Corned beef is a beloved staple that shows up on tables across the country for holidays, parties and Sunday dinners. This salty tender meat soaks up a brine that gives it a distinctive flavor. While corned beef is delicious on its own, the right sauce can take it to the next level. The sauce helps cut through the fattiness of the meat and adds another layer of flavor. With so many options to choose from, what sauce goes best with corned beef?
Traditional Corned Beef Sauces
Some sauces have become time-honored pairings for corned beef thanks to their complementary flavors. These classics are always a safe bet:
Mustard
Tangy mustard is hands down the most popular sauce for corned beef The zing of the mustard balances the rich meatiness Yellow mustard is the standard, but spicy brown or Dijon mustard also pair nicely. For special occasions, whip up a creamy mustard sauce enriched with ingredients like honey, butter, and heavy cream.
Horseradish
The lively heat of horseradish is another excellent foil for corned beef’s fattiness. Freshly grated horseradish root has the most potent flavor. But prepared horseradish or horseradish sauce (especially ones with vinegar added) work too. A horseradish cream sauce made with sour cream or crème fraiche is a refined option.
Pickles
From cornichons to dill chips to sauerkraut, pickled vegetables cut through the richness of corned beef. Not to mention, the vinegary tang complements the saltiness. Corned beef sandwiches aren’t complete without the crunch of pickles.
Creative Sauces for Corned Beef
Looking to shake up your corned beef game? Here are some fun, innovative sauces to try:
Creamy Cheese Sauce
A smooth, creamy cheese sauce takes corned beef to new decadent heights. Mornay, the classic French cheese sauce made with béchamel and Gruyère, is opulent. For easier cheese sauces, stir cheddar, Swiss, or blue cheese into a white sauce or béchamel base.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
The sweetness and acidity of a sweet and sour sauce offsets the salty umami of corned beef. Ketchup-based sauces are an easy shortcut. But homemade sauces made with ingredients like rice vinegar, pineapple juice, ginger, and garlic have more complex flavor.
Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue sauce gives corned beef a fun summery twist. Sweet tomato-based barbecue sauces pair especially well. Try regional styles like Kansas City, Memphis, or Texas barbecue sauces. The touch of smoke and spice complements the beef.
Chimichurri
This lively Argentinean green sauce jazzes up corned beef sandwiches. Traditional chimichurri contains parsley, oregano, garlic, oil, vinegar, and red pepper flakes. But creativity is encouraged, so add other fresh herbs or swap in lemony tang.
Beurre Blanc
This French butter sauce punctuates corned beef with hits of acidity. Traditional versions incorporate white wine and vinegar. But citrus juice/zest or flavors like tarragon and shallots also taste great. The butter provides richness on par with the meat.
Pepper Jelly
For an unexpected sweet and spicy flavor bomb, serve corned beef with pepper jelly. Any color pepper jelly works, though rosy red or orange tend to be less cloyingly sweet. Pepper jelly glazes are easy to make on the stovetop too.
More Mouthwatering Sauces for Corned Beef
Keep the sauce options coming with these additions:
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Béarnaise sauce
- Au jus
- Bordelaise sauce
- Steak sauce (A1, HP, etc.)
- Hot sauce or harissa
- Chutney or fruit preserves
- Pesto
- Romesco
- Mole sauce
- Demi-glace
- Mushroom gravy
- Onion gravy
- Red wine reduction
What Goes With Corned Beef Besides Sauce?
Don’t forget about the classics when planning your corned beef meal:
- Cabbage – Boiled, roasted, or sautéed
- Potatoes – Mashed, boiled, roasted, or hash
- Carrots – Glazed or roasted
- Onions – Caramelized or grilled
- Leafy greens – Kale, spinach, chard
- Bread – Rye, pumpernickel, Irish soda bread
- Pickles – Sauerkraut, kimchi, relish
A sauce can complement any of these traditional corned beef sides. Mashed potatoes love a drizzle of creamy gravy. Braised cabbage shines with a squirt of mustard. Sauces help each component sing.
Tips for Picking the Best Sauce for Your Corned Beef
Choosing the ideal sauce for your corned beef depends on a few factors:
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Consider flavors – Sauces that contrast the meat’s saltiness and fattiness tend to work best. Acidic, spicy, sweet, and tangy all balance well.
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Pick a sauce consistency – Thicker sauces cling nicely to slices of corned beef. But thinner sauces make great dippers.
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Mind the preparation – If roasting or baking, glazes work nicely. For boiled, braised or slow cooked, opt for sauces on the side.
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Think about the meal – Casual sandwiches love pickles and mustard. Special dinners may call for elegant sauces like beurre blanc.
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Satisfy tastes – Pick sauces your guests will enjoy. Skip heat if folks don’t like spice.
With an arsenal of sauce recipes under your belt, you can always serve your corned beef with a tasty, complementary sauce. Get creative and find new favorite pairings!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
I love simple sauce recipes that boast big flavors, like my crab cake sauce and this mustard sauce! Its amazing how a few simple ingredients can elevate a dish!
Adds Flavor – The tangy and zesty flavors of mustard and lemon juice make this sauce the perfect accompaniment to corned beef brisket. It cuts through the rich and salty flavors of the beef, creating a delicious balance of flavors.
Simple Ingredients – Its easy to quickly throw this recipe together using simple ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen!
