Virginia White Sauce (Salsa)

Name: Virginia White Sauce (Salsa) Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 48 h 5 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1/2 cup milk ((personally I like to add more to thin it out)); 2 cups Miracle Whip ((mayonnaise can be used))

Jump to ingredients

Virginia White Sauce is a thick, creamy dip made from Miracle Whip, milk, and warm spices that originated as a Norfolk restaurant favorite. Its flavors fully develop only after at least 48 hours of refrigeration.

🌍American 🏷️Virginia white salsa 🏷️Virginia white sauce 🏷️White salsa 🏷️White sauce

Total

48h 5m

Servings

8

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Thecountrycook · by Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

Check what you already have. We'll leave it off your shopping list.

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 cup milk ((personally I like to add more to thin it out))
2 cups Miracle Whip ((mayonnaise can be used))

6 Ingredients

CookOS may earn a commission from Instacart orders.

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, mix together the spices.
2
Then whisk in the milk until combined (note: I personally like to make this thinner than the original recipe calls for. Add a little milk at a time and whisk until it reaches your desired consistency.)
3
Finally, whisk in the Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise, if using).
4
Cover with plastic wrap and put into the refrigerator for at least 48 hours. This is very important to give the flavors time to marry together. It won’t taste the same if you don’t give it time to chill.
5
Serve with tortilla chips.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Whisk spices with milk first before adding Miracle Whip to prevent lumps and ensure even flavor distribution.
Do not skip the 48-hour chill time; the flavors need this resting period to fully marry and develop depth.
Add milk gradually when thinning to avoid overshooting consistency—you can always add more, but you cannot easily thicken it back up.
Cover the sauce with plastic wrap while chilling to prevent it from absorbing refrigerator odors.

Substitutions

Miracle Whip → mayonnaise (results in a less tangy sauce)
dried oregano → fresh oregano (use 1.5 tablespoons fresh, finely chopped; flavor will be brighter but slightly less concentrated)

Storage & make-ahead

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week; stir well before serving.

Common Questions

How long does Virginia White Sauce need to chill before serving?

At least 48 hours in the refrigerator. This resting time allows the spices and flavors to fully blend together; serving it sooner will not taste the same.

Can I use mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip?

Yes, mayonnaise can be substituted 1:1 for Miracle Whip, though it will produce a slightly different flavor since Miracle Whip contains added spices and tang.