Vessel raised, offering sauce (7)
I believe the answer is:
ketchup
'sauce' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'vessel raised' is the wordplay.
'vessel' becomes 'ketch' (ketch is a kind of vessel).
'raised' becomes 'up' (similar in meaning).
'ketch'+'up'='KETCHUP'
'offering' is the link.
(Other definitions for ketchup that I've seen before include "Thick sauce, with tomatoes" , "Spicy tomato sauce" , "Red sauce" , "Sauce made largely of tomatoes" , "Relish" .)