Tartar Sauce is a versatile and creamy condiment that offers a tangy and slightly sweet flavor with a hint of saltiness. It is traditionally made with mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, basic seasonings, and herbs. This Homemade Tartar Sauce is one of the best and easy-to-make sauces that tastes great with seafood dishes like salmon patties, fish fry, fish and chips, and crab cakes, it can also be a tasty addition to fried chicken dishes, roasted or baked vegetables, and sandwiches.
To make this delicious sauce, I have shared an easy-to-follow recipe that comes with step-by-step instructions. Additionally, a detailed video is also provided below to help you visualize the cooking process with ease.
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What is Tartar Sauce?
Tartar Sauce is a fluffy, creamy, and tangy condiment that has a smooth texture and rich flavor. It is usually made with mayonnaise, dill leaves, pickles, lemon juice, and basic seasonings. It is one of the best sauces that make a great addition to seafood dishes like fish and chips, fried shrimp, salmon patties, and crab cakes. Not only that it adds so much flavor to fried chicken dishes, roasted and baked vegetables, and snacks.
When it comes to Tartar Sauce, homemade is definitely the way to go. Making your own sauces is not only easy, but it also allows you to tailor the flavor to your personal preferences. Even beginner cooks can whip up a batch of this versatile condiment with ease. By experimenting with different spices, herbs, and pickle varieties, you can create a Tartar Sauce that perfectly complements your favorite seafood dishes.
Tartar Sauce is a classic dip for fish and chips, fried chicken, and crab cakes, but its uses don't stop there. This creamy sauce can also be used as a dip for vegetables or as a spread on sandwiches. With its tangy flavor and smooth texture, Tartar Sauce is sure to become a staple in your kitchen.
So why not try making your own Tartar Sauce at home? With just a few basic ingredients, seasoning powders, and lemon juice, you can create a sauce that's tailored to your taste buds. Once you've made your own Tartar Sauce, you'll never want to go back to store-bought again.
Ingredients & Substitutions
To make this Tartar Sauce, you will need a few basic ingredients that can be easily found in most supermarkets. Let's take a look at the list below:
- Mayonnaise: This ingredient serves as the base of the sauce and delivers a smooth, fluffy, and delicious flavor to the end product
- Fresh Dill Leaves: The addition of fresh dill leaves adds so much to the tartar sauce, but if you don't have access to them, you can use fresh parsley as a substitute
- Dill Pickles: The dill pickles add a nice flavor and crunch to the sauce
- Honey Mustard: While this ingredient is optional, it beautifully adds its unique flavor to the sauce
- Seasoning Powders: I have used onion powder, black pepper powder, and salt in this recipe, but you can also use fresh or dried onions
- Lemon Juice: Adding lemon juice gives a zesty, citrusy flavor profile to your sauce
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Tartar Sauce at Home?
The recipe I have shared here is Tartar Sauce, a creamy, tangy, and flavor-loaded condiment. It is made with a few simple ingredients and under 10 minutes. This Homemade Tartar Sauce is so delicious and versatile that's perfect to elevate your seafood and fried chicken dishes.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
- Gather the ingredients - To start, you'll need to gather a few key ingredients. For a classic Tartar Sauce flavor, you'll also need dill pickles, chopped dill leaves, onion powder, lemon juice, and black pepper powder. To add a touch of sweetness, you can include honey mustard, and salt is essential to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients
- Chop dill leaves - Begin by chopping a small bunch of dill leaves, about 3 to 4 stalks, into small pieces. Reserve the chopped dill leaves for later use
- Add the ingredients - Next, in a mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, dill leaves, diced dill pickles, honey mustard, onion powder, lemon juice, black pepper powder, and salt.
- Mix everything - Use a whisk or a fork to mix everything together until well combined. You want to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the sauce
- Serve or Store - Serve the sauce with fried chicken dishes, seafood dishes, or vegetables. You can also store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep well for up to a week, and you can easily make more as needed
Tips
- Seasonings - Using seasonings like onion powder, black pepper, and salt can add a lot of flavor to your homemade sauce
- Pickles - I have used dill pickles that add a crunch and flavor to the sauce. However, you can also use other pickles like cucumber if that's what you have available
- Honey Mustard - This ingredient adds good flavor to your Tartar Sauce, but it is optional, so you can skip it if you don't have it on hand
Storage Suggestions
This Homemade Tartar Sauce stays good in the refrigerator for up to one week. To ensure its freshness and flavor, it is important to store it in a tightly sealed container.
