Tartar Sauce Recipe

I was frustrated with store-bought tartar sauce; one disappointing can after another. Solution: homemade tarter sauce. Making your own is really easy. It’s fresh and amazing for these salmon cakes fish sticks or breaded fish fillets.

See those fish sticks there – yeah, those are from Costco. Maybe one day, I’ll make my own fish sticks, but for now, these are really good (the Trident brand). Sometimes I find that I eat more tartar sauce than fish stick (sounds gross, but this sauce is THAT GOOD!). This recipe stays fresh in the fridge for a few days.

tartar sauce recipe

Tartar Sauce Recipe

tartar sauce recipe

Homemade Tartar Sauce is way better than any store-bought version. This has just the right taste and texture. It’s perfect for fish sticks, or with crab cakes or salmon cakes.

Prep: 15min

Total: 15min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 196 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 21 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 12 mg, Sodium 334 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup real Mayonnaise
  • 1 cup dill pickles (finely chopped )
  • 1 Tbsp dill (fresh or frozen, OR 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper (freshly ground )
  • 2 Tbsp onion (finely chopped, optional)

Instruction:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
  2. Add more lemon juice or pickles if desired.

How to Make the Best Tartar Sauce

tartar sauce recipe

This easy homemade tartar sauce is extra creamy and perfect when served next to shrimp, fish sticks, crab cakes, and even roasted veggies.

Prep: 10min

Total: 10min

Yield: Makes about 3/4 cup

Serving Size: 1 tablespoon

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 tablespoon, calories 64, Fat 6.9g, Saturated Fat 1.1g, Cholesterol 3.9mg, Sodium 103.8mg, Carbohydrate 0.3g, Fiber 0.1g, Sugar 0.1g, Protein 0.1g

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise, try homemade mayonnaise
  • 1 small dill pickle, chopped very small (3 tablespoons)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon capers, chopped, optional
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional
  • Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Instruction:

  1. Combine the mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, capers, dill, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard in a small bowl and stir until well blended and creamy.
  2. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Taste then adjust with additional lemon juice, salt, and pepper. For the best flavor, cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Keep, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for one week.

Easy Tartar Sauce

tartar sauce recipe

If you are looking for the perfect pairing for your seafood, this tartar sauce is IT! It’s packed with flavor and has a deliciously creamy consistency to complement any dish!

Prep: 5min

Total: 5min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 391 kcal, Carbohydrate 3 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 42 g, Saturated Fat 7 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 24 mg, Sodium 743 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, unSaturated Fat 34 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup Mayonnaise
  • Juice from Half a Lemon
  • 1/3 Cup Dill Pickles ((diced))
  • 2 Tablespoons Dill ((chopped))
  • 2 Tablespoons Dried Minced Onion
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper

Instruction:

  1. In a medium sized bowl add the mayo, lemon juice, dill pickles, dill, minced onion, and salt and pepper.
  2. Stir it all together to combine. Serve immediately or chill.

Tartar Sauce

tartar sauce recipe

Ina Garten’s recipe for Tartar Sauce from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network is fresher than the store-bought stuff, and it’s so easy it takes only five minutes.

Prep: 0 5min0

Total: 0 5min0

Yield: 3/4 cup

Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 of 6 servings, calories 135, Fat 15g, Saturated Fat 2g, Carbohydrate 0g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 0g, Protein 0g, Cholesterol 8mg, Sodium 155mg

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup good mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons small-diced pickles or cornichons
  • 1 tablespoon Champagne or white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Instruction:

  1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor or mini chopper fitted with a steel blade and pulse several times until the pickles are finely chopped and all the ingredients are well mixed but not pureed.

How to Make the Best Homemade Tartar Sauce

FAQ

What is traditional tartar sauce made of?

Tartar Sauce Ingredients

It’s typically made with mayonnaise, chopped pickles or relish, lemon juice, and herbs (like tarragon and dill). There are also a handful of optional ingredients you can add that take the tartar sauce’s flavor to the next level.

How does Gordon Ramsay make tartar sauce?

Gordon Ramsay’s Tartar Sauce is a sauce that is prepared by combining mayonnaise, diced pickles, capers, and other herbs like tarragon and dill.

Ingredients:
  1. 130 milliliters mayonnaise.
  2. 1 tablespoon hamburger relish.
  3. 1 teaspoon grainy Dijon-style mustard.
  4. 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

What is the mother sauce of tartar sauce?

Tartar sauce is based on either mayonnaise or aioli, with certain other ingredients added. In the UK, recipes typically add to the base capers, gherkins, lemon juice, and dill.

What is McDonald’s tartar sauce made of?

According to McDonald’s website, the ingredients for the actual tartar sauce that goes on the Filet-O-Fish include soybean oil, pickle relish, calcium chloride, spice extractives, polysorbate 80, egg yolks, water, onions, distilled vinegar, sugar, spice, salt, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, and parsley.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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