Horseradish Powder

(Armoracia rusticana, Cochloearia)

$9

Use horseradish powder when you are looking for some zing in a sauce. Horseradish powder is a hot, spicy powder that is typically blended into egg or cream based sauces, most commonly sour cream or mayonnaise and the end result is a potent and hot dipping sauces.

With qualities similar to mustard, horseradish also has pungent volatile oils. When cooking horseradish, the spiciness is reduced as these oils evaporate. This is why you are more likely to find horseradish in uncooked sauces. If however, you are looking for a hint of horseradish without the bite you can add a dash of the powder in cooked sauces.

Horseradish comes from a root vegetable known as the horseradish root and is a member of the mustard family. The root contains the pungent oil that gives horseradish powder its hot, spicy flavor. The dried root is ground into a powder form and is used to flavor classic horseradish sauces as well as finding its way into a variety of food toppings.

Where horseradish really shines is when it is partnered with beef, especially roast beef or prime rib, which are often served with a side of horseradish sauce. Having horseradish power on hand, allows you to create your own sauce tailored to your taste preferences and these are certainly fresher tasting as well. Simply add horseradish powder to sour cream or crème fraiche for a savory and spicy sauce.

Horseradish is a perennial plant of the Brassicaceae family, which also includes mustard, wasabi, broccoli, and cabbages.  Horseradish root is pale cream to white in color and when cut or scraped releases powerful enzymes that are as hot as mustard. 

Traditionally used with cold meats such as roast and corned beef. Add horseradish powder to any sauce and give it a sharp zippy flavor. Horseradish powder can be re-constituted in cold water to activate the enzymes and blended with sour cream or mayonnaise to make a horseradish sauce.

For a thick, sharp horseradish sauce, mix 1 part powder with 3 parts water. For more of a sauce, thin out with yogurt, lemon juice or vinegar.

For cocktail dipping sauce, add 2 tablespoons horseradish powder to 1 cup catsup.

For a really hot mustard sauce, mix it with Oriental mustard powder and vinegar.

Sprinkle this in Bloody Marys for a real eye-opener!

Other Common Names: Mountain Radish, Great Raifort, Red Cole. 

Botanical Name: (Armoracia rusticana, Cochloearia)

Health Benefits: The roots of the horseradish plant are used both as a condiment and for medicinal purposes. Medicinally, horseradish root is considered useful in reducing the length of urinary tract infections. It is also used for kidney stones, fluid retention, gallbladder problems, and for treating intestinal worms and colic in children. The mustard oil in the root can be both irritating and stimulating, and it has been used for bronchitis and cough. It is not ideal for individuals with a low thyroid or irritable bowel syndrome.

Botanical Name (Armoracia rusticana, Cochloearia)
Common Names Mountain Radish, Great Raifort, Red Cole
Flavor Very sharp, similar to mustard
Contains Roots of the horseradish plant Armoracia lapathifolia
Application As condiment, or to flavor fish, beef, sausages, and potato salads