Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (2024)

Homemade Tartar Sauce is made in no time with this easy recipe and lasts for weeks! Simple ingredients like mayonnaise, pickles, dijon mustard, lemon juice, and herbs are quickly whisked together to create a tangy and creamy condiment. Use this sauce to create the best flavor combinations with fries, fish, or crab cakes!

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (1)

One of the best things about eating fried fish and chips or crab cakes at a restaurant is the creamy, tangy, and herb-filled tartar sauce they serve with it.

While it’s really just a simple mayonnaise sauce, there’s something so satisfying about the combination of flavors!

But what are those flavors exactly that make a tartar sauce so addictingly good?

Tartar sauce is a creamy, mayonnaise-based condiment that is made with mustard, lemon juice, pickles, fresh dill, and a few other seasonings.

Some even throw in a bit of capers or olives for a salty bite.

Typically it is served alongside seafood dishes such as fried fish, fish sticks, or crab cakes.

It’s a milder version of its spicier cousin, Remoulade Sauce, which has more of a peppery heat.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (2)

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this tartar sauce recipe include:

  • Mayonnaise. Regular mayonnaise is the best tasting to use, or you may choose a Paleo avocado-oil based mayo.
  • Mustard. Dijon mustard gives a great kick, but spicy or regular yellow mustard will work great, too.
  • Pickles. Both finely diced pickles and a bit of pickle juice are mixed in. Pickle relish is a good substitute if that’s what you have.
  • Lemon juice. Squeezing your own lemon juice adds a nice bit of freshness.
  • Dill. Fresh dill is what gives this sauce its unique flavor, which is similar to Greek Tzatziki sauce.
  • Worcestershire sauce. While it might not seem like much, this savory sauce adds a wonderful depth to the sauce.
  • Sugar. Totally optional, but a little bit of sweet will help to balance out the acidity of the pickles and lemon juice. Leave the sugar out if you happen to be using a sweet pickle relish instead of dill pickles or are on a low-carb or keto diet.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

The basic steps for making tartar sauce are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Stir the Ingredients

Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix until just combined.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (3)

Chill in the Fridge

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors have a chance to meld together.

You can skip this step, but trust me – the sauce truly gets better with time! You’ll be surprised by how incredible it tastes after just 12-24 hours in the fridge.

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Serve

Pour the homemade sauce into a small bowl and pair it with any of the following recipes:

Maryland Crab Cakes

Baked Potato Wedges

Coconut Shrimp

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (5)

Storing

  • To Prep-Ahead: You can measure out and mix the dry ingredients and chop the pickles in advance. However since the flavor gets better with time you might as well make up the whole sauce!
  • To Store: Keep homemade tartar sauce for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • To Freeze: Since tartar sauce is mayonnaise-based, freezing it is not an option.The mayonnaise will tend to separate upon thawing if previously frozen.

FAQs

What is tartar sauce usually made of?

The main components of tartar sauce are mayonnaise and pickles. Other common ingredients are lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, herbs, and sometimes capers.

Why do they call it tartar sauce?

The condiment originated in France and it is rumored to be named after the Tartars, which is a group that once occupies areas of Russia and Ukraine.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (6)

Expert Tips and Tricks

  • Use the real stuff. Both fresh lemon juice and dill taste the best in this recipe.
  • Go small. Chop the pickles finely so you get little bits in every bite.
  • Mix it good. Use a whisk to make sure all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  • Let it rest. Let the mixed sauce sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour for the flavors to meld.

More Easy Sauce Recipes

Whether you’re dipping, drizzling, or drenching, these sauces all taste amazing and are simple to make!

Thousand Island Dressing

Sriracha Mayo Sauce

Lime Crema

Secret Sauce

Avocado Ranch Dip

co*cktail Sauce

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sauce

Tap stars to rate!

4.54 from 15 votes

Homemade Tartar Sauce

Homemade Tartar Sauce is made in no time with this easy recipe and lasts for weeks! Use this sauce to create the best flavor combinations with fries, fish, or crab cakes.

Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (7)

GFLCSF

Yield 16 servings

Prep 5 minutes mins

Print Pin Comment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup dill pickles finely chopped*
  • 2 tsp. pickle juice
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh dill finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tsp. sugar optional
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix until well combined.

  • Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving so the flavors have a chance to meld together.

  • Serve with crab cakes or as a dip with potato wedges.

  • Store for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Tap stars to rate!

4.54 from 15 votes

Notes

  • You can also substitute the pickles and juice for ½ cup of pickle relish.
  • 1 tablespoon of sauce equals 1 serving.
  • To Store: Keep homemade tartar sauce for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 216mg, Potassium: 14mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 89IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!

