Have you ever prepared your favorite fish and it felt like something was missing? The secret is all about making your own tartar sauce with some mayo, pickles, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of herbs.
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About tartar sauce
Tartar sauce (or in French, Sauce Tartare) is a famous sauce that is quite similar to Remoulade sauce.
Both are sharing a mayonnaise base and came from French cuisine.
Tartar is known to be simpler when it comes to ingredients and flavors, while Remoulade has more complex flavor profile.
Tartar is very easy to make and such a game-changer for favorite seafood dishes.
You can also tweak it to your liking by adding garlic, different herbs, capers, Dijon mustard, and more.
As for me, I like to add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for a slight umami flavor.
Once you learn how to make your own tartar sauce with the ingredients you more likely already have at home, you will never go back to buying it at the grocery store. It tastes better and costs less.
Besides, see the seafood you can serve it with french fries, onion rings, roasted veggies, and more.
Homemade tartar sauce will last in the fridge for up to one week, so you can easily prepare a double batch if planning to use it throughout the week.
Ingredients
This is the ingredients overview. Please, see the recipe card at the end of this post for the precise quantities of each ingredient.
- Mayonnaise: use the real mayo. Avoid any low-fat mayo or miracle whip.
- Dill pickles: if you use sweet pickle relish or sweet pickles, you can skip adding the sugar to the sauce.
- Granulated sugar: adding a little bit of sugar balances the acidity and flavors.
- Lemon juice: use fresh lemon juice for best results. If you do not have lemon, you can use apple cider vinegar instead. Lemon adds a bright and acidic component to this creamy condiment, making it less heavy.
- Dill: I tried making it with dried dill and fresh dill. Fresh dill adds more flavor but dried dill also works great. You can use other fresh herbs like parsley or tarragon instead of dill.
- Worcestershire sauce: it adds a layer of complexity with its rich umami taste.
- Green onions (optional): if you have scallions or green onions, you can add them for garnish and a slightly spicy taste.
Recipe instructions
Follow this easy tartar sauce recipe to create this tangy and creamy condiment that's perfect for your seafood dishes.
Measure all the ingredients. Dice the pickles finely. I used 2 smaller pickles for ½ cup of mayo, which made about 2 tablespoons when chopped. You can add more or less pickled to taste.
Add all measured ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well until all combined. Taste the sauce and add more sugar or chopped pickles to adjust the taste to your liking.
Cover prepared tartar sauce and place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving,
Variations on classic tartar sauce
You can easily customize this classic condiment to match the dish you are serving it with. Below are a few of my favorite ones:
- Spicy Cajun tartar sauce: Mix in a teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and a dash of hot sauce.
- Capers and lemon zest tartar sauce: add about 1 tablespoon of capers and a teaspoon of lemon zest to the sauce.
- Curry tartar sauce: add a teaspoon of warm curry spice mix to the sauce for a unique twist. Great for fried fish, shrimp, or calamari.
- Avocado and lime tartar sauce: blend in about ½ ripe avocado and add lime juice instead of lemon. Perfect sauce for Mexican recipes like fish tacos.
Serving recommendations
Tartar sauce is a versatile condiment that pairs excellently with a wide range of dishes beyond fried fish.
It can make simple dishes feel a bit more special. You can enjoy it with anything that could use a creamy, tangy kick.
Think about shrimp, salmon cakes, fish fillets, fish sticks, crab cakes, fish sandwiches, and wraps.
For something out of the box, try it as a dipping sauce for your french fries or potato wedges instead of ketchup.
Or drizzle it over roasted vegetables, like cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage.
Frequently asked questions
The basic ingredients include mayo, pickles, lemon juice, herbs, and seasonings. Some recipes also include capers, tarragon, and mustard.
Yes, you can use Greek plain yogurt or even sour cream to make mayonnaise-free tartar sauce. Just keep in mind, that the flavor and taste will be different.
Yes, you can use vegan mayonnaise to make a vegan version of tartar sauce.
When properly stored in an airtight container or a jar, homemade tartar sauce will last in the fridge for up to one week.
Yes, I often enjoy it right away and it tastes great. But for the flavors to meld, it is advised to chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
No, tartar is not good for freezing because of the mayonnaise. It will separate and change the texture of the sauce.
More condiments and dip ideas to try
- Blue cheese dip
- Beetroot hummus
- Hummus with Greek yogurt and hemp seeds
- Italian Pesto
- Mint Greek yogurt sauce
📖 Recipe
Easy Tartar Sauce
Equipment
- 1 medium bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup real mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons dill pickles, finely diced
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped or ½ teaspoon dried
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon green onions, diced (for garnish) optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add ½ cup real mayonnaise, 2 tablespoon finely diced dill pickles, ½ teaspoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon n fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped or ½ teaspoon dried, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Stir until well combined. Garnish with green onions on top.
- Cover and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
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