An innovative way to give those last spoonfuls of ketchup a fresh twist is by creating a Marie Rose-style dressing with minimal effort. This quick sauce combines mayonnaise, chili sauce, lemon juice, and a splash of your favorite spirit to deliver a creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor profile. The best part? You don’t need to dirty an extra bowl, as this dressing comes together right in the ketchup bottle.
Known as the Ketchup Bottle Marie Rose Sauce, this recipe is quick, requiring just five minutes of prep time, and yields approximately 5–6 tablespoons. The ingredients include 4–5 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of sweet vermouth, vodka, brandy, or cognac, and 1–3 tablespoons of sriracha, Tabasco, or another chili sauce to taste. A small squeeze of lemon juice, along with a pinch of flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, rounds out the flavor. Begin with a nearly empty ketchup bottle holding about 1–2 tablespoons of ketchup, and finish with a sprinkle of paprika if desired.
To prepare, ensure that there is enough room in the ketchup bottle to add the other ingredients. Into the bottle, pour the mayonnaise, your chosen spirit, chili sauce, and lemon juice. Season this mixture with a bit of salt and a generous helping of black pepper. Secure the lid tightly and shake the bottle vigorously until the contents are well-mixed, resulting in a smooth, creamy dressing. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more chili sauce for extra heat, more lemon juice for acidity, or more mayonnaise for a milder, creamier texture.
This versatile sauce pairs well with a variety of dishes. It’s particularly delicious over prawns, avocado, lettuce, and cucumber when creating a classic-style prawn cocktail. Additionally, it can be drizzled over burgers, salads, roasted vegetables, or crispy avocado fries, making it a handy recipe to have on hand when you’re left with just a little bit of ketchup in the bottle and want to avoid waste.