Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is way better than anything you’ll find at the store and so easy to make! Tangy, creamy, and ready in just 5-minutes, this delicious tartar sauce is a must-have condiment for any seafood dinner.
Homemade Tartar Sauce
Even I will admit that there are some things that are better-left pre-made and store-bought. Things like ketchup or mustard. Could I make these things on my own? Probably. Do I want to? Not really.
But other items (like this tartar sauce, ranch dressing, or even teriyaki sauce) taste so much better when they’re made from scratch and are so easy to make at home.
From the French word sauce tartare, tartar sauce is tangy, delicious, and packed with a delicious creamy flavor. This staple condiment, perfectly paired with all of your favorite fried finger foods and seafood dishes, is easily made with pantry essentials such as mayonnaise, dill relish, pickle relish, fresh herbs, capers, shallots, and even jalapeño.
Ingredients and Frequently Asked Questions
- Full-fat mayonnaise
- Dill pickle
- Fresh dill
- Fresh lemon juice
- Sugar
- Dijon mustard
- Capers
- Salt and Pepper
The key to achieving a delicious tartar sauce is by finding a perfectly balanced creamy tanginess (or piquancy), without it being overly sweet or overly tart.
To help reach this, I ditch the bread-and-butter pickles or sweet pickle relish (too sweet) and swap it with finely chopped dill pickles or dill pickle relish. I also add a small teaspoon of sugar – not necessarily for sweetness, but just to balance some of the tartness.
Fresh herbs are great, too. I love adding fresh dill whenever I’m planning to serve it with fish, but fresh parsley is also delicious.
How long does tartar sauce last?
Homemade tartar sauce will last for up to 5-7 days when stored in a sealed container and in the refrigerator.
How to Make the Best Tartar Sauce
Stir together the mayonnaise, dill pickle, fresh chopped dill, lemon juice, sugar, dijon mustard, and capers in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add additional lemon juice, lemon zest, or even a little pickle juice, if desired.
Optional, but delicious – add 2-3 drops of hot sauce. Mix again and refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy.
Tip- For best results, allow your tartar sauce to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours, or up to overnight before serving.
Super easy, right?
How to Use Tartar Sauce
Perfect for dipping, dunking, and scooping onto all of your favorite recipes. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Grilled fish
- Fried fish
- Fish sticks
- Crab cakes
- French fries
- Chicken poppers or tenders
- Hushpuppies
- Onion rings
- Fish sandwiches
- Fish tacos
- Roasted potatoes
- Fried calamari
- Tuna salad
Amazing, right?! So many versatile and yummy ways to include tartar sauce into everyday recipes.
More Sauce Recipes,
Enchilada Sauce Recipe (How to Make Enchilada Sauce)
Best Spaghetti Sauce Recipe; How to Make Spaghetti Sauce
Chimichurri Recipe (How to Make Chimichurri Sauce)
If you try making this Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
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Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise ((full-fat recommended))
- ¼ cup dill pickle (drained and finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (minced)
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoon capers (drained and chopped)
- salt + black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Stir together the mayonnaise, dill pickle, fresh dill, lemon juice, sugar, dijon mustard, and capers in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until fully combined.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- For a little heat, add 2-3 drops of Tabasco sauce to your tartar sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy.
Jessica's Notes
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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