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Making Tartar Sauce yourself at home is so easy and tastes better than the pre-made store bought stuff. Made with ingredients you probably already have on hand, like mayo, onion, pickles, lemon and more. Serve alongside fried fish, fish and chips, crab cakes and tuna patties!
But Wait, What is Tartar Sauce Anyway?
Tartar sauce is a cold condiment that is commonly used as a dip for seafood dishes such as fried fish or as a topping for sandwiches. It is typically made from mayonnaise, chopped pickles or relish, and various seasonings such as salt, pepper, and dill. I like the added tang of lemon AND pickle juice and I think you’ll love my version. If you’re anything like me, you PILE it onto fish sandwiches or any kind of breaded fish, really.
How To Make Tartar Sauce
For full recipe details, including ingredients needed and measurements, see the printable recipe card below.
Combine Ingredients
Ok, this is going to go quickly! Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until mixed well. Done! Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Storing Tartar Sauce
Store tartar sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7 days. I don’t recommend freezing it, because of the mayo. The texture will change and become grainy when thawed.
It’s important to note that homemade tartar sauce doesn’t have preservatives like commercial brands (this is a good thing!), so it’s best to consume it within a week to ensure freshness and prevent spoilage.
More Seafood Recipes to Try!
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Fish Tacos
- Crispy Red Fish Sandwiches & Old Bay Home Fries
- Healthy Fish Sticks Recipe
- Tuna Casserole
- Crab Rangoon
- Shrimp Scampi
There you have it–super simple to make tartar sauce at home! What will you use it on first? If you make my recipe, I would love it if you would give it a star review! Have a great day, friends!
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup dill pickles finely diced
- 3 tbsp onion finely diced
- 1 tbsp pickle juice
- juice of 1 small lemon about 2 tbsps
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and serve with tuna or other seafood.
I was not impressed and would up tossing it out. The consistency is way too runny for tarter sauce because of the amount of liquid going into the mayonnaise.
The taste itself was okay but a bit too sour in my opinion, even after letting it marinate in the fridge for a few hours, as a result of the 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 3 tbsp of chopped onion. Could probably use a full cup of chopped pickles rather than a third, and only a “teaspoon” or two of lemon juice rather than 2 tbsp, omit the pickle juice and only use a single tbsp or a bit more of chopped onion (to taste), and it would be better. Of course then it’d be a different recipe altogether.
I’m not sure why this recipe received three stars. It’s really good, two people asked for the recipe right away!
excellent, just the way I love it! the pickle juice always makes the difference.