Categorized as:
Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Recipes, Refined Sugar-Free,

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Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe - Evolving Table (2024)

FAQs

How to make Gordon Ramsay's tartar sauce? ›

Gordon Ramsay Tartar Sauce
  1. Condiments.
  2. • 1 tbsp Capers.
  3. • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard.
  4. • 1 Dill pickle, small.
  5. • 1 tbsp Lemon juice, fresh.
  6. • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise.
  7. • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce.

How long will homemade tartar sauce keep? ›

Tartar sauce should be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about a week. Obviously, if it starts to smell funky in the fridge or the flavor is off before the week is up, you should dump it. Similar to other mayonnaise-based condiments, tartar sauce does not freeze well because the emulsion can break.

How do you thicken homemade tartar sauce? ›

If, despite your best efforts, your tartar sauce does veer into the runny territory, fear not. There are ways to rescue the situation. A teaspoon of additional mayonnaise can help bind the sauce, while a dash of cornstarch can work wonders in thickening it without compromising flavor.

What is tartar sauce made of? ›

Tartar sauce is made with three main ingredients: mayonnaise, shallots and capers. Tartar sauce can also include the following additions: Pickles: finely chopped pickles, cornichons or sweet pickle relish. Mustard: Dijon or whole grain.

What is tartar sauce called in England? ›

Tartar sauce (French: sauce tartare; spelled tartare sauce in the UK, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries) is a condiment made of mayonnaise, chopped pickles and relish, caper, and herbs such as tarragon and dill.

Is there a difference between tartar sauce and cream of tartar? ›

In reality, the two have nothing to do with one another. Cream of tartar is a powdery baking ingredient that you'd find in sweets like cookies or meringues. Tartar sauce, on the other hand, is super savory, rich, and tangy. It's typically served with seafood, but trust me – this delicious condiment can do so much more.

Is it OK to eat tartar sauce that was left out overnight? ›

Opened containers of mayonnaise, tartar sauce and horseradish should be kept in the fridge. If they are kept at a temperature of 50 °F or more for longer than eight hours, they should be thrown away, according to FoodSafety.gov.

What is Mcdonalds tartar sauce made of? ›

Tartar Sauce

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Pickle Relish (diced Pickles, Vinegar, Salt, Capers, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate [preservative], Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives, Polysorbate 80), Egg Yolks, Water, Onions, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Spice, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Parsley.

Can tartar sauce go bad? ›

Tartar sauce can last for about six months.

Opened bottles of tartar sauce should remain good for up to six months as long as they're kept in the refrigerator. If you suspect your tartar sauce is going bad, check the bottle for an expiration date.

What is a substitute for tartar sauce? ›

Instead of tartar sauce, use a garlicky aioli with or without a little dill or chopped pickle.

What is a substitute for cream of tartar sauce? ›

The Best Substitute for Cream of Tartar

For every 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in the recipe, use 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar. As an example, if your cookie recipe calls for 1 teaspoon baking soda, add 2 teaspoons lemon juice instead of the cream of tartar.

Why add cream of tartar? ›

Cream of tartar stabilizes the tiny bubbles in the egg whites, by precluding the egg proteins from sticking together. It thus speeds up the egg white whipping process and contributes to a stable, billowy, glossy meringue, perfect for cookies, topping pies, and folding into cake.

Does tartar sauce contain mayo? ›

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.

Is tartar sauce healthier than mayo? ›

No.

The classic seafood condiment tartar sauce continues the trend that creamy sauces belong toward the bottom of the list. But, it has less than half the calories per tablespoon as ranch and one-quarter the fat content of mayonnaise.

Why does tartar sauce taste so good? ›

The inclusion of lemon juice, dill pickles, and capers ensures that tartar sauce offers an unbelievable kick of tang, above and beyond what sour cream offers. That makes the flavor of the baked potato more dynamic, which is perfect when you want to get a little something more out of a weeknight meal.

How does Gordon Ramsay make batter for fish? ›

Cooking instructions
  1. In a large bowl, mix both flours, baking powder and sugar.
  2. Add soda water, lager and salt.
  3. Mix together only until the batter binds together and is smooth. ...
  4. Cover your fish with a dusting of plain flour, then drop into the batter and coat completely.
  5. Pre-heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 180C.

What are the ingredients in Heinz tartar sauce? ›

WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, VINEGAR, SUGAR, CUCUMBERS, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, LIQUID YOLK (EGG), SALT, DRIED ONION, MUSTARD FLOUR, SPICES, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOUR, XANTHAN GUM, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, DRIED GARLIC, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL.

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