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. 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. 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! © Little Sunny Kitchen
