Jezebel Sauce
If you, like me, have lived many decades deprived of the knowledge and enjoyment of Jezebel sauce, then hallelujah this is your day! I’m here to open up your eyes AND your taste buds with this recipe that was recently revealed to me at a cancer-free celebration for a friend.
Now, I suspect some of you are probably shaking your heads and smiling at me right now because I have lived all these years without knowing about this unique southern recipe. And you also know how I am. Once I discover something, I just have to let everybody know about it! So don’t make fun of my excitement at the discovery of this (as I have come to find out) very common sauce.
Maybe you know the reason for the name of this sauce? If so, we’d love to hear your story. Regardless, if you’ve read The Holy Bible, you know something about a woman named Jezebel. She married an Israelite prince named Ahab but continued to worship Baal, which really didn’t go over so well. Maybe we could even venture to say she was rather “saucy” in her actions–even unpredictable, shocking, surprising, spicy, and sweet.
If so, then this recipe is aptly named, because Jezebel Sauce is all of the above. The preserves make it sweet, the dry mustard makes it spicy, while the horseradish makes it surprising and shocking, depending on how much you include.
I experienced Jezebel draped over cream cheese, in all her brazen glory, and then smeared across thin crackers. She wooed me with her multi-dimensional attractions, bringing me back for more! And then I knew I just HAD TO HAVE her secrets for myself.
The party hostess shared her version of the recipe with me, plus an internet research revealed several variations of this recipe but minimal history behind it. When I read the amount of horseradish involved, I instantly thought there must be a mistake, so when I made the sauce, I did not use the suggested amount of horseradish but rather tweaked it to suit our tastes. Horseradish can be so overpowering, and now I’m glad I didn’t add the entire jar as some recipes suggest. So, below is my version of the recipe, and if you find it too mild, then add horseradish in increments until you get it where you want it.
One more thing. Jezebel sauce isn’t just to serve over cream cheese. It’s a sauce enjoyed on ham and pork loin and at times is a fun replacement for traditional pepper jellies. The cool thing is, even if you don’t know how to make pepper jelly, it doesn’t matter because Jezebel is quick and easy!
Jezebel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Apple Jelly
- 1 Cup Pineapple Jelly or Apricot
- 2 Tbsp Dry Mustard
- 1 Tbsp Prepared Horseradish or more if you like
- 1 tsp . fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Dump all ingredients in mixing bowl (or food processor) and mix well. Store overnight on the counter. Second day, spoon into glass jars. Keeps in refrigerator for up to one month. Serve as desired.
You have definitely been deprived! Lol
I personally like it best on a Ritz cracker. It’s addictive.
Addictive! Yes!!!!
This is a fantastic sauce. I like a few minced chives or green onion tops in it. I like to mix it up together with the cheese and smear a good blob of it inside a croissant.
Oh my, my. Am I the ONLY one who didn’t know about this sauce?
I’ll answer for Ann. Yep!
OMG .. what a great idea! Being a GA peach from Savannah .. I’ve been making this for years, but getting great ideas from your Fans? Thanks Bayou Woman?
We used to have this at work when there was a special occasion. I agree it is addictive.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Cuz! Sometimes I use freshly grated horseradish to make this. I never, ever use the jar kind that’s mixed with mayo. or whatever they put in it. Love this stuff. I agree with the Ritz crackers. Thanks for the reminder because I only think about it at year-end holidays.
I’ve never heard of this. I know about pepper jellies over cream cheese, of course, but this is new. I’m not a great fan of horseradish, but on the other hand, one of my favorite grilled sandwiches uses it. I’d forgotten about that, too — now I have one recipe to resurrect and one to try.
Here’s the sandwich – a grilled ham and cheese. Mix together some mayo, some horseradish, some dill weed — dill and horseradish to taste. Spread on slices of rye bread. Add some sliced ham and some swiss cheese (processed or not) and grill like a regular grilled cheese. It’s wonderful!
Mmmm that sammich does sound so good! The Jezebel Sauce really grabbed me that day, so I had to share the recipe with y’all. Once it’s mixed up, it keeps in jars in the frig. so as long as you have a little cream cheese and some crackers you’ve got a quick and easy snack/appetizer if company shows up on a hot, scorching day!!! Easy breezy!
First time was with coconut shrimp.awesome!
Oh yay!!!
Absolutely with shrimp, but also on seared and scored flounder?
Thank Bayou Woman! Great info on my Jezebel sauce
I never heard of this sauce and by the Grace of God am as Southern as you can be. I have recipe for meatballs cooked with jelly, horseradish and catsup that is great so I know I will love this!
And I can’t believe I never heard of Bayou Woman until I searched for fig recipes….
Well hello Alabama Baby and welcome to this bayou!! Give it a try, and I hope you enjoy it! Drop by anytime! BW
I discovered this awesomesauce at a party last night and my oh my! Fortunately, the lady who brought it (she’s as sassy as the sauce) anticipated its addictive effect and brought some of those little bitty plastic cups with lids, like they use in restaurants for salad dressing served on the side, and filled a bunch for anybody who wanted to take some home. I was raving about it so much, she gave me THREE! And it’s a good thing she put those lids on, too, because that sauce was so good I was sorely tempted just to slam it down like a shot of whiskey right then & there! 😉
Hey there! And she didn’t share her recipe? But now you can make your own!!!
She did tell us the ingredients (seemed very particular that the dry mustard had to be “English” in a can) but her proportions sounded a little odd… I’m very pleased that my easy Google search led me to your site! 😀
I’m glad, too! You’re welcome here any time. There might be some other recipes you’d like, as in Cajun Caviar, for instance!!!! BW
Yep, I was admiring that one, too! It will be nice to introduce some new tastes along with the family traditions this Thanksgiving & Christmas. Thanks!
The Cajun Caviar has a pretty holiday color to it!!! Happy pre-holidays, Tickled! BW
Love this, good on about anything except ice cream!
Glad you like it, Stephanie!!! BW
Can you use creole mustard instead? Have you ever used it on the side with boudin balls?
hello Bayou Woman, Love your recipe for Jezebel Sauce. I would like to make a batch and send a couple of jars to my sister-in-law in CT, but wonder how long can it sit in the jar, unopened, without refrigerating. Wish I could can it like when I make pear preserves and seal the lids, but would it stay good since it is not cooked? It is so good I want to share it with everyone and give as Christmas gifts.
Thank you,
Hi Elizabeth. I’m sorry that I don’t have a ready answer for this, but the pepper jelly would have already been “processed” so I don’t know if this would process well again. Maybe keep on googling it? Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. But I think it might sit for a couple of weeks in a jar unopened in the frig! BW
I use it with Chinese egg rolls.yummy
Oh, Laurie, I could use some egg rolls with this right about now!!!!! Thanks for the idea!!! BW
I made this recipe several years ago. My daughter has requested it for her birthday dinner. I can NOT find apple jelly anywhere. Any suggestions for a substitution, applesauce maybe?
Paula, I apologize for the delay. I hope you were able to find a substitute for apple jelly. Did you? BW
Why is this only good for about three weeks? All the ingredients (except cream cheese which is extra) have longer shelf lives
Hi Kayla and welcome. Did someone here say it’s only good for three weeks? The original post says refrigerate for up to 4 weeks. I really don’t know why because it never lasts that long . . . because it gets eaten!!!!! If you store yours successfully for more that that time, and it’s still good after a month, please let us know. I think it’s just a food safety measure. Nothing more! BW