Want to learn how to make the best tartar sauce for fish? I've got you, with this easy tartar sauce recipe you can prepare in just a few short minutes. Once you've made this sauce from scratch, you'll never use store bought tartar sauce again!
You will love dunking your beer battered fish sticks, crab cakes or fried fish and chips in this delicious sauce. It's great with any seafood dishes, french fries, even as a dip for fresh or roasted veggies. Homemade tartar sauce also makes for an amazing potato salad dressing.
Tartar Sauce: Origin
Tartar sauce (tartare sauce) is believed to originate in France in the 1800s, and can be considered a type of remoulade sauce. Despite it's current uses, the condiment did not start as a sauce for seafood.
The mayonnaise based sauce with chopped pickle actually got it's name from steak tartare, which is what it was developed to accompany. From raw beef sauce to what what our kids dunk a fish stick in, that is one mighty versatile sauce. [ref]
How to Make Tartar Sauce
Making your own homemade tartar sauce is simple with this easy tartar sauce recipe. Here I will walk you through the simple steps to make the best tartar sauce ever! Jump right down to the printable recipe card if you prefer.
The recipe makes approximately 6 servings (2 tablespoons each)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Tartar Sauce Ingredients
Here are all the ingredients you will need for your homemade tartar sauce.
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish or finely chopped dill pickles
- 1 tablespoon capers, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped and tightly packed (if you have to use dried dill weed, the measure will be 1 teaspoon instead)
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, whole grain
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (I added ⅛ teaspoon of each)
Directions:
Simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. There really isn't more to it and the order you add them in unimportant.
Here is a visual guide for those who prefer that.
Tip for Home Cooks: If you find chopping the dill and capers to be difficult use a mini chopper/food processor. Just pulse a couple times.
Variations on the Tartar Sauce Recipe
While I encourage you to try the tartar sauce recipe as is, we all have different preferences, needs and available ingredients at the moment. Here are a few simple additions and swaps to the tartar sauce you may like.
- For those looking for a lower fat, fewer calories, version of tartar sauce, substitute a portion of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. I advise you not to swap more than half so you will maintain the traditional tartar sauce flavor. Light mayo is also an option.
- If you like it tangy or thinner in consistency, add some dill pickle juice to the recipe. Add a teaspoon at a time until you get the flavor where you want.
- Prefer a sweeter tartar sauce? Use sweet pickle relish or chopped sweet pickles in place of the dill relish in the recipe. Adding a little sugar or swapping Miracle Whip for the mayonnaise in the tartar sauce are also options.
- Some like to add minced onion in the recipe as well, especially if they are using chopped pickles instead of relish.
- Add some zesty flavor to the sauce with a little horseradish or splash of hot sauce.
Serving
Tartar sauce is typically served in small cups or dishes along with seafood dishes. It is a staple of the traditional fish & chips dinner (along with coleslaw and lemon wedges).
I absolutely love it on my air fryer fish and chips! It is also tasty with popcorn shrimp, air fryer salmon cakes or my baked tilapia recipe.
Storing
Your homemade tartar sauce should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container at all times, when not being served. The sauce will last for up to two weeks according to the FDA, but personally I would toss after a week. Remember your homemade version, doesn't have the preservatives of store bought tartar sauce.
If you enjoy making your own dipping sauces, try my copycat Chick-fil-a sauce, hibachi style Yum Yum sauce or easy homemade Fry sauce recipes too!
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons dill relish (or finely chopped dill pickles)
- 1 tablespoon capers chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped and tightly packed (if you have to use dried dill weed, the measure will be 1 teaspoon instead)
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard whole grain
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste I added ⅛ teaspoon of each
Instructions
- Simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. There really isn't more to it and the order you add them in unimportant.
Mel S says
Perfect timing. I saw you put this recipe up today and I'm cook fried shrimp tonight. I just made the tarter sauce so it will be ready and it's so delicious.
Mairead says
I love tartar sauce with deep fried fish., plus I adore the flavor dill adds to this creamy sauce - perfect recipe.
Kris says
Wayyy better than store-bought! Will make again! 🙂
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this with some catfish for dinner last night and it turned out perfect! Quick, easy and delicious; way better than the store bought version too!
Heather says
I love homemade tartar sauce! I made this version and I loved the addition of capers in it...so good!
Kathleen says
I'm a big fan of homemade sauces. This tartar sauce has unexpected ingredients and flavors that I absolutely love.