No Cooking – Save the stovetop for your Corned Beef! This recipe is ready in minutes using just a whisk and a bowl.
If you are planning a St. Patricks Day feast, youll want to follow this Dutch Oven Corned Beef recipe! And be sure to finish your meal off with a minty frozen treat!
Looking for the full recipe? The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions. Save This Recipe
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Sour cream: This ingredient is the foundation of our creamy sauce. It adds a tangy element and also helps to balance the sharpness of the mustard and lemon juice. If you dont have sour cream, you can substitute it with plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise.
Dijon mustard: The mustard provides a pungent flavor that pairs well with the salty and savory flavors of corned beef. You can substitute Dijon mustard with yellow mustard or whole-grain mustard if you prefer.
Lemon juice: The lemon juice adds a bright and acidic note to the sauce, which helps to cut through the richness of the corned beef. An equal replacement of white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used.
Spices: Salt, black pepper, and garlic enhance the flavors of the other ingredients. This recipe uses garlic powder but you can replace it with ½ teaspoon of minced garlic.
You dont need a complex set of instructions for this sauce. You literally just put everything into a small bowl, then mix it together.
The total time it takes to make this tangy sauce is minutes.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
- Give it a taste. If you want it to have a stronger mustard flavor then add a little more mustard. If you want it brighter or more citrusy then add more lemon juice. And of course, you can add extra salt, pepper, or garlic powder to suit your tastebuds.
- For a thinner sauce replace half of the sour cream with heavy cream.
- If you like a little sweetness, stir in one tablespoon of brown sugar.
There are many other ways to use this creamy mustard sauce beyond pairing it with corned beef. Here are some ideas:
- Use it as a dip for vegetables or crackers.
- Spread it on sandwiches or burgers for extra flavor.
- Serve it as a condiment for grilled or roasted meats, such as chicken, pork, or beef.
- Use it as a dressing for a green salad, or drizzle it over roasted vegetables.
- Serve it alongside fish or seafood, such as salmon or shrimp.
- Use it as a sauce for dipping chicken tenders or nuggets.
- Use it as a marinade for chicken, pork, or beef before grilling or roasting.
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time. Keep it in the refrigerator in an airtight container and it should stay fresh for up to one week.
I do not recommend that you freeze this sauce. Because it has a sour cream base the texture will completely change the texture of the sauce.
Yes, you can use other types of mustard, such as yellow mustard, stone-ground mustard, spicy brown mustard, or even honey mustard, depending on your personal preference.
Easy Mustard Sauce For Corned Beef #shorts #cornedbeef #stpatricksday #easyrecipe #mustard #howto
FAQ
What sauce is good on corned beef?
Horseradish sauce and/or mustard. The standard way to serve it is on St. Patrick’s Day as “Corned Beef and Cabbage” along with some potatoes.
What tastes good with corned beef?
A long-simmered one-pot meal of corned beef cooked to perfection and served with tender cabbage, potatoes, and carrots would please any Irish-American on St. Patrick’s Day. Add some mustard or a creamy horseradish sauce, and you have a true celebration.
What is the best partner of corned beef?
- Guinness Bread. …
- Smashed duck fat roast potatoes with truffle salt. …
- My Super Simple Mushy Peas Recipe. …
- Roasted Balsamic Beetroot and Carrot Salad with Labneh. …
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes. …
- Irish Bacon and Cheddar Soda Bread. …
- The BEST Potato Salad. …
- Black garlic potato gratin.
What kind of mustard is best for corned beef?
Whole Grain Dijon Mustard – This is for flavor and texture. I love whole grain mustard for the grainy texture it has. You can also use normal Dijon Mustard as well. White Wine – A lot of people use beer in their corned beef braise, however I like the acidity white wine brings, and it is gluten free.
What sauces are good with corned beef?
For corned beef, try these sauces: A buttery, tangy, and vinegary mustard sauce subtly sweetened with brown and white sugars, or a sweet apricot sauce for a fruity flavor. Recipe creator CANMAD7 also suggests drizzling the apricot sauce over cooked carrots.
What are the ingredients in a corned beef sauce?
A simple corned beef sauce can be made with just five ingredients: ketchup, honey, red wine vinegar, butter, and mint jelly. “This sweet, tangy sauce has been in my family since my great grandma Murphy first passed on the recipe,” says recipe creator BUNKYDARL.
What goes well with corned beef?
The sweetness of the honey paired with the smokiness of the chipotle peppers is the perfect compliment to corned beef. To make this sauce, simply combine 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 1-2 chipotle peppers (seeded and finely chopped). That’s it! You can adjust the amount of chipotle peppers depending on how much heat you like.
What is a good condiment for corned beef?
A good condiment for corned beef is creamy honey mustard horseradish sauce. This unique condiment can take any corned beef dish to the next level.
What wine goes with corned beef sauce?
To make this incredibly flavorful corned beef sauce, use your favorite full-bodied red wine. Multiple reviewers recommend opting for a bold Cabernet Sauvignon. You can also use pan drippings to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
What is a good dipping sauce for corned beef?
The horseradish is a key ingredient for its mild heat, adding just a hint of spice amidst the creamy texture of the sauce. This combination of ingredients creates a superb dipping sauce for corned beef that adds its own unique flavor to compliment the succulent meat. 3. Thousand Island Dressing