How to Make Tartar Sauce
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Learn how to make tartar sauce and you’ll never want store-bought again. It tastes so much better! Make this recipe in a snap with basic kitchen staples.
This homemade condiment has tons of flavor and is perfect for when you find your store-bought condiments at the back of the fridge with a past due date. 🙂
Tartar sauce is a French condiment, typically used on fried seafood like clam strips, fried oysters, fish and chips, and fish sandwiches. I especially like it with fish sticks!
How to make Tartar Sauce
It starts with a mayonnaise base and traditionally has finely chopped capers. American versions have gone the route of introducing diced pickles, dill to be exact. Tartar sauce also uses lemon juice as well as herbs such as dill and parsley to bump up the flavor.
Ingredients
I like to add diced dill pickles instead of capers. Some of the pickle juice is added to thin the sauce, but feel free to use the same amount of lemon juice.
Most recipes call for white vinegar with some sugar added, I like to substitute rice wine vinegar, taking care of both needs there. Rice vinegar is a sweetened vinegar that can be found in most markets in the Asian food aisle or vinegar section. I also use it to make pickled red onion.
Powdered garlic and onion are added as well as salt and pepper. My fresh or dried herbs would be dill or sometimes parsley. That’s it!
Whether used on seafood like baked salmon patties or blackened Mahi Mahi, or to dip french fries or potato wedges in, this is the perfect condiment to use.
Enjoy!
Now that you know how to make tartar sauce, do you think you’ll stop buying it from the store?
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How to Make Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup dill pickles diced
- 1 tsp pickle juice
- 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp each garlic and onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried dill or 1 tbsp fresh chopped
- 1/4 tsp each salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I make relish the easiest way possible. I mix Hellman’s mayonnaise with sweet relish. But I’m sure yours is delicious too.
So sorry for the late reply as I have been away on a much needed vacation outside the USA. Needless to say, about your comment…Thanks so much Sue. Appreciate you coming back top let me know!
The tartar sauce is excellent. I halved the recipe. I used dill relish. Served with salmon patties. Will definitely make again!
Excellent, so glad you enjoyed this one Carmen!
I made this and your tartar sauce tonight and it was all wonderful. I didn’t have any peppers but just used some mixed veggies instead. Thank you!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed this one Bonita. 🙂