How to Make Horseradish Syrup

Why opt for store-bought horseradish when you can make your own? This homemade horseradish syrup recipe is quick and incredibly easy. With only grated horseradish root, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt, you can make more than one cup of horseradish syrup.

What is Horseradish, and Why to Use it?

Horseradish is a pleasantly pungent vegetable with numerous health benefits. It is a natural antibiotic and a good remedy for inflamed tonsils and blocked nasal passages.

Horseradish is mainly used as a condiment. It is consumed as prepared horseradish or as horseradish sauce or horseradish butter a popular garnish. Horseradish sauce, made with prepared horseradish and either sour cream or whipped cream, tastes great with roast beef. It can also be served with roast pork. It all comes down to personal preferences.

Horseradish is a perfect seasoning for meat and fish dishes, cheeses, soups, and salads. It goes well with apples, beets, root vegetables, grilled meats, or hard-boiled eggs.

I use horseradish leaves to make vegetarian cabbage rolls or in horseradish sauce. I also make a lot of pickles for the winter, in which horseradish is an obligatory ingredient. Horseradish gives pickles better flavor, durability, and elasticity (thanks to it, pickled cucumbers are crisp and crunchy) and increases their health-promoting properties.

Depending on your personal preferences, you can use horseradish in various recipes. It can be used on anything that needs a burst of bold flavor. Spread it on sandwiches, mix into dips or salad dips, or add it to your Bloody Mary. It is a good replacement for your crème fraiche.

Personally, I like using horseradish sauce on meat. I grew up with horseradish as a common accompaniment to steak and pork dishes. With my mother’s German heritage, no wonder there was always a jar of horseradish in the house.

If you are wondering how you can use horseradish cream sauce, you can use these ideas:

• Smoked pork butt
• Any steak, especially prime rib
• Ham
• Roasted Salmon
• Beef roasts

Horseradish’s best nutritional value is the highest right after is grated gratin. Of course, it will be spicy! Sometimes tears will fall from your eyes while eating it – and this is a good symptom! It will heal your sinuses like nothing else!

How to Harvest Horseradish Root

If you grow horseradish, you can easily harvest it without damaging the plant. If in a temperate climate, it is best to harvest it in fall or winter after a frost. The frost improves the flavor of the root.

Horseradish roots grow out rather than down; thus the need to be mindful when digging them. First, loosen the soil around the plant. Use your hands to probe the ground to see if you can locate the roots. Keep digging until you can pull the whole plant out of the soil.

How to Buy Horseradish

When buying horseradish, pay attention to its freshness, firmness, hardness, smell, and appearance – it should be fragrant and, when cut, white and moist. You can keep the roots in a cellar (my family used to do when I was a child) or pantry, lightly buried in damp soil. The leaves are best washed thoroughly in cool water and dried. In my Polish cuisine, horseradish has been used for centuries during the Christmas Eve supper and especially during Easter (my favorite with horseradish with better called “cwikla”). There is great wisdom in this – it is in winter and early spring that our organisms need support in the fight against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that are always present around us.

Health Benefits of Horseradish

1. Rich in Nutrients: Horseradish is low in calories but high in essential nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber.
2. Antioxidant Properties: It contains antioxidants like phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which help combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
3. Antimicrobial Effects: Horseradish has natural antibacterial properties that can help fight infections and support the immune system.
4. Digestive Health: The fiber in horseradish aids digestion and promotes a healthy gut by encouraging regular bowel movements.
5. Anti-Inflammatory: Compounds in horseradish, such as sinigrin, have anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce inflammation in the body.
6. Respiratory Relief: The pungent compounds in horseradish can help clear nasal passages and relieve sinus congestion.
7. Detoxification: Horseradish may support liver function and detoxification processes, helping the body eliminate toxins.
8. Cancer Prevention: Some studies suggest that the glucosinolates in horseradish may have cancer-fighting properties by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
9. Heart Health: The potassium content in horseradish helps regulate blood pressure and supports overall cardiovascular health.

So it is wise to have some natural remedies come to the rescue, such as horseradish syrup, which for me is also the basis of home apothecary for fall and winter.  🙂

Homemade Horseradish Syrup Recipe

Homemade prepared horseradish can be stronger than store-bought horseradish. It can also last for a month or more in the refrigerator.

To prepare horseradish syrup, you need to have the horseradish root. If you don’t have it in your garden, you can often find the roots at the market.

However, when buying the horseradish roots, pay attention to its freshness, hardness, freshness, and smell. Quality horseradish should be fragrant and have a white and moist appearance when cut.

The roots can be stored in a cellar (my mother did this when I was a child) or a pantry, lightly buried in the soil. If stored in the fridge, they can stay for a few months if stuck in a breathable bag.

If using leaves, clean them thoroughly and dry for storage. I use horseradish to make vegan cabbage rolls as an ingredient in pesto sauce or horseradish sauce.

Horseradish syrup has been used to help with infections, flu, cough, bronchitis, and the upper respiratory tract because of its antibacterial properties.:

• 200 g of freshly grated horseradish
• 1 cup of cool, boiled water
• 200 g of honey (the best is always local)
• 4 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar: stabilizes the flavor of the horseradish.

Instructions for Horseradish Syrup

Grate the horseradish. Put all ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the honey completely dissolves.

Lower your heat to a slow simmer and simmer for 10 minutes.

Cool it down and allow it to sit overnight.

Strain through the cheesecloth into the jar and store in refrigerator

Notes:

• The syrup is spicy. Therefore, it is advisable to dilute before drinking. Also, eat before drinking!
• Dosage:  

Adults:  1 tablespoon 3 – 4 times a day with warm water.

Children: 1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day with warm water or fruit juice.

Simple homemade horseradish sauce

• 500 grams of horseradish root
• juice from one fresh lemon
• Himalayan salt 
• some honey or stevia 
• half a glass of hot water (if we want the horseradish to be mild) or cold water (if we want the horseradish to be very spicy)
• optionally, if you want the horseradish to be mild, you can add 4-6 tablespoons of thick cream (or in the light version of natural yogurt or coconut yogurt)

Instructions;

Wash,  and peel the horseradish root, then grate it on a small grater or in a food processor (that’s what I do) with the rest of the ingrediencies then transfer horseradish into clean and dry glass. Keep it in the fridge for up to 1 month. 

Antibacterial Horseradish Garlic Butter

Ingredients

• 1/2 cube grass-fed butter at room temperature
• 2 tbsp grated horseradish
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and squeezed by the press
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt (optional) (optional)
• 1 tsp chopped parsley or dill
• 1 tsp  lemon juice 

Instructions

• Mix horseradish with lemon juice, rub the butter with salt and garlic, and then gradually add horseradish and parsley (it will reduce the garlic smell after consumption!). Stir thoroughly and refrigerate. You can also wrap it in parchment paper and put it in the fridge, and then cut it into slices and arrange it on baked fish, potatoes, or other vegetables.

Attention:

• People suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and inflammation of the digestive tract or kidneys should be cautious about consuming horseradish!
• Applying horseradish directly to the skin or eyes may cause irritation and a burning sensation.
• People with thyroid problems should consult a doctor before consuming horseradish.
• Young children and people suffering from kidney, stomach, or intestinal diseases should consume horseradish only in small amounts or not too strong (with beetroot, carrots, cream, or yogurt)

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