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.
Lisa Sullivan says
Headed to Brookshires tomorrow to get ingredients. If this is as good as the Come Back sauce at the Beechwood Inn in Vicksburg, I will find you and give you my firstborn child. (I figure you’ll give her back anyway.)
Jackie Garvin says
Lisa,
LOL! I’m dying to know how the sauce compares. I’m sure your firstborn child is lovely. She’s welcomed anytime and we won’t hold her hostage! 🙂
Tnunez says
What kind of lemon? over were I live we have Green Mexican lemons and Yellow lemon… (that’s how they are called) lol
Jackie Garvin says
Tnunez,
I’m not familiar with Green Mexican lemons but they sound very interesting. I used a yellow lemon. If you like the flavor of Green Mexican lemons and are accustomed to using them, then give them a try in this sauce! Please let me know what you think about it.
Welcome home! 🙂
terri says
Found you on Pinterest. Never heard of Comeback Sauce or Duke’s before. Sounds so good! I will try with my standby Best Foods (Hellmans).
Jackie Garvin says
Terri,
You absolutely should use your favorite brand of mayonnaise! Please let me know what you think of the sauce.
Welcome home! 🙂
Dot Sykes says
I have been making my own version of this for years and for some reason have never thought to make a jar full. Dumb me. I don’t use pepper since I can’t eat it either. I use some horseradish sauce and hot sauce in place of the tabasco sauce. A cooler version for us light weights that can’t handle much heat.
Jackie Garvin says
Dot,
If you’re make your “light weight” version with horseradish sauce and hot sauce, I can’t imagine what you’re heavy duty version would be!
Thanks for popping in, Dot! 🙂
Lori says
I am wondering if this is the same sauce that the same restaurant that serves the Bloomin Onion also serves with their grilled shrimp? Is so then you have just made my week! That stuff is addictive!
Jackie Garvin says
Lori,
I’ve never had the grilled shrimp in that restaurant but I bet this sauce it’s pretty darn close. Enjoy! 🙂
angie says
I’m in Columbus, Ohio.
I want to try this but now you have me wanting Dukes. I’ve never heard of it. Also I’m not sure I’ve ever seen chili sauce??? Were not talking about chili powder are we? Now I feel like I’ve really been missing out.
Jackie Garvin says
Angie,
I edited the post to show a picture of a bottle of chili sauce. If you can’t find Duke’s, use your favorite brand of mayonnaise. Sue just posted a helpful link: http://www.dukesmayo.com/store-finder.asp. Thanks, Sue!
I hope you enjoy the sauce as much as the rest of us do! We think it’s dynamite. 🙂
Sue says
http://www.dukesmayo.com/store-finder.asp
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Sue! 🙂
Teri says
Never heard of this out in the west but I want to try it. Do you cook with it or use it after food is cooked. I know you said it can be used on anything but maybe cheerios but can you be more specific.
Thanks
Jackie Garvin says
Teri,
“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.”
I haven’t cooked with it yet but used it as a dipping sauce after the food is prepared. You could also use it as an addition to mayonnaise based salads such as chicken, ham and shrimp. The next time I make meatloaf, I’m going to add it in place of ketchup to the meat mixture. I think it will add a special flavor to the meatloaf. I don’t see a problem with the sauce breaking during the cooking process.
Please let me know if you need some more information. 🙂
Enjoy!
DEE ANN PAYNE says
I JUST MADE THIS SAUCE! CANT WAIT TO TRY IT OUT FOR THE SUPERBOWL SNACKS!, RIGHT NOW MINE IS IN BOWL, WILL HAVE THE HUSBAND BRING HOME MASON JARS, SINCE HE WORKS FOR ALBERTSONS LOL. I SAW THIS ON PINTEREST, THANKS FOR SHARING. DEE ANN
Jackie Garvin says
Dee Ann,
I hope you and your guests enjoy the sauce along with your Superbowl snacks. The taste will improve mightily once the sauce is in canning jars. 😉
Jilly Sue says
Can’t wait to try it, I put it in an empty ketchup bottle.
Jackie Garvin says
Jilly Sue,
Now that’s a smart way of recycling bottles! 🙂
Jordana says
This is almost identical to what we use in the Bahamas for dipping conch fritters… love it!!
Jackie Garvin says
Jordana,
It would be perfect with conch fritters! Thanks for stopping by, Jordana! 🙂
Gia says
Just made some of the sauce. I put it in an old Duke’s mayo jar. 🙂 I may add more Tabasco since I prefer mine to have more zing.
Jackie Garvin says
Gia,
That’s so smart to recycle! I hope you enjoy your Comeback Sauce! 🙂
jill says
Wondering if this is the samething as the chipotle sauce they use at Cheesecake factory? Terrific on shrimp on chicken sandwiches.
Jackie Garvin says
Jill,
It wouldn’t be exactly the same as chipotle sauce which is made from smoked jalapenos. This sauce doesn’t have a smokey flavor. It’s still might good! 🙂
Leanne Head says
When I moved to North Carolina I had never heard of Dukes Mayo either but I’m here to tell you.. there are people here that won’t eat anything else. I grew up with Hellman’s mayo in the fridge and still prefer it but lately my kids have brought Duke’s into the house and I have to admit it’s not bad. Either way.. I plan to try this “sauce” recipe and see if it stands up to all the hype I’ve read here. It must be some wonderful stuff and I’m sure I my family will suck it right up. Thanks for the great ideas.
Jackie Garvin says
Leanne,
I think Comeback Sauce will live up to the hype and become a refrigerator staple for you. Please let me know what you think! 🙂
lisa cunningham says
Just made this. Tastes Yummy now- can’t wait for tomorrow. Being from AZ, I may add a bit more heat, thinking diced jalepeno would be good. We’ll see – thanks for th recipe. also going to adde to my hot clam dip – spice that puppy up!
Jackie Garvin says
Lisa,
I hope you enjoy! It sounds like you already have some mighty good plans for Comeback Sauce! 🙂
Trayce says
What is Duke’s Mayo? I’m in Minnesota so, I never heard of it–I’m sorry to say.
Is there someplace I can buy online if there isn’t a company here?
Thank you and I can hardly wait to make this recipe.
Jackie Garvin says
Trayce,
If you can’t find Duke’s mayo, just use your favorite brand. I’m sure there are many mail order sources for Duke’s but it’s really not necessary to order it. Please let me know what you think of the sauce! 🙂
glenda robles says
we don’t have duke’s mayo on west coast but i looked online and you can order it, http://www.dukesmayo.com
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks for the info, Glenda! 🙂
Tonya says
just made my first jar of comeback sauce. Can’ wait to try it.
Jackie Garvin says
I hope you enjoy it, Tonya! 🙂
Deidra English-Crosby says
Listen, I’m a sauce girl like you wouldn’t believe. How in the world did I miss this Mrs.Jackie? Its even crazier that I found this site through pinterest… But I actually know u! Way cool! I cant wait to make it.
Jackie Garvin says
Hey Diedra!
If you love sauces then Comeback Sauce will make you want to swallow your tongue. It’s unbelievably good! I hope you give it a try.
Love to all your family! 🙂
Maria Sibson says
I have never heard of Comeback Sauce or Duke’s Mayo. But this recipe is very similar to the way I make homemade Thousand Island Dressing, minus a couple of the ingredients. Going to try this recipe. Would love to see how different it would be than the dressing I make. And I ALWAYS use Hellman’s.
Jackie Garvin says
Marie,
I hope you enjoy it! 🙂