Mississippi Comeback Sauce

A cross between Thousand Island dressing and rémoulade sauce, Mississippi comeback sauce was named because it’s so good that you’ll “come back” for more.

What is comeback sauce?

Very few condiments are as versatile as comeback sauce.  Mississippi-native, chef and food writer Robert St. John refers to the spicy sauce with an orange-pink hue as “ . . .the Queen Mother of all Mississippi condiments.”  A combination of Thousand Island dressing and rémoulade sauce, comeback sauce was named because it’s so good that you’ll “come back” for more.  It’s more than just a way to dress up a bowl of salad greens – it’s slathered over po’ boy sandwiches, used as a dip for French fries, or spread over saltines for an afternoon snack.

Where did Mississippi comeback sauce originate?

Other Southern towns may try to lay their claim as being “The home of . . .” But the city of Jackson, Mississippi, is the only town that can lay claim to the origins of comeback sauce.  The exact details of how it got its start are a little sketchy, but most local food historians agree that comeback sauce originated in the 1920’s or 1930’s at The Rotisserie, Jackson’s first Greek restaurant.  It began as the restaurant’s house salad dressing and quickly spread to other restaurants across the state.

Ingredients and tools you will need

I don’t remember the exact moment I first had comeback sauce, but I do recall I was introduced to it almost ten years ago when The Husband and I were dating. For every family gathering, someone is assigned to bring it.

You can bet just about every family has their own recipe. The basic ingredients are always the same, but some recipes include a dash of this or that to suit different tastes. This is the family recipe passed down to me from my mother-in-law. To make Mississippi comeback sauce, you will need:

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 dashes hot sauce – add more if you want the sauce to be spicier.
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Mason jar – this is optional, of course. But if you want to stick to tradition, this is the preferred way to store your leftover sauce.

How to make comeback sauce

This really could not be any easier. Whisk everything together in a medium mixing bowl until all the ingredients are combined and the sauce is smooth. That’s all there is to it!

How to store comeback sauce

Because it is a mayonnaise-based condiment, comeback sauce needs to be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I recommend using it up within two weeks.