From toast to sushi, we taste-test McDonald’s new Big Mac Special Sauce with some of our favourite foods
McDONALD’S sent fast-food fans into a frenzy by giving away 250 bottles of its Big Mac Special Sauce. People queued around the block to get their hands on a bottle – and some are already on eBay with a £10k price tag. The ingredients of the chain’s “special sauce” – which contains mayonnaise, sweet pickle […]
McDONALD’S sent fast-food fans into a frenzy by giving away 250 bottles of its Big Mac Special Sauce.
People queued around the block to get their hands on a bottle – and some are already on eBay with a £10k price tag.
The ingredients of the chain’s “special sauce” – which contains mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish and yellow mustard – have always been a closely guarded secret.
But if you missed out on getting a bottle, which were given away at McDonald’s in central London’s Leicester Square, the good news is you can pick up a limited edition 50ml pot from branches nationwide.
They cost 50p but will only be available for six weeks – or until they sell out.
To mark this truly special (sauce) occasion we decided to team it up with some favourite grub to see if it cut the mustard or was trying to play ketchup.
EMMA PIETRAS gives her verdict on compatibility and awards marks out of five.
Fish and chips
I’d usually have a big dollop of tartare sauce with my fish and chips, but as Maccy D’s special sauce shares some of the same ingredients it does make for a surprisingly tasty accompaniment.
SCORE: 3
Toast
As a Big Mac comes in a bun, you’d think this would work, but spreading the sauce on toast is far from special.
In fact I can only manage one bite. When it comes to toast toppings, peanut butter is as adventurous as I’m willing to go.
SCORE: 1
Crumpet
The sauce is too thick to fall into the crumpet’s signature holes and just sits on the top.
The combination of the bread and sauce is too claggy. Only butter, jam or Marmite should go anywhere near a crumpet.
SCORE: 1
Full English
Ketchup or brown sauce? The debate over which condiment goes best with a fry-up is a hotter topic than Brexit in cafes.
The special sauce did brighten my banger, but for a fry-up it has to be red or brown.
SCORE: 3
Sushi
Swapping soy sauce for special sauce feels like I’m committing some sort of sacrilege and fans of the Japanese fish dish will probably hate me – but weirdly it works.
If only the same could be said about my chopstick skills.
SCORE: 4
Salad
I swapped the Caesar salad dressing and it was a good substitute.
There’s some salad in a Big Mac so it’s no surprise the flavours work well together. So suddenly eating lettuce leaves becomes less of a chore.
SCORE: 4
Poppadoms
The curry house crisp always needs a blob of mango chutney. But special sauce makes an ideal alternative.
Pickles are popular in Indian cuisine so plonking it on a poppadom is a no-brainer.
SCORE: 4
Cheese board
Cheese, crackers and chutney were made for each other. So there’s no room for special sauce on a cheeseboard.
The sharp, tangy flavour of Stilton just doesn’t go with the sauce. It’s like they’re competing against each other.
SCORE: 2
Hot Dog
Eating a hot dog with special sauce is a lot less risky than having it with mustard as it’s not as runny and less likely to end up all down the front of your shirt.
But I miss the full- on tang you get with American mustard.
SCORE: 3
Doritos
The tang from the pickles really goes with the Cool Original flavour and before I know it I’ve scoffed most of the special sauce pot – and the bag of crisps.
It’s the perfect partner for this snack.
SCORE: 5
Bacon bap
It’s pretty good but when it comes to the perfect partner for bacon, brown sauce is best.
SCORE: 3
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Pizza
I’m usually partial to a dip with my slice of takeaway pizza. But the special sauce needs to stay in a Big Mac.
It is too thick for the Italian treat, instead you need something like garlic mayo to dip your crust in.
SCORE: 2
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