuff is so good that my 13 year old grandson asked for a quart to take home for Christmas. High praise indeed!
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Mahala! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Rose says
This sauce is amazing! My eldest daughter is addicted to this stuff and buys extra “cups” at the fast food restaurant when she gets her chicken tenders (at $0.50 for about 2 tablespoons! That’s about $16 for the pint.). I made some as one of her Christmas presents. She stuck her finger in it and her eyes rolled in her head!! I think I’m in trouble…
BTW, found you on Pinterest, too.
Jackie Garvin says
Hello Rose! It sounds like you made your daughter, and her pocketbook, very happy!
I’m glad you found us. Welcome home! 🙂
Shelia says
I am a condiment “junkie”! I have a sauce for everything!! My husband laughs at the amount of bottles in our fridge and pantry!! He is the “if the steak is good, you don’t need any sauce!” Whatever!! I can’t wait to try this one out!! Sounds like it could replace alot of my other choices!! lol…
Jackie Garvin says
Shelia,
Please let me know what you think about Comeback Sauce. I goes with everything…..except Cheerios! 🙂
Sylvia Thomas says
Duke’s Mayonnaise…an original from Greenville, SC. Where I grew up, there is NO OTHER MAYONNAISE!
Jackie Garvin says
Sylvia,
We love Greenville, SC and used to visit there frequently. The park downtown is just about the prettiest park I’ve ever seen. I’ve walked many miles in that park.
Go Duke’s!
Happy New Year, Sylvia!
Emily says
There’s too many comments for me to sift through, so pardon if this has been answered. How long does it keep?
Tish says
Love, love, love this! We keep pink dressing (what we’ve always called it) in the fridge all the time. It’s wonderful!
Jackie Garvin says
Tish,
Pink dressing is just about the perfect name for it! Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂
Daniel says
sounds like Zip sauce, from a little place in Magee, MS that serves it with hamburgers, fries, onion rings, crackers….
Jackie Garvin says
Daniel,
It’s probably the same sauce. Comeback Sauce goes with everything…..except Cheerios. 🙂
Susan Jones says
I just returned from the grocery store with all of the ingredients needed to make your Comeback Sauce. I live in North Alabama and our Publix grocery had Duke’s mayo in three size jars, plus in the squeeze bottle. I had never heard of Comeback Sauce until within the last year….the local Jack’s Hamburger fast-food restaurant close to my house offers Comeback Sauce as one of their sauce options with the chicken tenders. My grandson LOVES it….so I am making him his own jar to take home….and a jar for me as well. I have no doubt that your recipe will make an incredible sauce … can’t wait to try it on lots of different foods!! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Jackie Garvin says
Susan,
I’m so happy you found a recipe you’d like to try. Please let me know what you think of it. I hope you visit us often. We love having you here! 🙂