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Tartar Sauce Recipe

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight Jessica Randhawa
June 3, 2022
4.89 from 54 votes


Last Updated June 3, 2022 | 3 Comments

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Homemade Tartar Sauce made with mayonnaise, dill pickles and fresh dill, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and capers. So easy to make and way better than any of the jarred stuff you’ll find at the store, you’ll love this tangy, creamy, delicious tartar sauce recipe.

Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

The Best Tartar Sauce

Some things taste better when they’re homemade. Tartar sauce, for example, is one of those things. The store-bought stuff, promising flavor and freshness, was always such a letdown that I finally decided one day to make my own.

This amazing (and flavorful) homemade tartar sauce will take you just 5 minutes to make. Perfect with all of your favorite fish and seafood recipes, it’s made with a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry or refrigerator.

What is Tartar Sauce?

From the French word sauce tartare, tartar sauce is tangy, delicious, and perfectly creamy. 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.

Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

What’s in Tartar Sauce

In this recipe, you’ll find,

  • Full-fat mayonnaise
  • Dill pickle
  • Fresh dill
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Sugar
  • Dijon mustard
  • Capers
  • Salt and Pepper

The key to achieving 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 swapped 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.

Optional Additions:

  • Fresh parsley in place of fresh dill
  • Pickle juice
  • Hot sauce (like Tabasco) for heat
  • Horseradish for kick
Individual ingredients for tartar sauce in their own individual glass bowls.

How to Make 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 or lemon zest, if desired. Mix again and refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy.

Recipe Tip

For best results, chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours, or up to overnight before serving.

White mixing bowl filled with unmixed ingredients for tartar sauce.

How to Serve

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
  • Pan-seared fish
  • Fish sticks
  • Crab cakes
  • French Fries
  • Chicken poppers or Chicken Tenders
  • Hushpuppies
  • Onion rings
  • Fish sandwiches
  • Fish tacos
  • Roasted Potatoes
  • Fried calamari
  • Tuna salad
White bowl filled with fully combined tartar sauce.

How Long Does Tartar Sauce Last?

Homemade tartar sauce will last for up to 5-7 days when stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

It is not recommended that you freeze tartar sauce as the base is made of mayonnaise which will separate after thawing.

More Delicious Sauce Recipes

  • Enchilada Sauce
  • Best Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
  • Chimichurri Recipe
  • Garlic Butter Sauce
  • Easy Honey Mustard Sauce Recipe
  • Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

Have you tried making this Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.

RECIPE CARD

Tartar sauce in a small white serving dish on an aluminum pan.

Tartar Sauce Recipe

4.89 from 54 votes
AuthorAuthor: Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa
Homemade Tartar Sauce made with mayonnaise, dill pickles and fresh dill, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and capers. So easy to make and way better than any of the jarred stuff you'll find at the store, you'll love this tangy, creamy, delicious tartar sauce recipe.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 16 tablespoons (approximately)
Calories 97 kcal

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
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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

  • I have not tried making this recipe with dried dill, so I can’t say for sure how it will taste, but if that’s all you have and you’ll like to add some, start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried dill for every one tablespoon of fresh dill.
  • Keep leftovers stored in a sealed container and in the refrigerator. Best enjoyed within 5 days. Freezing is not recommended.
  • Nutrition facts are per (1) tablespoon of tartar sauce.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

 

About Jessica

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

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Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

About Jessica Randhawa

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Vilko says

    July 29, 2023 at 4:05 pm

    Why is tartar sauce called tartar?
    Classic Tartar Sauce Recipe: How to Make It
    Why is it called tartar sauce? Tartar sauce originated in France as sauce tartare, named after the Tatars who settled in Ukraine and parts of Russia.
    NOT AMERICAN!!

    Reply
  2. Laura says

    February 7, 2023 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for our fish. My husband who is is a store bought only tartar sauce kinda guy, actually ate this tartar sauce and was impressed! I did not have any fresh dill and added a dried lemony dill mix and it was fabulous. I also used dill pickle relish. Will be keeping this recipe around for sure!!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      February 7, 2023 at 5:24 pm

      Thanks for the great feedback, Laura ๐Ÿ˜€

      Reply

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Recipe Rating




4.89 from 54 votes (53 ratings without comment)

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Welcome to The Forked Spoon! I’m Chef Jessica Randhawa, and for over 14 years, I’ve been crafting and sharing more than 1200 recipes, blending delicious flavors with practical kitchen tips and expert culinary advice to elevate your everyday cooking. Learn more about meโ†’

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