Serving Suggestions
Tartar Sauce is a versatile condiment that pairs well with a variety of fried dishes, snacks, appetizers, and roasted and baked vegetables. Here are some options that are commonly served with this homemade sauce:
- Fish and seafood: Tartar sauce is a classic accompaniment to fish and seafood dishes such as fried fish, fish and chips, crab cakes, fried shrimp, and salmon patties
- Fried chicken dishes: This sauce is a great pairing with fried chicken, fried chicken wings, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, and popcorn chicken
- Baked or roasted meats: Tartar sauce tastes great with oven-fried chicken, oven-fried chicken tenders, roasted chicken, or baked salmon
- Burgers and sandwiches: Spread the sauce on burgers and sandwiches to add a tangy and creamy flavor. It pairs well with grilled chicken, fish, or beef patties
- Roasted vegetables: You can use this sauce as a dip for roasted vegetables such as zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, and carrots
- Potato dishes: Use this sauce as a topping for baked potatoes or a dip for roasted potatoes. It adds a tangy flavor that complements the buttery taste of the potato
Related Recipes
You could also find similar sauce recipes below and more at dips & condiment recipes.
- Basil Pesto Sauce
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Chili Garlic Sauce
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Remoulade Sauce
- Garlic Aioli Sauce
- Honey Mustard Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Chili Sauce
- Garlic Butter
Tartar Sauce Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Tartar Sauce Recipe below that I hope will help you make a flavorful dip easily at home. You can also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Dill Leaves, small 3 to 4 stalks (discard stalks chop the leaves)
- 1 tsp Honey Mustard
- 3 tbsp Dill Pickles, chopped
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- ½ tsp Salt, or adjust to taste
Instructions
To make Homemade Tartar Sauce
- Begin by chopping a small bunch of approximately 3 to 4 stalks of dill leaves and reserve them for later use
- Next, add mayonnaise, chopped dill leaves, dill pickles, honey mustard, onion powder, lemon juice, black pepper powder, and salt to a bowl
- Mix everything until well combined. Your delicious homemade Tartar Sauce is now ready to be enjoyed
To Serve
- Serve this Tartar Sauce with salmon patties, oven-fried chicken, oven-fried chicken tenders, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, or fried chicken wings. To store this homemade tartar sauce, place it in an airtight container and it will keep for up to a week
Video
Notes
- Seasonings - Using seasonings like onion powder, black pepper, and salt can add a lot of flavor to your homemade sauce
- Pickles - I have used dill pickles that add a crunch and flavor to the sauce. However, you can also use other pickles like cucumber if that's what you have available
- Honey Mustard - This ingredient adds good flavor to your Tartar Sauce, but it is optional, so you can skip it if you don't have it on hand
Nutrition
FAQ
Tartar Sauce is a light, creamy, and tangy condiment that boasts a smooth texture and a rich flavor profile. Typically comprising mayonnaise, dill leaves, pickles, lemon juice, and basic seasonings, it is a versatile sauce that pairs perfectly with seafood delicacies such as fish and chips, fried shrimp, salmon patties, and crab cakes. However, it also adds a burst of flavor to fried chicken dishes, roasted and baked vegetables, and various snacks.
The tartar sauce is a rich, creamy, and tangy condiment that is packed with an abundance of flavors. Its distinctive taste is attributed to the perfect combination of pickles, lemon juice, onions, and various herbs and spices. The pickles and lemon juice provide a subtle hint of acidity and brininess, while the onions and herbs offer a delicate savory taste. As a result, tartar sauce makes a delectable accompaniment to numerous seafood dishes, including fish and chips or crab cakes.
Tartar Sauce pairs perfectly with seafood dishes such as fish and chips, fried shrimp, and crab cakes. It also complements other fried foods like onion rings, french fries, and fried chicken.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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