There’s nothing quite like a tasty, creamy tartar sauce paired with crispy fish and chips. By making your own sauce from scratch, you can bring your seafood dishes to the next level. Forget about buying a jar from the store – homemade tartar sauce is quick and simple to make, and so much better!
There isn’t a better combination than crispy fried fish, and creamy tangy tartar sauce. And there is no question about the chips, serving crispy fish without chips or tartar sauce is definitely just not okay!
For seriously crispy and delicious fish, make my beer-battered fish. It’s the BEST! Pair it with healthier oven-baked fries, and this tartar sauce for a delicious dinner meal!
If you’re not a fan of tartar sauce, that’s probably because you have only tried jarred tartar sauce from a store. Try this homemade version, and you will love it!
For more sauce ideas that go very well with fish, check out my dill mustard sauce or this delicious cream sauce that pairs well with salmon.
What is Tartar Sauce?
Tartar sauce, or tartare sauce as it’s called in the UK, is a sauce made from mayonnaise. It’s flavored with lemon juice, pickles or pickle relish (called gherkins in the UK), shallots, capers, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. It’s the perfect addition to seafood like beer-battered fish, crispy air fryer fish fillets, fish sandwiches, salmon burgers, crab cakes, fish sticks, and more!
The Ingredients
The key ingredients for tartar sauce are mayonnaise (why not try my homemade mayo recipe?), chopped pickles or pickle relish, lemon juice, capers, salt, and pepper. I also like to add a finely chopped shallot and a touch of Dijon mustard to my tartar sauce for a bit of extra texture and flavor.
If you have fresh herbs on hand, add chopped dill, chives, or parsley.
How to Make Tartar Sauce
To make the tartar sauce, all you need to do is chop the pickles, shallot, and capers. Add them to the mayo, along with the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Gently whisk the mixture until well combined, and serve.
Tip!
Be careful not to whisk the mayonnaise too much when you’re mixing the ingredients. If you mix it too much, your tartar sauce might end up too thin and messy.
This easy tartar sauce recipe is compatible with paleo, whole30, and keto diets. You can even make it vegan by using vegan mayo (I have a great vegan mayo recipe!).
I suggest leaving the tartar sauce in the fridge for at least half an hour before serving. This will allow the flavors to mingle, resulting in an even tastier sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Whether you’re using homemade or store-bought mayonnaise, be careful not to overmix it. Overmixing can make it runny and separate.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of pickles, relish, or capers to suit your taste.
- Add fresh herbs such as chives, parsley, or dill if you have them.
- Let the tartar sauce chill in the fridge for at least half an hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
Storing Tips
Keep the tartar sauce in an airtight container in the fridge, and it should last for up to a week. If the ingredients you used were very fresh, it might even last a little longer. But if it’s been more than a week, always taste the sauce before serving to be sure it’s still good.
Recipe FAQs
If your tartar sauce is too runny, you can add more mayonnaise to it, which will help thicken it up. Be sure to add in small increments and mix well to avoid making it too thick.
It’s best not to freeze tartar sauce because it contains mayonnaise, which can separate when frozen and then thawed, leading to an undesirable texture. It’s best to keep it in the fridge and use it within a week.
While capers add a distinctive flavor to the tartar sauce, if you don’t have any, you can still make it. You might consider substituting with more diced dill pickles, or a bit of finely chopped green olives, or just leaving them out.
I love making my salad dressings and sauces from scratch! They’re much healthier than store-bought, cheaper, and always taste better! So make sure to check out my homemade ranch dressing, Caesar dressing, bang bang sauce, yum yum sauce, and lime crema.
Now that you’ve got the know-how to whip up homemade tartar sauce, it’s time to bring your seafood dishes to a new level! Remember to pin this recipe – you’ll want to keep this quick and tasty sauce handy. Let me know how it turned out by leaving a rating and a review, your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Tartar Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225 g) mayonnaise
- 6 mini pickles diced – or pickle relish
- 1 shallot or ½ red onion – finely diced
- 3 teaspoons capers
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Start by finely dicing the shallots, mini pickles, and capers. Keep these ingredients separate for now.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, diced pickles, diced shallot, capers, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Using a whisk, gently stir the ingredients until well combined. Be careful not to overmix as this can cause the mayonnaise to become runny and separate.
- Give your tartar sauce a taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference. You might want to add a bit more salt, pepper, or lemon juice depending on your taste.
- Place the tartar sauce in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least half an hour. This step allows the flavors to blend together and results in a tastier sauce.
- Serve your homemade tartar sauce chilled. It’s a great accompaniment to crispy fish, chips, and other seafood dishes.
Notes:
- Whether you’re using homemade or store-bought mayonnaise, don’t overmix it. This can make it runny and separate.
- Feel free to add more or less pickles, relish, or capers to suit your taste.
- Add fresh herbs such as chives, parsley, or dill if you have them.
- It’s best to let the tartar sauce chill in the fridge for at least half an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.
- Store the tartar sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Joan Hess says
Oh, so good. Used on panko air fryer fish. Perfect.
Heide says
I like tartar sauce, but my husband is not a fan. That all changed after I made this. It is hands down the BEST tartar sauce we have every had. My goodness! I HIGHLY recommend this over anything else I have ever had!
melcah says
I Love the recipe i am going to try it now i am not s lover of fish
Diana says
Enjoy!